Miss Muerte (1966)

Director:

Jesus Franco

Writers:

Jesus Franco (original screenplay)
Jean-Claude Carrière (adaptation)
(more)

Release Date:

15 February 1967 (USA)

Genre:

Sci-Fi | Horror

Plot:

Woman seeks to avenge her father's death by using a local dancer, with long poisonous fingernails, to do her bidding. |

Plot Keywords:

Barefoot | Women Killing Women | Sequel | Dead Woman With Eyes Open | Dead Woman Carried

Cast

Estella Blain	...	Nadja
Mabel Karr	...	Irma Zimmer
Howard Vernon	...	Dr. Vicas
Fernando Montes	...	Philippe
Marcelo Arroita-Jáuregui		(as Marcel Arroita)
Cris Huerta
Alberto Bourbón		(as Albert Bourbon)
Guy Mairesse	...	Hans Bergen
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ana Castor	...	Barbara (uncredited)
Alberto Dalbés	...	(uncredited)
Jesus Franco	...	(uncredited)
Antonio Jiménez Escribano	...	Dr. Zimmer (uncredited)
José María Prada	...	(uncredited)
Lucía Prado	...	(uncredited)
Daniel White	...	Inspector Green (uncredited)

Directed by
Jesus Franco

Writing credits
Jesus Franco		(original screenplay) (as David Kuhne)
Jean-Claude Carrière		(adaptation)
Jean-Claude Carrière		(dialogue)

Produced by
Michel Safra	....	producer
Serge Silberman	....	producer

Original Music by
Daniel White

Cinematography by
Alejandro Ulloa

Film Editing by
Marie-Louise Barberot
Jean Feyte

Production Design by
Antonio Cortés		(as Tony Cortes)

Makeup Department
Raymond Ferrer	....	makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Robert Demollière	....	assistant director (as R. Demollière)

Camera and Electrical Department
Clemente Manzano	....	camera operator

Editorial Department
Arlette Lalande	....	assistant editor
Monique Teisseire	....	assistant editor

Other crew
Odette Darrigol	....	production secretary
Nicole Guettard	....	script supervisor

Production Companies

• Ciné-Alliance
• Hesperia Films S.A.
• Spéva Films

Distributors

• Mercurio Films S.A. (1966) (Spain) (theatrical)
• U.S. Films (1967) (USA) (theatrical) (dubbed)
• Astral Films (1967) (Canada) (theatrical) (dubbed)
• Something Weird Video (SWV) (1996) (USA) (VHS)
• Something Weird Video (SWV) (1997) (USA) (VHS) (Frank Henenlotter's Sexy Shockers from the Vaults, Vol. 87) (reissue)
• Mondo Macabro (2003) (USA) (DVD)

Also Known As:

"The Diabolical Dr. Z" - International (English title), USA
"Dans les griffes du maniaque" - France
"Le diabolique docteur Z" - France
"Miss Death" -
"Miss Death and Dr. Z in the Grip of the Maniac" -
"Das Geheimnis des Dr. Z" - West Germany

Runtime:

86 min

Country:

Spain | France

Language:

Spanish | French

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:Unrated (DVD rating) | West Germany:18

Company:

Ciné-Alliance

Movie Connections:

Edited into Mad Ron's Prevues from Hell (1987) (V)

Get your copy NOW!

Probably a good starting point to explore your Franco. This is a well written and smoothly running yarn of obsession and revenge, with handsome and solid cast, hypnotic soundtrack and first class camera work. There's the ethereal Estella Blain, a beauty who is changed into a killing machine, with powers to mesmerize men. Knowing that in real life she ended her life with a shotgun adds to the morbid fascination of seeing her. The scene of her seducing one of her victims on a train, in sudden silence and almost complete darkness as the train enters a tunnel, is so weirdly beautiful that one is compelled to watch it several times. My second viewing of this film was in a rather tired company, and I witnessed a drunkard - well, an intoxicated young gentlemen - wake up from his slumber just because of the dreamlike soundtrack and becoming glued to the screen. These are the moments that make film the greatest of art forms. Otherwise I'm not a great fan of Mr Franco. A man who directs about 200 films can't hit a bullseye every time. But this time he really has. A piece de resistance for every eurotrash lover. How lucky you are if you haven't seen this film yet and are planning a viewing!