A Giallo would not be a Giallo without a beautiful woman (or five) in the film. Today we're gonna take a sexy look at some of those iconic Ladies of Giallo that forever burned their way into our Deviant hearts.
If you're anything like me...then you've probably fallen in love a hundred times over with most of the women on this list. Grant it the female in a Giallo film is most likely a victim...however, she is a different kind of victim than you're standard horror film. A woman in a Giallo film has style and grace and a distinct look to her. She is the vision in a fever-induced dream that leaves you wanting more. She is that dark-haired girl you've chased a dozen times in some alternate reality in your mind's eye. She might be the very reason as to why you have a collection of terrible Gialli on your shelf. For much like the music in a Giallo...sometimes all it takes is a beautiful lady to catch your heart in an otherwise awful movie to make it all memorable.
I have assembled below a list of some of the Ladies of Giallo who have always been somewhere in this dark heart of mine. While they are not necessarily in any kind of order, per se...some of the lovely ladies on this list mean so much more to me than others *cough-ASIA-cough*...sorry...not sure what the hell that was. Also, it is important to note that I listed only 10 ladies...as we would be here all day if I listed anymore. Anyway...please enjoy...
THE LADIES OF GIALLO
(click the images below for a bigger version)
Tina Aumont
Torso (1973)
Maria Christina "Tina" Aumont was a French actress. She was of French Jewish and Dominican descent, born in Hollywood to actors Jean-Pierre Aumont and Maria Montez. I've always loved her dark eyes and her unique look...and Torso is certainly one of my personal favorite Gialli of all time. Sadly...Tina passed away in 2006.
Barbara Bach
Black Belly of the Tarantula (1971)
Short Night of Glass Dolls (1971)
Barbara Bach is an American actress and model known as the Bond girl Anya Amasova from the James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me. She has a distinct look about her and pretty much stands out in Black Belly as the hottest girl in the film. She ended up marrying freaking Ringo Starr who still share a lovely romance.
Ania Pieroni
Inferno (1980)
The House by the Cemetery (1981)
Tenebre (1982)
Ania is an Italian actress who doesn't have too many films to her credit. Like...ten, or so. However, three of those ten films happen to be some of the most iconic films in Italian genre history. I mean...to have worked with Argento and Fulci would be a highlight in any actors career. And...Jesus...those eyes - hypnotic as fuck!
Marisa Mell
Seven Blood-Stained Orchids (1972)
Death Will Have Your Eyes (1974)
An Austrian actress who became a cult figure of 1960's Italian B-movies, Marisa went on to star in quite a few Italian productions, including an amazing turn as Anna in the erotic Seven Blood-Stained Orchids directed by Umberto Lenzi. Sadly, Marisa was cast in the ultimate B-movie in the sky in 1992...succumbing much too young to throat cancer. Fuck cancer.
Rosalba Neri
Amuck (1972)
The French Sex Murders (1972)
Smile Before Death (1972)
The Girl in Room 2A (1974)
Sometimes credited as Sara Bey or Sara Bay, Rosalba is mostly known for her Italian westerns...unless, of course, you are a connoisseur of fine sleazy Gialli. There's a nice slow-motion scene in the Silvio Amadio film Amuck where Rosalbi's character, Eleanora, drugs a hot young lady named Greta (the next minx on this list) and proceeds to have beautiful girl-on-girl action with her. Classic.
Barbara Bouchet
The Man with Icy Eyes (1971)
Black Belly of the Tarantula (1971)
Amuck (1972)
The French Sex Murders (1972)
The Lady in Red Kills Seven Times (1972)
Don't Torture a Duckling (1972)
One of my favorite blonde actresses of all time, Barbara has acted in more than 80 films and television episodes and founded a production company that has produced fitness videos and books. She also owns and operates a fitness studio. She also played Moneypenny in the original Casino Royale...crazy. Just gonna mention that slow-mo girl-on-girl scene in Amuck again....because...OH MY GOD!
Jane Birkin
Seven Deaths in a Cat's Eye (1973)
Jane's always had a distinct look to her. Very lovely in a stylish way. She is perhaps best known for her relationship with Serge Gainsbourg in the 1970s and being the namesake of the popular Hermès Birkin bag. Her daughter is fellow actress Charlotte Gainsbourg, who is quite familiar with the art of castration (see Antichrist).
Edwige Fenech
5 Dolls for an August Moon (1970)
Blade of the Ripper (1971)
All the Colors of the Dark (1972)
Your Vice is a Locked Room and Only I Have the Key (1972)
The Case of the Bloody Iris (1972)
Strip Nude for Your Killer (1975)
Phantom of Death (1988)
What can I say about this French-born Italian actress that hasn't already been said. She has stolen the hearts of genre fans everywhere. With her dark black hair and her lovely pale skin, Edwige is among the very finest of Giallo ladies and will forever be known as the Queen of Giallo. And she still looks great at 66 years young. Between you and me...I would be Edwige's black-gloved killer any night.
Jennifer Connolley
Phenomena (1985)
Jennifer Connelley has starred in only one Giallo film. Luckily for her...it is one of the greatest examples of Italian horror film of all time. It is the very first horror movie that I rented on my own when I was a child and it stands as so much more than a run-of-the-mill Giallo...I could go on for days with attempting to explain Phenomena. Jennifer has gone on to do her best in ignoring the Argento film...which is completely idiotic in my book.
Asia Argento
Trauma (1992)
The Stendhal Syndrome (1986)
You know in your heart that I was gonna find a way to incorporate Asia...one way or another. It's what I do. In a word...she is a dream. She is magical, beautiful...and most of all she is Dario's daughter. I remember watching Trauma mostly for her...and I still own a copy of her Scarlet Diva film somewhere. One day...we will be together. One...day.
You have been reading..."FILM DEVIANT"
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