THE BIRD WITH CRYSTAL PLUMAGE
Crystal plumage? Really?
It's damn near the end of the movie before you find out just what the avian of the title is, or what it has to do with anything. I was kinda hoping for a Maltese Falcon-type thing, but no, this is an actual bird, although I just don't see the "crystal plumage" thing.
This is Dario Argento's directing debut, and a quite engaging film overall despite the ridiculous plot. An American in Italy witnesses a black-clad figure stab a woman in an art gallery, and remembers it remarkably well (Argento shows a number of "playback"-like memory scenes, which made me chuckle because it'd be so, so cool of my memory actually worked that way). But there's something he's not remembering, something he can't put his finger on - something which will, of course, wrap up the entire plot at the end of the movie when he remembers it. Anyway, he takes it upon himself to investigate the crime (and indeed the murders leading up to it) when it becomes clear that the police are looking at him less as a witness and more as a suspect.
The plot here is quite silly, with people finding the most convenient pieces of evidence at the most convenient times ("...and there's only one in all of Italy!"), not to mention the Dr. Evil-like behavior of the villain when the attacker's identity is revealed (instead of killing our hero, toying with him just long enough to facilitate...ah, you figure it out). And I swear to God, I had that guy pegged as a cat-eater before the film revealed it (although cats make poor meals, having so little meat on 'em).
Still, it's been quite some time since I've watched an Argento movie for the plot. There are a few skincrawlers of scenes, like when we're treated to the sight of a victim being slashed up with a razor from the victim's point of view, razor repeatedly darting in toward the camera. The movie's frequently quite intense, has a good sense of humor, and moves just quickly enough to prevent the viewer from really caring about how likely any of this is. Good music by Ennio Morricone, too.
Also known as Bird With The Glass Feathers, The Gallery Murders, and Phantom Of Terror.