Casa dalle finestre che ridono, La (1976)

Director:

Pupi Avati

Writers:

Antonio Avati (screenplay)
Antonio Avati (story)
(more)

Release Date:

16 August 1976 (Italy)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery | Drama

Plot:

Stefano, a young restorer is commissioned to save a fresco representing the suffering of St. Sebastiano...

Plot Keywords:

Italian Horror | Surreal | Giallo | Bizarre | Crucifix

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Lino Capolicchio	...	Stefano
Francesca Marciano	...	Francesca
Gianni Cavina	...	Coppola
Giulio Pizzirani	...	Antonio Mazza
Bob Tonelli	...	Mayor Solmi
Vanna Busoni	...	Teacher
Pietro Brambilla	...	Lidio
Ferdinando Orlandi	...	Police Marshall
Andrea Matteuzzi	...	Poppi
Ines Ciaschetti	...	Concierge
Pina Borione	...	Paraplegic Woman
Flavia Giorgi	...	Poppi's Wife
Arrigo Lucchini	...	Grocer
Carla Astolfi	...	Chambermaid at Boarding House
Luciano Bianchi	...	Franchini the Librarian
Tonino Corazzari	...	Buono Legnani
Libero Grandi
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Pietro Bona	...	Man at restaurant (uncredited)
Eugene Walter	...	Priest (uncredited)

Directed by
Pupi Avati

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Antonio Avati		screenplay
Antonio Avati		story
Pupi Avati		screenplay
Pupi Avati		story
Gianni Cavina		writer
Maurizio Costanzo		writer

Produced by
Antonio Avati	....	producer
Gianni Minervini	....	producer

Original Music by
Amedeo Tommasi

Cinematography by
Pasquale Rachini

Film Editing by
Giuseppe Baghdighian

Production Design by
Luciana Morosetti

Costume Design by
Luciana Morosetti

Makeup Department
Giovanni Amadei	....	makeup artist
Carboni	....	wigs
Francesco Musico	....	hair stylist
Rocchetti	....	wigs

Production Management
Sergio Bollino	....	unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Cesare Bastelli	....	assistant director

Art Department
Michelangelo Giuliani	....	painter
Otello Taglietti	....	assistant production designer

Sound Department
Venanzio Biraschi	....	sound mixer
Enrico Blasi	....	sound mixer
Rodolfo Montagnani	....	boom operator

Special Effects by
Luciano Anzellotti	....	special effects technician
Giovanni Corridori	....	special effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Mario Pizzi	....	key grip
Francesco Rachini	....	electrician
Antonio Scaramuzza	....	assistant camera
Giorgio Urbinelli	....	camera operator

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Teresa Lai	....	seamstress

Editorial Department
Maurizio Cucciola	....	assistant editor
Vincenza D'Amico	....	editing secretary
Piera Gabutti	....	assistant editor
Viviana Massi	....	assistant editor

Other crew
Alessandro Vivarelli	....	production assistant
Eugene Walter	....	special advisor

Thanks
Lino Boccaccini	....	thanks

Production Companies

• A.M.A. Film

Distributors

• Image Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Rocchetti e Carboni  wigs

Also Known As:

House with the Windows That Laugh
The House of the Laughing Windows (USA) (DVD title)
The House with Laughing Windows (USA) (DVD box title)

Runtime:

110 min

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Italy:VM14 | France:-12 | Singapore:NC-16

Filming Locations:

Cento, Ferrara, Emilia-Romagna, Italy

Company:

A.M.A. Film

Stick with it until the end.

"The House With Laughing Windows" is a very European film. Unlike the gialli of, say, Argento, this film is not 'Americanized' at all. It reminds me more of films like "Don't Torture a Duckling" in that it takes place out in a small town in the Italian countryside. It adds to the ambiance and I really like that.

The plot is very slow-moving. I'm not even sure if I'd call this film a giallo, but reading other reviews on here, it seems that it is in fact classified as such. It was hard for me to watch this for the first hour or so. I was wondering when it was going to pick up. Not many people get killed. But, I stuck with it and I recommend doing so. If you can stick with it, the ending is freakin' awesome. I was shocked by it; it really delivers. And it gets nice and bloody too. I had no idea who the killer was, and by the time I found out, my head was spinning from the progression of the final few scenes. It ends abruptly and it feels great. It more than made up for the sluggishness of the first 2/3 of the film. It's not unlike many of the newer Asian films in that regard: it moves very slow but the last few minutes are like a twisting train wreck.

In short, I recommend this film to those of you who have patience and enjoy Italian horror.

8 out of 10, kids.