Don't Look Now (1973)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

Nicolas Roeg

Writers:

Daphne Du Maurier (story)
Allan Scott (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

January 1974 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

A psychic thriller.

Plot:

John and Laura Baxter are living in Venice when they meet a pair of elderly sisters, one of whom claims to be psychic...

Plot Keywords:

Psychic | Italy | Venice Italy | Red | Premonition

Awards:

Won BAFTA Film Award. Another 8 nominations

Cast

Julie Christie	...	Laura Baxter
Donald Sutherland	...	John Baxter
Hilary Mason	...	Heather
Clelia Matania	...	Wendy
Massimo Serato	...	Bishop Barbarrigo
Renato Scarpa	...	Inspector Longhi
Giorgio Trestini	...	Workman
Leopoldo Trieste	...	Hotel Manager
David Tree	...	Anthony Babbage
Ann Rye	...	Mandy Babbage
Nicholas Salter	...	Johnny Baxter
Sharon Williams	...	Christine Baxter
Bruno Cattaneo	...	Detective Sabbione
Adelina Poerio	...	The Dwarf

Directed by
Nicolas Roeg

Writing credits
Daphne Du Maurier		(story)
Allan Scott		(screenplay) (as Alan Scott) and
Chris Bryant		(screenplay)

Produced by
Peter Katz	....	producer
Frederick Muller	....	associate producer (as Frederico Mueller)
Anthony B. Unger	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Pino Donaggio		(as Pino Donnagio)

Cinematography by
Anthony B. Richmond		(director of photography) (as Anthony Richmond)

Film Editing by
Graeme Clifford

Casting by
Miriam Brickman
Ugo Mariotti

Art Direction by
Giovanni Soccol

Makeup Department
Giancarlo Del Brocco	....	makeup artist
Maria Luisa Garbini	....	hair stylist
Barry Richardson	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Franco Coduti	....	unit manager
Tim Hampton	....	production supervisor (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Francesco Cinieri	....	assistant director

Art Department
Francesco Chianese	....	set dresser (as Francesco Chinanese)

Sound Department
Peter Davies	....	sound recordist
Rodney Holland	....	sound editor
Bob Jones	....	dubbing mixer
Peter Maxwell	....	adr mixer (uncredited)

Stunts
Richard Grayden	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Luciano Marrocchi	....	gaffer
Spartaco Pizzi	....	key grip
Simon Ransley	....	assistant camera
Luciano Tonti	....	camera operator

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Marit Allen	....	wardrobe: Miss Christie (as Marit Lieberson)
Anna Maria Feo	....	wardrobe mistress (as Annamaria Fea)
Andrea Galer	....	wardrobe: Miss Christie

Editorial Department
Peter Holt	....	assistant editor
Tony Lawson	....	assistant editor
Alfreda Benge	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Giampiero Boneschi	....	conductor
Giampiero Boneschi	....	music arranger

Other crew
Rita Agostini	....	continuity
Hubert Doyle	....	publicist
Terence O'Connor	....	production accountant
Steve Previn	....	production executive

Production Companies

• Casey Productions Ltd.
• D.L.N. Ventures Partnership
• Eldorado Films, s.r.l.

Distributors

• Arcade Movie Company (1999) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Atlantic Film (2004) (Sweden) (DVD)
• British Film Institute (BFI) (2001) (UK) (theatrical) (re-release)
• British Lion Film Corporation (1973) (UK) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1979) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Europa (1973) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Gloria Filmverleih AG (1974) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Indipendenti Regionali (1973) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2001) (Germany) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Video (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Video (USA) (VHS)
• Paramount Home Video (USA) (laserdisc)
• Paramount Pictures (1973) (USA) (theatrical)
• Thorn EMI Video Australia (Australia) (VHS) (1980s)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (1988) (UK) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2002) (UK) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Shepperton Studios  sound re-recording

Also Known As:

A Venezia... un dicembre rosso shocking (Italy)
Amenaza en la sombra (Spain) [es]
Aquele Inverno em Veneza (Portugal) [pt]
Inverno de Sangue em Veneza (Brazil) [pt]
Karanligin gölgesi (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Kauhun kierre (Finland) (DVD title) [fi]
Kauhunkierre (Finland) [fi]
Meta ta mesanyhta (Greece) [el]
Ne vous retournez pas (France) [fr]
Nie ogladaj sie teraz (Poland) [pl]
Rösten från andra sidan (Sweden) [sv]
Rødt chok (Denmark) [da]
Varning i rött (Finland: Swedish title) [sv]
Venecia rojo shocking (Argentina) [es]
Wenn die Gondeln Trauer tragen (West Germany) [de]

Runtime:

110 min

Country:

Italy | UK

Language:

English | Italian

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Portugal:M/16 | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 (original rating) | Norway:18 (re-rating) | Sweden:15 | UK:15 (video re-rating) (2002) | UK:18 (video rating) (1988) | UK:X (original rating) | USA:R | West Germany:16 | Netherlands:16

Filming Locations:

"The Canals", Venice, Veneto, Italy

Company:

Casey Productions Ltd.

Trivia:

Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie met for the first time on the set of this film. The first scene they had to shoot was the sex scene, as Roeg wanted to "get it out of the way" and then move on to the "bone" of the matter. Christie was terrified.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the bathroom scene, John Baxter steps over Laura's clothes, piled on the floor. Among them is a pair of tights, which she was clearly not wearing in the preceding scene (in which she undresses).

Quotes:

Heather: Fetch him back! Let him not go!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Communion (1976)

One of the great mysteries. How was it forgotten?

"Don't Look Now" was released at about the time of "The Excorcist". There is otherwise no basis for comparison between these movies. While the Excorcist hits us in the face with the equivalent of a special effects rubber chicken, "Don't Look Now" manages to get under your skin from the very first scene, and gradually, elegantly insinuates itself into a place where your childhood and adult fears dwell and steep. Its setting in Venice is both beautiful and menacing. Something terrible is always just around the corner from our conscious mind. It is also troubling, and, as only a good movie can, leaves more questions unanswered than resolved. Without a doubt, it contains one of the most beautiful loves scenes ever filmed, showing scenes of Christie and Sutherland in genuinely erotic (by '70's standards) lovemaking, mixed with scenes of the couple as they dress and prepare for their day, the following morning. Director Nicolas Roeg is a forgotten Master.