La corta notte delle bambole di vetro (1971)

An American journalist in Prague searches for his girlfriend who has suddenly disappeared.

Director:

Aldo Lado

Writers:

Ernesto Gastaldi (screenwriter), Aldo Lado,

Stars:

Ingrid Thulin, Jean Sorel, Mario Adorf

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ingrid Thulin	...	Jessica
Jean Sorel	...	Gregory Moore
Mario Adorf	...	Jacques Versain
Barbara Bach	...	Mira Svoboda
Fabijan Sovagovic	...	Professor Karting
José Quaglio	...	Valinski
Relja Basic	...	Ivan
Piero Vida	...	Kommissar Kierkoff
Daniele Dublino	...	Doctor
Sven Lasta
Luciano Catenacci	...	Morgue Employee
Michaela Martin
Vjenceslav Kapural
Jürgen Drews	...	Street Singer
Semka Sokolovic-Bertok	...	Nastassja - Gregory's Neighbor (as Semka Sokolovic)

Storyline

An American journalist in Prague searches for his girlfriend who has suddenly disappeared.

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Plot Keywords:

journalist | prague | schizophrenia | back from the dead | fear | 

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Genres:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

Italy West Germany Yugoslavia

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

28 October 1971 (Italy)

Also Known As:

Paralyzed

Filming Locations:

Incir De Paolis Studios, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company Credits

Production Co:

Dieter Geissler Filmproduktion, Doria G. Film, Dunhill Cinematografica

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Referenced in The Spaghetti West (2005)

User Reviews

An atmospheric, chilling and gripping thriller

Aldo Lado's first movie, "Short Night of Glass Dolls" is an effective and atmospheric giallo from the early '70s. Jean Sorel plays the cop who, it appears, "wakes up" dead. Paralysed in his body and unable to communicate with the outside world, we see the events leading up to this situation unfold in his memory as, in the present, an autopsy is started to be prepared for him.

The film contains a memorable cast. The delightfully beautiful Barbara Bach plays Sorel's missing love interest, Mira. The late Ingrid ("Salon Kitty") Thulin appears as work colleague and ex-lover, Jessica. Mario Adorf is excellent as the friend and fellow cop, Jacques.

The film is fast paced and the premise is gripping but I found the film less satisfying overall than many other giallo movies. Worthy of a viewing, without a doubt, but not in the same league as Argento's finest efforts.

With a score by Ennio Morricone and impressive cinematography by Giuseppe Ruzzolini, "Short Night" is a hauntingly beautiful and memorable film.

A strong 7 out of 10.