Um Vestido Branco para Marialé

(1974) A White Dress For Marialé/ Un bianco vestito per Marialé (In Italian with English subtitles)

Cinematography and directed by Romano Scavolini that opens with a father stopping his car and instructing his little daughter to stay in the car while he goes out and does something. The daughter of course does not listen and follows him anyway, and upon approaching his wife and her lover. He then pulls out a gun and he shoots and kills them both before he turns the gun on to himself. The movie then shows the credits and it is the current time, and apparently several people are offered to stay at a manor/ castle. And as soon as Massimo (Ivan Rassimov) shows up, he is then turned away by the creepy servant, Osvaldo (Gengher Gatti), but he hangs around long enough until others have shown up. We then find out that that Marialé (Ida Galli) was that little girl at the opening and that her husband, Paolo (Luigi Pistilli) is planning something on her viewers are unable to figure out what for it is most likely be her fortune.

Romano Scavolini would go on to make the disappointing Video Nasty 'Nightmares in a Damaged Brain', but before that he made this film. Spirits of the Dead is a psychological drama come Giallo and focuses in the bizarre happenings inside a large mansion during a party. The film has shades of Mario Bava, though despite the grandeur of the setting and the strange costumes worn during the partygoers in the main part of the movie; Romano Scavolini is no Mario Bava and the film remains only an imitation of the Italian master. The plot has two sides to it and we begin at a setting in the past as a young girl named Mariale witnesses her father murder two lovers before shooting himself in the head. We then fast forward some years and a grown up Mariale is living in a mansion with her husband Paolo. She has mental problems and is often given drugs to quell the problem. She invites a group of friends to stay at the house with her and her husband, but the party soon degenerates into an orgy and it's not long before the guests are being picked off one by one.

The first ten minutes made me believe that this one was going to be an interesting little Giallo. The characters are all introduced rather quickly and we are soon made to believe that not everything is as it should be. However, the film then builds into the orgy; which makes up the bulk of it, and it's not long before intrigue turns to tedium. The film tries to put the focus on the characters and this is a problem because, as is the case with many Giallo's, the characters aren't interesting enough in their own right to build a film around. The cast is not bad, however; Giallo regular Evelyn Stewart takes up the lead role well, and gets good back up from the likes of Luigi Pistilli and Ivan Rassimov. The film doesn't really get going until the final twenty minutes; and by then it is unfortunately a case of too little too late. This type of film is famous for over the top and stylish death scenes; but Spirits of Death doesn't really deliver in that respect, with only a single death scene in a swimming pool of any real note. Overall, this is not one of the better known Giallo's and I'm not really surprised. I wouldn't call it one of the worst of the genre; but it's not one of the best either and I'd only recommend this to hardcore Giallo fans.

Another unheralded horror gem from Italy! I'm actually surprised it's directed by Romano Scavolini, since he's the one responsible for "Nightmare in a Damaged Brain", and this one seems like the total opposite of that one. "Mariale" is one hell of an elegant, sexy and disturbing chiller, that really stands out from most gialli that were being made at around the same time. The story centers around Mariale, a young woman who is kept locked up in her family castle by her own husband and his servant. As a child, she witnessed the brutal murder of her mother, by the hands of her own father who then proceed to commit suicide. She secretly invites a group of old friends to gather at the castle for a costume party, and when Mariale decides to wear the same dress her mother wore on the day of her death, all Hell breaks loose. What follows is a grotesque, nightmarish orgy right out of a Fellini film, with a little extra gore and sleaze, that in many ways predates Ken Russell's "Gothic". Scavolini firmly directs this one with style and flair, as well as providing the gorgeous cinematography, that takes full advantage of it's amazing setting, and is beautifully accompanied by the Fiorenzo Carpi's haunting score. The film also benefits from strong performances from a great cast of giallo stars, which includes Evelyn Stewart in the title role, Luigi Pistilli, Gianni Dei and Ivan Rassimov (playing against the type in the 'good guy' role). In spite of these great elements, the film does have flaws, mostly regarding the pace. The opening scene is a bang, literally, as young Mariale witnesses the brutal demise of her mother and her lover. From then on, it works quite well until the bodies start piling up. The film suddenly takes a more routine and rather dull Agatha Christie-style murder mystery, specially when compared to it's unique first 40 minutes or so. Thankfully, the great ending puts the film back on it's tracks, and will certainly stay your mind for a while once you finished watching it. Overall, an excellent and sadly obscure giallo, with a very distinctive style. 8/10. If only the middle part was slightly more gripping, it would certainly get a 10/10 for me.

In the '40 Mariale is an eight year old girl.Powerless,she witnesses the death of her mother and of her young lover,both killed in cold blood by her father.Years have passed and Mariale has married a young nobleman who keeps her almost captive in an old estate forbidding her to take part in society's life.A sort of love-and-hate relationship has developed between the two characters.One day Mariale decides to put an end to her seclusion;she eludes her husband's and the butler watchful vigilance,breaks the phone's padlock and sends several telegrams inviting friends for a evening at her home.As absurd as it may seems,Mariale intends to reconstruct,thanks to her guests,the tragedy she lived several years before.She wants to prove that in everyone of us exist two distinct entities.When Paolo,Mariale's husband fully understands the situation is too late.The evening turns into bloody nightmare,when unknown killer starts murdering people.Romano Scavolini's "Spirits of Death" is a stylish giallo with some gory murders.The photography is beautiful and the atmosphere is creepy and nightmarish.The identity of the killer is never explained and that makes the film quite disturbing.The cast is splendid with Ivan Rassimov and Luigi Pistilli to boost.Check it out.7 out of 10.

"Un Bianco Vestito Per Marialé," directed by Romano Scavolini, is a haunting, erotic, and violent thriller that leaves a lasting impression, albeit with some noticeable flaws.

The film follows the beautiful Marialé, who is kept sequestered in a gloomy castle by her controlling husband, Paolo. Marialé, traumatized by witnessing her father kill her mother as a child, is forced to take powerful psychoactive drugs by her husband and his servant, Osvaldo. The story takes a turn when Marialé invites friends over for a hedonistic party, only for them to be murdered one by one.

Scavolini crafts a stylish and atmospheric film, with a standout performance by Ida Galli as Marialé. The film excels in its ability to create a sense of unease and tension, particularly through its use of music and lighting. The castle setting, with its partial ruins and surrounding park, adds to the sense of isolation and impending doom.

However, the film stumbles in its execution of the thriller formula. With a runtime of just 84 minutes, the character development is lacking, and the dialogue feels stilted and pretentious at times. The killer's identity is also predictable, taking away from the suspense. While the orgiastic party scene is memorable, it also feels out of place, as if included purely for shock value.

Overall, "Un Bianco Vestito Per Marialé" is a flawed yet intriguing entry in the giallo genre. It delivers on style and tension but falls short in its character and narrative development. While it may not be the best of its kind, it is worth a watch for fans of erotic thrillers and those seeking a glimpse into 1970s Italian horror.