Matrixston Wow! Such a good movie.

SnoReptilePlenty Memorable, crazy movie

Supelice Dreadfully Boring

Organnall Too much about the plot just didn't add up, the writing was bad, some of the scenes were cringey and awkward,

jadavix It's not every day that you see an entry into an Italian exploitation subgenre - giallo - and see possible inspirations for Stanley Kubrick's later career.But then, "Short Night of Glass Dolls" really isn't a giallo. There's very little violence here, or lurid shock tactics. The sex and nudity isn't gratuitous or erotic and is saved for one very specific scene.What "Short Night of Glass Dolls" is, is a brilliantly understated and gripping thriller, the horror of which gradually dawns on you just as it closes in on the comatose hero. The atmosphere is stifling, as in a room slowly filling with odorless gas. This is one mystery you almost wish you hadn't started to follow, but the execution of it is masterful.

gridoon2018 And perhaps the only one, as well. I mean, how many others in this genre were even set in a Communist city (here, Prague), let alone had such a strong political subtext? Though this isn't really a giallo in the traditional sense, it's more of a straight mystery (there is no gore, but some nudity - even senior-citizen nudity!). The "hook" of the film (a man who appears to be dead to everyone but whose mind is still working and is trying to remember what happened to him) is original and gripping. The final 5 minutes are suspenseful. But in the middle the movie fizzles and becomes dull, with a more or less obvious plot, a lack of pace, and uninspiring performances. It also features one of Ennio Morricone's less memorable music scores. ** out of 4.

Boba_Fett1138 It's funny how basically every Italian thriller made during the '70's gets labeled as a Giallo, though not all Italian thrillers are being such ones of course. Even though it does basically has the same type of atmosphere over it, this movie is simply being a straight-forward mystery-thriller, with a great story and lots of other great elements, that all help to make this an original- as well as an effective watch.Thing that immediately becomes obvious about this movie is that is a very well made one. It really has a great visual directing style, which gives the movie a good atmosphere and feel to it but the movie has a great narrative in it as well.It's a movie that constantly jumps back and forth between 'present time' and lots of flashbacks, that show what happened all previously, to the main character and he got into the threatening and unusual situation that he's in. This is an approach to the story that works out really well for the movie and actually also enhances the movie its tension and mystery.I really loved the story itself as well, that isn't anything too likely but it's all well written and executed in the movie. It features some nice nice thriller and mystery elements but I really don't want to spoil much about it, since this movie is really something you have to see for yourself and take things as they come along, without knowing in advance which direction the story is heading toward. It's a movie with plenty of good surprises and plot-twists in it, as well as an highly effective, unforgettable ending. The story is mainly the reason why the movie works out as a very original one within its genre as well.The movie does a good job at keeping things going and maintains a good pace throughout but it can't really prevent the movie from dragging a bit at points and some moments in the movie actually come across as a bit pointless. But anyway, the movie is just over 90 minutes long, which is too short to get really bothered by any of this.A real great accomplishment from Aldo Lado, who made his directorial debut with this movie. He had some experience with the genre as a writer but it seems as if he had saved his best script for himself with this movie. Unfortunaly his career as a director never really took off, which is simply due to the fact that most of his other directed movies never reach the same level of greatness as this one. A shame because he really showed a lot of promise with this directorial debut.Luckily it still of course doesn't change anything about the fact that this movie is one great and original watch.8/10http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/

Tender-Flesh What a pleasant surprise. This early giallo entry was Aldo Lado's first directorial feature and he put a lot of effort into it. What might disappoint slightly is that you don't see a lot in the way of good deaths. Most are done off-screen, which makes this a marginal giallo, at best. However, don't be put off by the "lack of hack." This movie has got the goods and delivers them.An American journalist, Gregory Moore played by Jean Sorel(who reminds me of Franco Nero a bit), is found at the beginning of the film lying in the grass and being menaced by a hungry crow. Gregory is believed to be dead and so is transported to the hospital. However, while there, the audience is privy to his inner dialogue which seems to prove he is very much alive. The examining doctors are befuddled by his lack of rigidity and other normal signs of recent death. Then we begin to move through flashbacks as Gregory tries to piece together how he got to the hospital and what occurred over the last few days. During the hospital sequence, there are some delicious moments of uncertainty where you wonder whether a possibly still-living Gregory will fall under the scalpel for an autopsy or will he wake up with is innards exposed? I especially liked the part where he was slipped into the cooler until the doctors decided what to do with him and then another body is placed on the rack above him. Super creepy.The flashback sequences are masterfully spun. Gregory searches desperately for his girlfriend, the pretty-from-the-right-angle Barbara Bach, who's gone missing. He and his journalist friends butt heads with the local police in Prague as they chase shadows in empty plazas and zig-zagging alleys. After putting a few pieces of the puzzle together, Gregory finds a club for lovers of classical music and believes Barbara and other women have met their fate at the hands of the occupants. What follows is a rather strange orgy of black mass rites and political potency. The ending is shocking. The hospital aspect of the plot is very similar to a Twilight Zone episode and also to a Stephen King short story(I doubt King saw this film, but he did say the TZ episode inspired him-which is admirable since it's practically identical---ah, the ability to be published for such nonsense, but I digress).Ennio Morricone provides the score. While Morricone is always good, the second film by Aldo Lado has a much better score written by Ennio.There is almost no bloodshed in this film and what you do see is mainly off-camera deaths. This is unusual for 70's horror/thrillers and it's a rare treat to just sit back and take in Lado's meticulous direction.