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The Bird with the Crystal Plumage
The Bird with the Crystal Plumage
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The Bird with the Crystal Plumage

The Bird with the Crystal Plumage

1970
Suspense/Thriller, Crime
1h 36m
A writer is stalked by a serial killer after witnessing a murder attempt on one woman's life. (imdb)

Directed by:

Dario Argento

Screenwriter:

Dario Argento, Fredric Brown

Starring:

Mario Adorf, Tony Musante, Suzy Kendall, Enrico Maria Salerno, Eva Renzi, Umberto Raho, Renato Romano, Rosita Torosh, Gildo Di Marco, Giuseppe Castellano, Omar Bonaro, Pino Patti

Genres:

Suspense/Thriller, Crime, Horror, Mystery

AKA:

L'Uccello dalle piume di cristallo

Countries:

Italy, West Germany

Language:

Italian
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The Bird with the Crystal Plumage

1970
Suspense/Thriller, Crime
1h 36m
Your probable score
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer
Avg Percentile 58.3% from 880 total ratings
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

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barthalenBarthalen
Rated 30 Mar 2016
71
59th
Starts out strong and moody, but loses some steam as it chugs along, mainly because the story is just... there, and contains some non-characters and silly decisions to boot. "Oh, someone tried to axe me in the fog? Haha, no big deal, whatevs." I chuckled at how the titular bird was on-screen for three seconds at the most. Nicely creepy Morricone score.
Rated 30 Mar 2016
terrymacterrymac
Rated 14 Jun 2017
77
77th
A pretty solid giallo, showing early hints of what would become Argento's trademark style. It looks good; the camerawork is quietly effective, and the colouring and mise-en-scene work well. The fine, fractured Morricone score helps build tension, and is likeably weird at points. The cast was decent, Musante proving a likeable lead, and Reggie Nalder's glorious face is always a delight. It moves along briskly and if it feels a bit contrived then it just adds to the curious appeal. Worth seeing.
Rated 14 Jun 2017
icarusIcarus
Rated 24 Oct 2013
75
49th
Strong use of first person shots and tight framing to ratchet up the tension--the fear of the unknown is always worse than the known. Blow Up and Fincher's Zodiac crossed my mind as touchstones. That said, there are some clunky elements like the "death scene" near the beginning, and the Psycho-inspired "giving us all the answers" to conclude the film.
Rated 24 Oct 2013
astrakhanastrakhan
Rated 25 Jan 2013
77
49th
In my giallo-watching journey I still don't understand how or why Argento can be so heavy-handed and clumsy at shooting death scenes. But I am starting to appreciate all the other elements which are equally important in this genre: mise-en-scene, colour, symbolism, music. Some of the shots framed in this are just exquisite, and all the themes tie together beautifully. Despite its flaws I can see why this is considered a classic giallo, and the template for all Argento's work. Worth studying.
Rated 25 Jan 2013
thedenizenTheDenizen
Rated 27 Nov 2010
75
75th
Early giallo from Dario Argento about an American writer in Rome who witnesses a brutal knife attack on a young woman in the midst of a local string of slashing murders. Initially a suspect, he becomes obsessed with discovering the identity of the killer, which puts both him and his wife in great danger. Argento's visual style is a little muted, but Morricone's score is wonderful at creating tension and mood.
Rated 27 Nov 2010
chemical404chemical404
Rated 07 Jun 2009
85
98th
Exceptional soundtrack, color palette that sets the tone for movies to come, scenes that seems to be impossible to scratch out of the head, and most importantly - suspense worthy of Hitchcock. Very bold and still fresh after all these years.
Rated 07 Jun 2009
moraesfelipemoraesfelipe
Rated 25 Sep 2024
80
85th
Perfectly constructed stalker/serial killer flick, fun as hell -- so many weird supporting characters, omg (fearful informant MVP) -- evil urban tale through eyes of a genius. Gotta love details that make this unmistakably Argento's: novelist has every chance to go leave, but stays because these crimes drive him -- even make him write again! --, twist within twist, strange fellas saying 'oh, sure i've seen her' leading him to final confrontation, constant, teasing sense of dread, threat and lust
Rated 25 Sep 2024
glumpy99glumpy_99
Rated 27 Dec 2019
94
90th
Argento's stylish debut into Giallo is a real treat; aided immeasurably by Morricone's ROSEMARYish score and Storaro's cinematography, Argento flagrantly steals from Hitchcock, but twists and subverts The Master's tricks to his own ends; the establishing, well-staged murder scene would make Hitch proud. Performances are adequate enough to serve Argento's purposes, but this is really a director's film; stark, impersonal staging and set designs only heighten the tension once the horror starts.
Rated 27 Dec 2019
karamazovkaramazov.
Rated 19 Oct 2019
43
58th
Somewhat defies critical analysis [altho', amusingly and maybe admirably, user djross tries] because it suffers above all from Tarantino-syndrome. Beautiful technicals by an impressive crew [not least of whom are Storaro, Morricone, and Fraticelli], "plot," stock-characters, PSYCHO's brilliant meta-textual ending simply lifted to ridiculous and parodic effect, etc.-- clumsy devices for an unabashedly solipsistic vision, informed exclusively by and in reference to other movies and pulp stories.
Rated 19 Oct 2019
djrossdjross
Rated 27 May 2017
35
19th
The animating idea is a good one: our perceptions are edited in the very act of perceiving, according to our expectations, and this is so both for the protagonist, who spends the duration trying to exhume the truth from his own misleading and misled memory, and for the audience. Almost nothing else, however, can be honestly described as good or effective, protestations to the contrary amounting to yet another example of the same Kuleshovian truth: we perceive, mostly, what we prefer to perceive.
Rated 27 May 2017
ratedarghratedargh
Rated 12 Aug 2015
60
30th
What Dario Argento does well: atmosphere, visuals, tension. What Dario Argento doesn't do well: tell a coherent story with any believable kind of logic. Sometimes it's easy to ignore. This is not his worst, but that's faint praise.
Rated 12 Aug 2015
backwardsuitbackwardsuit
Rated 10 May 2015
77
72nd
Moody and interesting giallo with great music & visuals, disturbing murder scenes and suspensefully twisty plot. Bit long and plodding and doesn't come together quite as confidently as the best of these but still a fantastic debut film that contains all the elements of Argento's later greatness arguably in a more palatable package.
Rated 10 May 2015
trixrabbiTrixRabbi
Rated 24 Feb 2015
64
19th
Starting to get the feeling that if you've seen one Argento you've seen them all.
Rated 24 Feb 2015
thereeldealthereeldeal
Rated 21 Dec 2014
70
50th
The best thing that can be said about The Bird with the Crystal Plumage is that it's identifiably Argento despite being his debut. The gory murders still affect, his eye for framing and following a shot is already ace, and of course, it's a murder thriller. Hitchcockian in the best of ways. However, I find this mystery to be only adequately interesting. Sam and his girlfriend have no discernible personalities, and neither does the killer, really. It's difficult to get into the narrative.
Rated 21 Dec 2014
ddrudgesd_drudges
Rated 17 Sep 2014
60
69th
The visual style combined with Ennio Morricone's score is surprisingly captivating. The film might not have much to offer besides the mystery and its great atmosphere, but it's still a fun ride.
Rated 17 Sep 2014
filmfreak88filmfreak88
Rated 09 Aug 2014
75
66th
A stylish and splendidly well-made giallo debut by Dario Argento.
Rated 09 Aug 2014
spleenspleen
Rated 20 May 2013
82
77th
For some reason, this movie, more than anything else (except DePAlma's "Sisters") creeps me out and it's only rated PG. I don't know if the bleak visage of Italy, the gracefully surreal camerawork or just the groovy 70s hair.
Rated 20 May 2013
peaceanarchyPeaceAnarchy
Rated 06 Oct 2012
85
81st
Argento's great style, a compelling mystery and this time paired with decent performances, what's not to like. It plays out more like a mystery thriller than a horror film, and that's perfectly fine with me. Even if the reveals lack a little oomph, the way they're executed is wonderful.
Rated 06 Oct 2012
paxtonPaxton
Rated 24 Jan 2012
87
85th
Pretty straight forward: you've witnessed a murder, now what? Awesome, that's what.
Rated 24 Jan 2012
martintellerMartinTeller
Rated 19 Feb 2011
84
81st
I can't remember what prompted me to put this one in my queue, but as the opening credits rolled I saw two names that got me excited: Storaro and Morricone. And the two masters did not disappoint. It's not The Conformist, but it does look beautiful and there's some wonderful camerawork. Morricone's score is appropriately creepy and eccentric. And the film is first-rate giallo: a stylish, compelling mystery that doles out twists and information at just the right pace. I really enjoyed it.
Rated 19 Feb 2011
dean_franzDean Franz
Rated 18 Jun 2008
70
67th
Quite good early Argento. One of the better gialli, and one where you actually care about the outcome.
Rated 18 Jun 2008
moribunnyMoribunny
Rated 14 Aug 2007
68
70th
Argento's first solo directorial effort. His trademark visual style already shows. A well made mystery/thriller.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
shockularSHOCKULAR
Rated 04 Oct 2024
71
46th
Argento's first film is not as stylized (or quite as good) as some of his later work, but he already had a pretty strong grasp on what he wanted to do and how he wanted to do it. His trademark atmospheres and lighting haven't really taken off yet here, but it's solid stuff.
Rated 04 Oct 2024
nathanbatesNathanBates
Rated 27 Sep 2024
60
36th
It's always nighttime in Rome, or it at least seems that way watching this. Style-wise, it's quite impressive, with lots of colors mixed with dark scenes, and there's some good suspense moments. The story is a little threadbare, and the characters have no real personalities (except the painter, who was quite the treat). Horror isn't my genre, so I'll say it was fine, like if Hitchcock had spent more time on blood splatter than on his intricate plots.
Rated 27 Sep 2024
robbytrobbyt
Rated 27 Sep 2024
93
73rd
My favorite Argento film
Rated 27 Sep 2024
rihreyrihrey
Rated 23 Oct 2023
43
43rd
Certainly one of Argento's weakest; I didn't particularly care for anything that happened in the movie, but I still enjoy his style.
Rated 23 Oct 2023
doyler29doyler29
Rated 26 Jun 2023
80
68th
It's easy to see why this was the big hit that popularized the giallo. It's got the Hitchcock formula of an everyman pulled into a mystery, and it exercises it with a bit of humor and a lot of style. It also pushes the violence a lot farther. The cinematography by Vittorio Storaro and the Ennio Morricone score go a long way too. It's the best of Argento's pre-"Deep Red" films.
Rated 26 Jun 2023
scribScrib
Rated 02 Dec 2022
65
42nd
Predictable but stylish. The mystery is nothing to write home about, but I loved how it was filmed. All the more impressive for being as early as 1970 and Argento's debut. Felt like a bit of noir came into play here.
Rated 02 Dec 2022
amerigoamerigo
Rated 08 Jun 2022
76
41st
Important for the development of genre film, but ultimately a very pedestrian thriller-mystery.
Rated 08 Jun 2022
gabrielpGabriel_p
Rated 12 Mar 2022
75
56th
A not-so-demented Argento film. The computer technology used by the police was marvelous.
Rated 12 Mar 2022
mike365365mike365365
Rated 09 Feb 2021
59
28th
The ending is a bit silly.
Rated 09 Feb 2021
kito1kito1
Rated 15 Mar 2019
40
10th
I started watching this some time ago, but I lost interest quickly. Maybe I'll try again some day.
Rated 15 Mar 2019
oskarhuoskarhu
Rated 21 Feb 2018
81
78th
Some parts seem too convenient but mostly the suspense functions. Argento's visual style and the usage of sound plays a big role as always.
Rated 21 Feb 2018
silviosilvio
Rated 29 Jun 2017
50
39th
Somewhere between a serviceable horror and good film, this film gives itself the room to experiment with diversions that feel genre-appropriate but glide by without truly ratcheting up the stakes or the characterizations. All the ideas in this film are good however; so something must be said about the execution. Lead Tony Musante also seems a little too stiff in some moments. Soundtrack is sparse, intelligently laid but much silence abounds and I think it doesn't help the patchwork feel.
Rated 29 Jun 2017
jazzalohaJazzaloha
Rated 30 Dec 2015
66
49th
Mildly entertaining, not great. ps67
Rated 30 Dec 2015
lonewolf2003Lonewolf2003
Rated 03 Dec 2014
80
80th
(2nd viewing)
Rated 03 Dec 2014
luxnatalisLuxNatalis
Rated 05 Nov 2014
82
94th
Chronologically, for me this is the first truly great giallo, as I'm not that big on the early Bava works. Argento is a masterful director that sadly stopped making good movies in the early 80's.
Rated 05 Nov 2014
dougiedDougieD
Rated 18 Jan 2014
70
35th
A stylish horror thriller. The mystery solving scenes are contrived, but the murder scenes are very unsettling.
Rated 18 Jan 2014
glm01glm01
Rated 16 Oct 2013
82
71st
81.500
Rated 16 Oct 2013
snallygastersnallygaster
Rated 23 Sep 2013
30
19th
Great atmosphere; story starts off well but turns goofy.
Rated 23 Sep 2013
ag0stomesmerAg0stoMesmer
Rated 11 Nov 2012
4
91st
Silly 'gloved killer' film with some very stylish visuals and sound....lalalalaLalalalala
Rated 11 Nov 2012
sirrobbieSirRobbie
Rated 04 Apr 2012
70
53rd
The first minutes of the film are very stylish (the true Argento quality). Good tempo and quite nice suspense.
Rated 04 Apr 2012
crayonCRAYON
Rated 19 Jan 2012
75
37th
The suspense builds very nicely and there is actually a coherent story. This sounds all well and good, but I think I've come to enjoy the craziness of Argento and this just doesn't have it.
Rated 19 Jan 2012
luna6ixLuna6ix
Rated 15 Aug 2011
42
4th
Another early Argento movie that fails in every way possible. I find it hard to believe that the near collective approval for this movie is not a joke, because this movie sure produced a horrific laugh from me. The kind of laugh that only comes out when something is so terrifyingly bad that you have nothing else to do.
Rated 15 Aug 2011
glmglm
Rated 18 Jan 2011
81
69th
81.125
Rated 18 Jan 2011
tonydaltonydal
Rated 14 Nov 2010
70
41st
"You've come a long way, baby"...lol Awful contrived, but still pretty much fun.
Rated 14 Nov 2010
slantmagSlantMag
Rated 05 Nov 2010
30
78th
"While Plumage may not demand active spectatorship, the two-killer theory of Tenebre and Stendhal Syndrome makes its first appearance in an Argento film." - Ed Gonzalez
Rated 05 Nov 2010
frostyFrosty
Rated 24 Jan 2010
75
75th
More sedate than his later work. This film is exceptionally well paced - and unusually for Argento actually makes sense. A lot of what you see will be replicated and occasionally improved upon in his later films - such as a great score (this time provided by the legendary Ennio Morricone) colourful cinematography - and of course MURDER HANDS.
Rated 24 Jan 2010
prismaticPrismatic
Rated 26 Nov 2009
80
55th
Maybe the coolest ending reveal shot ever put to film.
Rated 26 Nov 2009
castrophCastroph
Rated 04 Aug 2009
8
85th
Argento's foreboding blueprint for giallos.
Rated 04 Aug 2009
treyatwoodTreyAtwood
Rated 17 Jul 2009
71
52nd
L'uccello dalle piume di cristallo: 9 // 7 // 7 // 7 // 7 // 7 // 6
Rated 17 Jul 2009
pompousasspompousass
Rated 21 May 2009
80
94th
Horrormeister Argento establishes his durable and elegant pattern in his first feature: a witness to a crime knows more than he knows he knows. How and when will his subconscious cough it up? More of an atmosphere, more of an air of mystery, less of a blood bath, than in later Argentos. One terrifically nightmarish episode of a distressed damsel cowering behind a locked door through which an anonymous knife-wielder is methodically carving a hole.
Rated 21 May 2009
luciusgoreluciusgore
Rated 18 Feb 2009
35
65th
"Those familiar with Argento's films should be able to see the groundwork that was being laid for later classics..."
Rated 18 Feb 2009
joseywalesjoseywales
Rated 02 Oct 2008
77
79th
Fantastic suspense.
Rated 02 Oct 2008
vandelay1Vandelay1
Rated 07 Aug 2008
84
94th
Nice
Rated 07 Aug 2008
hehejajahehejaja
Rated 28 Apr 2008
80
76th
A moody giallo wonderfully dressed by the great Storaro.
Rated 28 Apr 2008
nuotionuotio
Rated 14 Aug 2007
65
83rd
One of the seminal gialli. It owes a lot to Bava's "Black Lace" which is arguably the first proper giallo. Argento's first film is surprisingly low on sex and gore, and not yet as stylized as his later works. It's surprisingly restrained, at times almost a procedural with a coherent (for gialli at least) plot. It's still very effective and contains a lot of elements that would be copied to numerous films that followed. Morricone's score and Storaro's cinematography provide valuable support.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
stainStain
Rated 30 Mar 2007
100
95th
Great Dario Argento thriller
Rated 30 Mar 2007
driscarpindriscarpin
Rated 28 Jan 2007
93
92nd
Primeiro e mais engraçado filme do Argento, pelo menos eu ri horrores, principalmente pela galeria de personagens bizarros que vão adentrando a tela, o cafetão gago, o delator paranóico e em especial o pintor comedor de gatos (o Argento é vegetariano e diz não querer matar animais para viver, o bom é que para viver ele finge que mata animais, filosofia a qual estou plenamente de acordo). É o exato objeto de transição entre Alfred Hitchcock, Mario Bava e Brian De Palma. Box Versátil A
Rated 28 Jan 2007

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