Product DescriptionSam Dalmas (Tony Musante) is an American reporter living in Rome who witnesses what appears to be a murder. Trapped by a glass wall, he can't intervene, but does manage to scare off the killer. Wounded, the victim survives, and Dalmas's curiosity drives him to look further into the story, but he soon finds himself and his girlfriend in jeopardy and stalked by the would-be murderer. Director Dario Argento's debut film is a remarkable work, more restrained than many of his later films. Based on an obscure 1950s pulp novel, Bird draws heavily on Hitchcock, as well as on American novelists such as Dashiell Hammett and Cornell Woolrich. At the same time, its execution makes it a highly original, inventive, and fast-paced film that plays with the conventions of the thriller genre. As was often the case with Hitchcock's work, Dalmas is a spectator to the original crime, reflecting the voyeuristic role of the film audience. He's an ordinary guy who unravels the circumstances of the crime until he comes across the most unlikely scenario, a device also reminiscent of Hitchcock. The score, editing, and camera work, however, give the film a distinctly Italian stamp, and established Argento as a stylish, innovative director to watch. The scene in which Dalmas is chased through the streets by a gun-toting assassin, in particular, is a little gem of suspense. Modern-day thrillers should hope to live up to this film's intelligence, energy, and intricate plot twists. --Jerry Renshaw - Actors: Mario Adorf, Omar Bonaro, Giuseppe Castellano, Giovanni Di Benedetto, Gildo Di Marco
- Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
- Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
- Format: Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, DVD-Video, Original recording remastered, Special Edition, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
- Language (Original Language): English
- Language (Original Language): Italian
- Language (Subtitled): English
- Region Code: 1
- Release Date: 2005-10-25
- Running Time: 96 minutes
- Theatrical Release Date: 1970-06-12
Customer ReviewsReviewed on 2008-06-29 
Nothing promotes fear like the unknown
Slicing the way for the 70's resurgence in horror, this immediately established Argento as a horror heavyweight. This stylized whodunit set the tone for a long line of slasher flicks involving women as the targets of terror.
Bird with the Crystal Plumage was an excellent start to Argento's illustrious career. Paranoia and fear run rampant in this modern day Jack the Ripper tale. 4.5 stars
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True or False
Argento is the reason women started carrying pepper spray. |  | Reviewed on 2008-05-08
Excellent Thriller from the master of horror.
One viewing of Argentos first film and you can tell he was destined to become one of the greatest horror directors who ever lived. Getting his first job directing from his father (who was a big time producer at the time), The Bird with the Crystal Plumage uses all the great techniques that made his later films so great. The Dream-like cinematography, the use of bright colors and lighting, and of course the stylistic death sequences. Where Bird really shines though is the writing. Considering Argento was a writer before he became a director this is no surprise. It's obvious that Argento took more than a couple cues from Hitchcock, but he takes a lot of Hitchcocks techniques and makes them his own with a more stylistic, dark, and violent tone. Bird is not Argentos best film but essential viewing for any die-hard Argentophiles like myself. BUY IT NOW!!!!!!! | | Reviewed on 2008-03-04
A must have for all Dario Argento's fans and horror films lovers
This is a very good quality product (2 disc special edition). The movie is the first Dario Argento's film, a clue to understand the director's artistic path. If you just like horror films, maybe you won't jump on your sit (but then again maybe you will), but if you are a horror film collector, you can't miss this one. | | Reviewed on 2008-01-21 
An early sign of great things to come.
"The Bird with the Crystal Plumage" is Italian horror director, Dario Argento's, first movie and although not up to the same standard as some of his later films, such as "Suspiria" and "Tenebre" (both of which are now considered to be horror classics), its not all that bad. The plot is a simple one: a young American writer witnesses an attempted murder, the night before he is to leave Italy. It turns out that this is the latest in a string of murders that have been occurring recently, and so, after being detained in Italy by the police, he decides to investgate. The film is slow-moving and Argento's trademark visual style is still not fully developed (unlike some of his later films, there is also a lot less blood and gore in this film - hardly any, in fact), but it's still a very good film and shows signs of the great things that would come later in Argento's career. | | Reviewed on 2007-11-27
One of my timeless horror cult movies!
Dario Argento was the main artistic descendent of Mario Bava, although Argento ` s obsession was always focused on the multiple stages and mental disturbances of the oppressed human soul, through his impressive baroque style. He established a new dimension of horror thanks to an accurate doses of suspense, unexpected angle shots, bizarre images, terrific music and sadism in industrial amounts. Most of his films were filmed at the shadow of the night and knew to maintain from start to finish, the whole interest on the lot as well as his well known chilling sequences that now are part of the story of cinema.
An unforgettable classic of the genre.
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