DEATH WALKS ON HIGH HEELS (1971)

 

Directed By: Luciano Ercoli 

Written By: Ernesto Gastaldi and May Velasco 

Story By: Dino Verde, Ernesto Gastaldi and May Velasco

Cinematography: Fernando Arribas 

Editor: Pedro Del Rey and Angelo Curi

Cast: Susan Scott (Nieves Navarro), Simon Andreu, Frank Wolff, Carlo Gentilli, George Rigaud, J. Manuel Martin, Luciano Rossi, Claude Lange

After a French stripper is harassed by a man who wants a cache of diamonds stolen by her late father, she flees to England in the company of a doctor, but danger follows.

There is a murder mystery at the heart of this film that seems to take a backseat to showing the body fashions, styles, wigs, and beauty of the film's star Nieves Navarro. As the film practically worships her as much as most of the male main characters do in the beginning 

So much so that it feels like like a star vehicle as we see her in states of undress and high fashion, where each scene seems to be her in a new outfit or look even in her striptease in which it seems like she does blackface or it’s just very heavily tanned with an Afro wig. She manages to burn through the scree. She manages to burn through the screen. A chance for her to role-play and these costumes, even as she plays the same character.

Their scenes of her whole striptease and scene of her eating by a fireplace that plays more like sex between her and her married lover, then just simple foreplay, especially with all the close-ups of their faces. As the film tries to exude glamour, class, and a fair bit of being campy.

Now, once the second half of the film starts, it almost feels like a different film. This is where it becomes more of a murder mystery and it’s not as magical or fun. The reality seems to set in. 

As almost everyone is a suspect as they all seem to be fascinated or stalking the lead female character, even both. Even the married man’s wife becomes a suspect, and she seems to resemble an older version of the main character, the actresses look alike

The main female character is the truly interesting part. She seems to be the bait for all of the characters, including the audience.

There is even a ridiculous action scene that seems obsessed with the female character who keeps seeming to hit her silence in the balls times throughout a scene.

The film offers plenty of twists and turns, though it does feel lengthy at times. The film isn’t as thrilling or spooky as expected, and a movie of this kind that resembles a Giallo. Though it feels like a naughty version of a police procedural from the 1970s on foreign land. We see the before, the actual crime, and the after with an investigation. 

It’s also not the most artistic as the first half works more as a relationship drama with lavish locations and some intrigue. It ends up being more fun than expected.

GRADE: B-