·S2 E56

Episode 56: Les Diaboliques (1955) & The Strange Vice of Mrs Wardh (1971)

July 11

1h 50m

Episode Description

Welcome to episode 56 of The Horror Double Bill, the podcast where each week we pair two movies to create something greater than the sum of their parts.

This week we are in Europe, where we return to the psychological thriller and the Italian giallo, with two films drenched in murder and paranoia.

First up, we have Les Diaboliques from 1955, directed by Henri-Georges Clouzot. This stars Simone Signoret, Véra Clouzot, Paul Meurisse and Charles Vanel.

Then we follow this with The Strange Vice of Mrs Wardh from 1971 and director Sergio Martino. This stars Edwige Fenech, George Hilton, Ivan Rassimov and Cristina Airoldi.

Along the way, we will be discussing the early careers of directors Henri George Clouzot and Sergio Martino, the incredibly tense production of Les Diaboliques, Mondo movies, a real-world Italian murder case that inspired several giallo, actress Edwige Fenech, and much much more

Recommendations

Le Corbeau (1943)

The Wages of Fear (1953)

Sorcerer (1977)

References

Les Diaboliques by Susan Hayward - Ciné-Files French Film Guides series

https://www.cinematheque.fr/article/1112.html

Italian Giallo in Film and Television: A Critical History by Roberto Curti

Darkening the Italian Screen: Volume One by Eugenio Ercolani

So Deadly, So Perverse: Volume One by Troy Howarth

International Horror Film Directors, edited by Danny Shipka and Ralph Beliveau

All the Colours of Sergio Martino by Kat Ellinger