L'uccello dalle piume di cristallo (The Bird With the Crystal Plumage) (1969)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Jeff "

  
  Dario Argento's directorial debut is a stunning achievement in horror. The start of an excellent career is showcased on screen. What you have with Bird With The Crystal Plumage is a solid horror Giallo that is quite possibly Argento's most solid picture.Bird With The… More
  Dario Argento's directorial debut is a stunning achievement in horror. The start of an excellent career is showcased on screen. What you have with Bird With The Crystal Plumage is a solid horror Giallo that is quite possibly Argento's most solid picture.Bird With The Crystal Plumage is a fine Giallo picture, probably the best of it's kind. Every Argento fan should seek this one out. What makes this film succeed is the eerie atmosphere than Argento paints added by Ennio Morricone ominous score. This is a classic of Italian horror, and I find it almost an insult that people try to compare this film to anyone of Hitchcock's films. Argento and Hitchcock are two different kinds of directs and both have made their mark in horror history. This is an intense horror film that brings genuine chills to the viewer and is by the films end, you are in awe at how powerful the horror is. Bird With The Crystal Plumage is one of the best Giallo films that I've seen, only matched by Lucio Fulci's Don't Torture A Duckling and Argento's own Deep Red. Bird With The Crystal Plumage is an accomplished horror film that is brilliantly directed by Argento. A must see for fans of horror, and this is one of the best films that Dario Argento has made. A unique film thats not easy to forget. The film is bold and tense, and relies on atmosphere to create effective terror. A classic worth seeing.

• Cassandra M

  
  Very fine debut that set the trend for giallo for the next half dozen years. The seeds of the genre had already been sown but here Argento strikes out stylishly and makes a massive mark. It was interesting watching this again after having seen so many giallo since first seeing this… More
  Very fine debut that set the trend for giallo for the next half dozen years. The seeds of the genre had already been sown but here Argento strikes out stylishly and makes a massive mark. It was interesting watching this again after having seen so many giallo since first seeing this and seeing just how much influence this had been. There are elements, particularly visually, that we will see developed in later Argento films as well as the many imitators. So many red herrings and unanswered questions, of course, but by now we are used to that and others would be freed by this incompleteness to go on and create marvellous colourful multi-layered nonsense for us all to revel in. The Morricone score must also be mentioned for it is of monumental proportions covering the widest range possible from the children's voices through symphonic passages and to the almost abstract.

• Chris W

  
  I'm not extremely familair with the subgenre known as giallo, but my research tells me that it is Italian ficttion with emphasis on horror/thriller, and mystery elements, or something like that. I've actually seen two such films before this one, but didn't know they… More
  I'm not extremely familair with the subgenre known as giallo, but my research tells me that it is Italian ficttion with emphasis on horror/thriller, and mystery elements, or something like that. I've actually seen two such films before this one, but didn't know they were apart of some sort of established tradition. Since I liked those, and enjoyed this, I may in the future seek out some more of these types of movies. From that rambling description above, you should basically have gotten that this is a msytery thriller/ slasher/serial killer type of movie. I can't really go into too many details without giving too much a way, but let's just say that plenty of American films have borrowed if not stolen from this, and other similar Italian films. It is an Argento film, and his first if I'm not mistaken. It is beautifully shot, fairly violent, and absolutely overflowing with tension, suspense, and great mood, atmospohere, and tone. The music by Ennio Morricone is suitably creepy, and all of this makes up for the fairly flimsy plot which might be the weakest thing at play here. It also feels very Hitchcokian, too...which is of course a good thing. An American man finds himself caught up in an odd series of murders in Italy, and must work with the plocie to try to solve an ever increasing epidemic of serial murders, while along the way looking out for the safety of himself and his wife. The pacing could have been a bit faster, but the murder setpieces are well done, and this is a pretty enteraining film. The ending leaves a bit to be desired, but it isn't enough of a letdown to warrant a harsher grade. All around some decent stuff, especially if you like some artsiness with your violence.

• Michael G

  
  I know this was Dario Argento's first movie (and actually the first of his movie's I've seen) and I've heard hordes of people talking about how great he is but based solely on this movie I just don't see it. The Bird With the Crystal Plumage certainly… More
  I know this was Dario Argento's first movie (and actually the first of his movie's I've seen) and I've heard hordes of people talking about how great he is but based solely on this movie I just don't see it. The Bird With the Crystal Plumage certainly wasn't bad but I just didn't really get into it. I wanted to like it and will likely watch it again but I just didn't feel anything outside of the last 15-20 minutes. Pretty cool score from Ennio Morricone though...

• Tim S

  
  Dario Argento's first major film is a masterpiece of suspense and mystery. Unlike the brutal and violent work later in his career, this film plays more as a thriller with very little blood and on-screen violence (it's more implied rather than shown). It's obvious the… More
  Dario Argento's first major film is a masterpiece of suspense and mystery. Unlike the brutal and violent work later in his career, this film plays more as a thriller with very little blood and on-screen violence (it's more implied rather than shown). It's obvious the influence that Hitchcock had on this film, but Argento's style never wavers and holds the piece together beautifully.

• Ariuza k

  
  Mr. Dario Argento has had a big influence on our culture and his films where just massive successes here and his first movie was the first true Giallo movie ever made and if you don't know Giallo stands for Yellow in Italian. And of course Italian cinema is big here and vice… More
  Mr. Dario Argento has had a big influence on our culture and his films where just massive successes here and his first movie was the first true Giallo movie ever made and if you don't know Giallo stands for Yellow in Italian. And of course Italian cinema is big here and vice versa. Suspiria was just a shocking movie about witches and loud music that scars you to death and the color but I would like to go to his previous film or his first. But so far my favorite Argento film is Tenebrea. Okay very interesting plot and story, A man who runs an art gallery and working late but he accidently runs into a man in a rain coat trying to kill this lady but he interrupts them and he runs off. The police investigate but give up so Sam and a few friends take the case but big mistake. The serial killer is targeting them he pushes Sam's friend out a window and pushes another in front of a train. And his last words were "I know you!" Sam neededs to find out fast or he will die too. You will be shocked by the ending and when you finally find out who it was all along even I went WTF big I think his biggest shocker was in deep red. So in this movie look for clues and you will find out soon enough who it is. The acting is extremely good from American Tony Musante and same goes for other cast members I think the fear in there eyes gets to you. Mr. Argento direction is great I can really see it happing and with all the killing scenes of violence and the mystery parts. The characters are very ambiguous one of them when you first watch you are thinking is the killer but trust me you will be shocked. I think the scene was Sam almost gets run over was very shocking like always the head lights turn on and the car drives down an ally and hits him, But look carefully though at the car. I come to a close a very enthusiastic flick by Dario and its also one of those Rare's that I didn't give a 100% to because I just cant seem to do it. But it's a landmark in Giallo

• AJ V

  
  It's the old story of seeing a murder and wanting to figure it out on your own even though the police should be able to do it themselves, the guy's just curious and confused. It's a pretty good movie for a predictable themed film. I really love Argento's style.

• Conner R

  
  One of Dario Argento's best and a personal favorite. It is perhaps the most suspenseful film he's ever made, it is truly a film that is captivating from start to finish. Everything from the camera movement to sound is a vital factor in understanding the meaning of this… More
  One of Dario Argento's best and a personal favorite. It is perhaps the most suspenseful film he's ever made, it is truly a film that is captivating from start to finish. Everything from the camera movement to sound is a vital factor in understanding the meaning of this narrative. It is full of personality and has a flawless sense of emptiness in its backdrop.

• Anthony L

  
  Classic 70's giallo from Argento, in what I feel is possibly his best film. Brilliant

• Stephen M

  
  I came to <i>The Bird with the Crystal Plumage</i> having seen almost all of Dario Argento's other movies beforehand, so what fascinated me most was how his cinematic style seems to have emerged fully-formed with this, his very first feature. I can see a lot of echoes… More
  I came to <i>The Bird with the Crystal Plumage</i> having seen almost all of Dario Argento's other movies beforehand, so what fascinated me most was how his cinematic style seems to have emerged fully-formed with this, his very first feature. I can see a lot of echoes of this movie in his masterpiece, <i>Deep Red</i>: a present-day occurrence triggering off latent insanity and a series of killings; the hero, a witness to (here, only attempted) murder, struggling to digest the truth of what he actually saw; the importance of sinister, naive artwork to the solution of the mystery, and for purposes of misdirection; and the use of geographically restricted flora or fauna to pinpoint a crucial locale. Argento was very fortunate to secure the talents of cinematographer Vittorio Storaro--who would go on to do great work with Bernardo Bertolucci--and composer Ennio Morricone, whose stellar contributions enhance his film immeasurably. This is the best-looking of Argento's early films and still, I think, one of his most brilliantly shot and edited pictures.

• Drew S

  
  I could watch 70s giallo all day, what with the funky production values, lame plots and acting, and unrealistic gore. They are just downright fun movies, save Suspiria, which I thought was an insufferable bore. Dario Argento's movies often fuse trashiness and high art in one way… More
  I could watch 70s giallo all day, what with the funky production values, lame plots and acting, and unrealistic gore. They are just downright fun movies, save Suspiria, which I thought was an insufferable bore. Dario Argento's movies often fuse trashiness and high art in one way or another - The Bird with the Crystal Plumage, for instance, features sculpture, antiques and paintings. Stendhal Syndrome took place in an art museum, Suspiria figured in a dance school, and so on. Is he trying to suggest that his movies are art or deserve to be among art? Well, I've got a news flash for you, my dear old Italian friend. This clips along at a fine pace, and features some of the least distracting performing ever in an Argento film. If you haven't noticed, the man fails to get a decent performance out of 90% of his actors, but everyone here is actually tolerable. There are these traces of really bizarre humor that pepper the story, like a man who eats cats, and it's refreshing to see that he doesn't take himself entirely seriously (you'd think otherwise sitting through Suspiria). I do think Argento is sort of a hack, and stumbles upon most of his "brilliant" cinematography by throwing everything against the wall and seeing what works. This was his first film, and he obviously found his footing very quickly. If you want a junky slasher, though, his films are oddly consistent. There's something about them that makes them worth watching...I don't even know. Give this one a shot.

• Ken S

  
  Really fantastic Giallo and the birth of Dario Argento as a horror auteur. Beautiful cinematography by Vittorio Storaro and shockingly, a story you can actually understand.

• Tsubaki S

  
  Good start, Argento would improve with time (and then plunge to crappyness, but that's another story)

• Dr Blood  

  
  It's an ok thriller with Argento trying to copy Hitchcock as much as he possibly can but it doesn't really stand out nowadays since "Basic Instinct" and others of that ilk. If you like PG rated giallo then it's a must see but if you want something more… More
  It's an ok thriller with Argento trying to copy Hitchcock as much as he possibly can but it doesn't really stand out nowadays since "Basic Instinct" and others of that ilk. If you like PG rated giallo then it's a must see but if you want something more exciting with less lag then this Argento is best avoided completely. There is no gore, no nudity and nothing remotely scary in this whatsoever.

• Lafe F

  
  Dario Argento's first bloody murder mystery. The plot is rich with interesting characters and scenes surrounding a detective trying to solve a series of murders and catch a killer. There aren't too many plotholes, and the action keeps moving. The Ennio Morricone score… More
  Dario Argento's first bloody murder mystery. The plot is rich with interesting characters and scenes surrounding a detective trying to solve a series of murders and catch a killer. There aren't too many plotholes, and the action keeps moving. The Ennio Morricone score enhances the experience. It already shows Dario Argento's impressive style, which he would develop further in his famous horror and mystery directing career.

• Matthew Y

  
  The Bird With The Crystal Plumage helped establish two sub-genre's (Slasher and Giallo) and kick-started Dario Argento career. It is a landmark film in Italian and World cinema. Less graphic and gory than Argento's future films would be it contains all the other elements a… More
  The Bird With The Crystal Plumage helped establish two sub-genre's (Slasher and Giallo) and kick-started Dario Argento career. It is a landmark film in Italian and World cinema. Less graphic and gory than Argento's future films would be it contains all the other elements a great and compelling thriller should. Solid cinematography and well choreographed scenes grab out visual attention and help pull us into the story. A typical Giallo trick of discovering the killer only to discover that a piece of the mystery was not solved is a little trite but several twist endings in the genre could say that same. It didn't have the budget or production value of some of Argento's future films but excellent craftsmanship makes this film one of the greatest thrillers I've ever seen.

• Ryan M

  
  8.7/10 "The Bird with the Crystal Plumage" was the directorial debut of the great Dario Argento; a filmmaker from Italy who primarily enjoyed working in the horror and thriller genres. He didn't often branch out, but he was always willing. However, be it a drama, a… More
  8.7/10 "The Bird with the Crystal Plumage" was the directorial debut of the great Dario Argento; a filmmaker from Italy who primarily enjoyed working in the horror and thriller genres. He didn't often branch out, but he was always willing. However, be it a drama, a comedy, or a darned action movie that he makes next; the man will always be known for the kinds of films that he made and made well. My personal favorite out of all Argento's features is "Deep Red". His acclaimed "Suspiria" would come in second. And as of now, I'm pretty sure that this film deserves third place. It's the film that put the director on the map as someone to watch; someone to care about. This is the film that helped re-launch the sub-genre of "Giallo Horror"; a little thing that started with masterpieces such as the early works of Mario Bava. Argento's film is just as good. "The Bird with the Crystal Plumage" is all about plot and all about style. It works like a good deal of Argento's films work, although it doesn't quite go as "all-the-way" with surrealism as his later features would. He could only do so much with what he got, and I assume that wasn't much, at that. But when you've got "not much" and you're still able to make a great piece of cinema and a riveting work of art, then maybe money and production value doesn't matter so much anymore. Perhaps it's all in the ambition and skill of the filmmaker. Times have changed; for both the worst and for the best. Drawing heavily from the stylistic influences of Hitchcock's feature films, Argento's very own movie is very much interested in all of its elements. Much like the films of good old Hitchcock, it cares most about establishing a mood and creating an atmosphere in a number of different ways. Argento is like a more daring and bloodthirsty Hitchcock; sometimes, equally as good and skillfully at what he does. Argento has had his flops; but let's embrace those several successful films that he had before we criticize him as a man and as a filmmaker. This is one of his best. "The Bird with the Crystal Plumage" has it all; images that stick with us long after the credits have begun to roll, solid performances from the entire cast, an engaging plot with many complex, deceptive but overall intriguing points, and a haunting musical score courtesy of the legendary Ennio Morricone, who does some rather impressive work here; not one of his best scores, or one of his most memorable, but a good one nonetheless. The story involves an artist in the form of a writer, a common character in the Argento films to follow, who one night walks the lonely streets of Italy (he's an American in a new sort of world, so it would seem) and finds himself the sole witness of a brutal murder attempt. The assailant escapes through a door within the building (a large sheet of glass window allows the character to see what's happening inside to begin with), while the lady who he was attacking survives thanks to the character's contribution and ability to communicate with someone on the outside, in spite of being locked in by the villainous being. You would think that the hero would be able to forget this unfortunate incident soon after and let the local authorities do their job in delving as deep as they can into this murder mystery, but instead, the writer gets far more involved than he originally intended or expected. He can't seem to shake the images of violence and pure cruelty that he saw that night. He starts hearing taunting voices and thinks himself mad; that is until the escapee continues his/her killing spree, promting the writer character to take immediate action. He feels guilty for not doing anything more than "his part" in the beginning of the case, and now that the plot has thickened, he has been given a chance. But will he catch the killer and prove victorious when it comes to impressing the police and pretty much everyone else around him? Will his obsession take him to dark places, and will it be a turn-off for his girlfriend? This is one of those rare, fascinating films where I find myself saying: you'll just have to find out for yourself. But maybe that's the case with every film, every thriller; even the ones I don't particularly like. Because you never know who's going to be entertained, inspired, or thrilled. Argento's craft comes in his ability to creep you the hell out, yet still provide a story where we care about the characters. This is seldom the case, even with some of his better features, but it's the case here; and that's all that really matters. "The Bird with the Crystal Plumage" intends on delivering a celluloid nightmare and that is what it gives us; a film that toys with our fears of the dark, the unknown, and all those things misunderstood and impossible to comprehend. The film may not appeal to absolutely everyone due to the fact that Italian horror requires a certain state-of-mind and perhaps even an acquired taste. However, I'm telling all those who can appreciate movies like this to see it as soon as possible; while those alienated amongst the Italian horror buffs should still consider giving it a go, even if it might not appeal to them instantly. I think it's an excellent, flawless Giallo thriller that evokes horror and fascination as its key emotions. It is violent, relentless for its time, and indeed, quite thrilling. But it's also well-told, well-made, and visually artistic. I kind of have to admire Argento's attention to detail in the film's prolific opening murder sequence; where we are given glimpses of large bird sculptures and walls that are white, white, white. Sights such as these are not easily forgotten, and that's what I love about the film. It's quite the ride; quite the achievement. One of the best directorial debuts, probably of all-time. And that's saying something, isn't it?

• Alice S

  
  Wonderful mystery. Still, more comic and enjoyable than terrifying, I'd say.

• Marcus W

  
  Fantastic serial killer movie that can proudly take its place among such films as Seven, M, and Zodiac. It's also shot beautifully has a great pace and kept me guessing right to the end. I would write more but I would be in danger of ruining it for others.

• John M

  
  Dario Argento's clever debut. Not his best work but it is still an intriguing and well-made giallo movie.

Read all 20 featured audience ratings