En cinquième vitesse

I love the clear inspiration from comic books. Very artistic style. The intermittent use of b&w is gorgeous. Ewa Aulin is a dream. Simply stunning.

However, the plot is a mess. The pacing is a mess. The tone is all over the place. The overall narrative has a mystery/detective/crime genre feel to it, but there are so many jarring departures into comedy(?) These tonal bungles kill the suspense and the believability.

A rather unusual agenda from tinto brass who obviously found later his niche in "t&a" movies. Col cuore in Gola is a psychedelic, pop art giallo that can just come from the great era of the late 60´s/70´s. Starting from the nice credits and music you immediately like this film and this is just the beginning! Trintignant founds in a nightclub a corpse beside the lovely aulin who just says "i wasnt it" Convinced that she is innocent he wants to help her and want to find out the murderer, Aulins brother should solve this case and both are searching for him. Though not quite without problems..a dwarf in raincoat is following them in companion with some gangsters who kidnap Aulin. Jean is now searching for aulin, aulins brother and (of course) the murderer. The Story itself is not that convincing (rather unimportant) but what here is really of interest is the unconvential style of brass : splitscreen(even tripple split screens!) some scenes in black and dark yellow filter and more.., and in the "middle" of course the presence of two very convincing leads: cool Trintignant and hot Ewa Aulin. (somehow priceless here in white fishnet stockings) the result is a quite good giallo with (obviously) strong references to pop art. In the same year Aulin and Trintignant appeared in the avantgarde giallo masterpiece "Death laid an egg", Col Cuore in Gola is not great as Giulio Questis film but is definitely entertaining.

Also frantic, rambling and hyper-stylized. Tinto Brass is like a kid in a candy story in this movie, trying out every little trick in the book he can think of (split screen, black & white / color, fast cuts, fast motion, comic book inserts, etc.). Ewa Aulin is wonderful (an alternate title of the movie, I Am What I Am, sums her up perfectly), and there is also some terrific London location shooting. Plot-wise it doesn't make much sense, but I don't think it was supposed to; it is more about capturing a spur-of-the-moment spontaneity, and at that it succeeds. **1/2 out of 4.

Although not bad, 'Col guore in gola' is clearly inspired by Michelangelo Antonioni's 'Blow Up' -- the famous film from 1966, capturing London's young & fashionable mid-Sixties spirit with unparalleled quality. This Italian copy even goes as far as mentioning Antonioni.

'Col guore in gola's somewhat hazy plot clearly does not make this film's main attraction. It's the visuals that are prominent here, and they surely are great and inspiring. And very, yes very, mid-Sixties -- as well as a little too extended to our 21st century-taste.

Male lead Jean Louis Trintignant does not need any introduction. His performance is as usual: most competent. Female lead Ewa Aulin, reminding me of Goldie Hawn, does well, too. Together they take you through 'Col guore in gola', making you a nice watch.

When I see Tinto Brass, I think of Cheeky and Salon Kitty. T&A features, not traditional giallo. I am willing to be surprised.

You are going to be reminded by a current jail occupant in Orlando, Fl, who was dancing the night away after her daughter went missing. The children. Jane (Ewa Aulin) and Jerome (Charles Kohler) Burroughs, in this film are in a nightclub right after they visit their father in the morgue. Guess death can't interfere with life.

Bernard (Jean-Louis Trintignant) discovers her with his dead partner and takes her away.

They go looking for the killer. It's not as bloody as most giallo, and there is no nudity to speak of, but it is worth watching. It had an almost comic book air at times, and the music was definitely upbeat.

The cinematography was outstanding on this print and really made it worthwhile.