The director famous for his controversial giallo classic WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO SOLANGE?, Massimo Dallamano, also directed this earlier contribution to the giallo genre which focuses more on police procedure and investigation over the usual murder-mystery antics that the genre offers, although sex and violence are still main ingredients. This Italian thriller, however, is gripping stuff, especially due to an unforeseen and genuinely impressive twist which comes about halfway through.
A BLACK VEIL FOR LISA benefits hugely from the setting of '60s Hamburg, the decade reflected by a hummable and stylish soundtrack. The script is intelligent and the characters are particularly well-developed, especially John Mills' increasingly desperate Inspector Bulov whose life becomes more and more complicated throughout. Dallamano directs with the typical Italian flourish of having stylish camera angles and good, colourful photography which makes the film visually appealing. The plot twists and turns as layers of the story are constantly peeled off only to deepen the mystery and make the film more complex to watch (it's never confusing, either, often a flaw of these clever-clever mystery thrillers).
Mills is a familiar actor with considerably more fame than most gialli stars, and his appearance is definitely a departure from his more typically Hollywood roles. However, he copes admirably with the complex part and succeeds in creating a likable, believable character whom one can identify with despite all his flaws and mistakes. Robert Hoffmann is also very good as charismatic killer Max, and it's a mark of an actor's talent that he fits the role like a glove. The glorious Luciana Paluzzi, of THUNDERBALL fame, grabs an ultimate femme fatale role and is quietly brilliant at it. The supporting cast are uniformly good in their parts. A BLACK VEIL FOR LISA lacks the graphic violence of '70s Italian productions, but the combination of strong acting and an excellent plot make this movie worthwhile and a decent Italian spin on Hitchcockian themes.
A BLACK VEIL FOR LISA benefits hugely from the setting of '60s Hamburg, the decade reflected by a hummable and stylish soundtrack. The script is intelligent and the characters are particularly well-developed, especially John Mills' increasingly desperate Inspector Bulov whose life becomes more and more complicated throughout. Dallamano directs with the typical Italian flourish of having stylish camera angles and good, colourful photography which makes the film visually appealing. The plot twists and turns as layers of the story are constantly peeled off only to deepen the mystery and make the film more complex to watch (it's never confusing, either, often a flaw of these clever-clever mystery thrillers).
Mills is a familiar actor with considerably more fame than most gialli stars, and his appearance is definitely a departure from his more typically Hollywood roles. However, he copes admirably with the complex part and succeeds in creating a likable, believable character whom one can identify with despite all his flaws and mistakes. Robert Hoffmann is also very good as charismatic killer Max, and it's a mark of an actor's talent that he fits the role like a glove. The glorious Luciana Paluzzi, of THUNDERBALL fame, grabs an ultimate femme fatale role and is quietly brilliant at it. The supporting cast are uniformly good in their parts. A BLACK VEIL FOR LISA lacks the graphic violence of '70s Italian productions, but the combination of strong acting and an excellent plot make this movie worthwhile and a decent Italian spin on Hitchcockian themes.