Who Saw Her Die? (1972)

hyped garbage

Good concept, poorly executed.

A film with more than the usual spoiler issues. Talking about it in any detail feels akin to handing you a gift-wrapped present and saying, "I hope you like it -- It's a thriller about a diabolical secret experiment."

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

George Lazenby, in one of his first acting jobs since his solo stint as James Bond in 1969, here looks about ten years older, a lot thinner and less well-groomed. He is excellent as Franco, father to a little sweetheart called Roberta who is murdered. Lazenby has to share the spotlight with the sumptuously filmed streets of Venice, where most of the film is set, and Ennio Morricone's relentless and sinister chanting soundtrack. The detailed, ornate architecture and glistening misty streets (also used to such good effect in 'Don't Look Now (1973)' and 1989's 'Vampires in Venice') make this one of the most atmospheric of giallo films. The cast of eccentric characters also add to the sense of heightened reality.As a heterosexual male, I must point out Anita Strindberg (as Elizabeth Serpieri) and especially Dominique Boschero (as Genevra Storelli) as being stunning additions to the cast. It's difficult to express an opinion on physical appreciation in what is in many ways an exploitation film without being seen to condone such exploitation. I would argue (at tedious length) that exploitation has existed for some time in virtually every film – especially mainstream, where anyone under the age of, what, 40 is invited to at least partially undress without unduly bothering any plot-line. Whether or not the approach to displays of flesh differs 'now', as opposed to 'then', is probably subject for a discussion elsewhere. In 'Who Saw Her Die', amongst other films, I like it.This isn't flawless – as often happens with giallo films, the pace slackens in the middle, but Lazenby's increasing desperation keeps things ticking along. The unmasking towards the end and the reveal of the mysterious killer's identity is satisfying. Recommended.

Wow, looking at George Lazenby here, you wouldn't believe that merely three years earlier he had played James Bond! With his worryingly skinny body, his unkempt hair and his "porn mustache", he looks as if he was deliberately trying to distance himself as much as possible from the image of Bond. The film itself is a well-made but slow and diffuse giallo; there are sporadically effective scenes (mostly the stalkings and the killings), but the Lazenby's investigation is not as gripping as it should be, and the ending may strike some viewers as a cheat, because the killer is a character who is barely in the film! The on-location shooting in Venice and Ennio Morricone's extraordinarily weird score help; the traditionally poor English dubbing doesn't. **1/2 out of 4.

The movie starts out with the murder of a young girl, which straight away I found rather unsettling and then fast forward a few years later and we meet George Lazenby who lives in Venice and also has a young daughter and what becomes even more unsettling his daughter becomes the next victim, which becomes heartbreaking as firstly we get to know the little girl and sees her bonding with her father and then the rest of the movie focus's on the father trying to solve the mystery as the police are absolutely clueless.Okay the storyline isn't to everyone's taste, and if you keep watching as the movie goes on it is rather good, and of course we get array of quirky characters and suspects in the usual giallo style and watch as the numbers dwindle down and this movie does a good job of keeping you guessing all the way through to the end, with twists and turns at almost every corner.The Venice setting is a nice touch and rather beautiful and yet at the same time rather sinister and the wonderfully staged murder set pieces. Plus the performances are decent as well, George Lazenby gives a decent performance and a character to root for and Anita Strindberg as his wife was also strong and Nicoletta Elmi is a real highlight as the doomed daughter.All in all a decent movie but does have a few small flaws like the countless red herrings, but with it's moody atomoshere, Who Saw Her Die is still a decent addition to the giallo genre.

Aldo Lado's "Who Saw Her Die?" tells the story of a grieving father, Franco Serpieri (one time James Bond portrayer George Lazenby), who loses daughter Roberta (Nicoletta Elmi) to a murderer. This murderer has struck before, in France, but at least this time the parent stops at nothing to solve the mystery. He has many encounters with possible suspects while working his way through the labyrinthine plot. This film is quite heavy on story; it may indeed take more than one viewing to truly appreciate the many twists and turns. Lado infuses his film with heavy, brooding atmosphere, and gives us characters that are interesting and compelling. Lazenby in particular is engaging as the amateur sleuth. Female co-stars Anita Strindberg, as Franco's wife Elizabeth, and Dominique Boschero, as Ginevra, are very easy on the eyes, and Strindberg and Lazenby figure in a tastefully done sex scene. Young Elmi is adorable as the murder victim, and Adolfo Celi, villain in the Bond adventure "Thunderball", has fun in the role of Serafian. The violence is strong although the film never does get very gory. Two elements that are extremely creepy are the killer themselves (things are sometimes shown through the veil that they wear) and the music score by Ennio Morricone, one of his most unsettling ever. This score utilizes the singing of children to great effect and in fact this singing sometimes works as a harbinger of doom. Excellent widescreen photography, by Franco Di Giacomo, and slick direction by Lado help to make things very enjoyable. Overall, this is good stuff worth watching for the Giallo fan. It gets off to an intriguing start, with the opening set piece taking place in a snowy wilderness, and viewers may not anticipate the identity of the killer once it is revealed. Even if they do, it shouldn't detract too much from the entertainment value. Seven out of 10.