About the book
Italian giallo films have a peculiar allure. Taking their name from the Italian for \"yellow\"— reflecting the covers of pulp crime novels—these genre movies were principally produced between 1960 and the late 1970s. These cinematic hybrids of crime, horror, and detection are characterized by elaborate set-piece murders, lurid aesthetics, and experimental soundtracks. Using critical frameworks drawn from genre theory, reception studies, and cultural studies, Giallo! traces this historically marginalized genre's journey from Italian cinemas to the global cult-film canon. Through close textual analysis of films including The Girl Who Knew Too Much (1963), Blood and Black Lace (1964), The Bird with the Crystal Plumage (1970), The Black Belly of the Tarantula (1971), and The Case of the Bloody Iris (1972), Alexia Kannas considers the rendering of urban space in the giallo and how it expresses a complex and unsettling critique of late modernity.
\"…[Kannas] offers fresh insights into the giallo film—especially concerning its use of excess and decadence to register the last gasp of modernity and modernism—that make the volume valuable to those interested in cult movies and popular Italian cinema.\" — CHOICE
\"This is a distinctive text that crosses the boundaries of national cinema, popular forms, theoretical works of modernity and modernism, and spectatorship. Kannas does an excellent job of blending different aspects of film and cultural theory, reception, and textuality. It's a pleasure to read.\" — Marcia Landy, author of Stardom, Italian Style: Screen Performance and Personality in Italian Cinema
Editions of Giallo!
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9781438480336
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781438480329
- PDF
- ISBN 9781438480343
Read an Excerpt
Italian giallo films have a peculiar allure. Taking their name from the Italian for \"yellow\"— reflecting the covers of pulp crime novels—these genre movies were principally produced between 1960 and the late 1970s. These cinematic hybrids of crime, horror, and detection are characterized by elaborate set-piece murders, lurid aesthetics, and experimental soundtracks. Using critical frameworks drawn from genre theory, reception studies, and cultural studies, Giallo! traces this historically marginalized genre's journey from Italian cinemas to the global cult-film canon. Through close textual analysis of films including The Girl Who Knew Too Much (1963), Blood and Black Lace (1964), The Bird with the Crystal Plumage (1970), The Black Belly of the Tarantula (1971), and The Case of the Bloody Iris (1972), Alexia Kannas considers the rendering of urban space in the giallo and how it expresses a complex and unsettling critique of late modernity.
\"…[Kannas] offers fresh insights into the giallo film—especially concerning its use of excess and decadence to register the last gasp of modernity and modernism—that make the volume valuable to those interested in cult movies and popular Italian cinema.\" — CHOICE
\"This is a distinctive text that crosses the boundaries of national cinema, popular forms, theoretical works of modernity and modernism, and spectatorship. Kannas does an excellent job of blending different aspects of film and cultural theory, reception, and textuality. It's a pleasure to read.\" — Marcia Landy, author of Stardom, Italian Style: Screen Performance and Personality in Italian Cinema
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Giallo! about?
Italian giallo films have a peculiar allure. Taking their name from the Italian for \"yellow\"— reflecting the covers of pulp crime novels—these genre movies were principally produced between 1960 and the late 1970s. These cinematic hybrids of crime, horror, and detection are characterized by elaborate set-piece murders, lurid aesthetics, and experimental soundtracks. Using critical frameworks drawn from genre theory, reception studies, and cultural studies, Giallo! traces this historically marginalized genre's journey from Italian cinemas to the global cult-film canon. Through close textual analysis of films including The Girl Who Knew Too Much (1963), Blood and Black Lace (1964), The Bird with the Crystal Plumage (1970), The Black Belly of the Tarantula (1971), and The Case of the Bloody Iris (1972), Alexia Kannas considers the rendering of urban space in the giallo and how it expresses a complex and unsettling critique of late modernity.
\"…[Kannas] offers fresh insights into the giallo film—especially concerning its use of excess and decadence to register the last gasp of modernity and modernism—that make the volume valuable to those interested in cult movies and popular Italian cinema.\" — CHOICE
\"This is a distinctive text that crosses the boundaries of national cinema, popular forms, theoretical works of modernity and modernism, and spectatorship. Kannas does an excellent job of blending different aspects of film and cultural theory, reception, and textuality. It's a pleasure to read.\" — Marcia Landy, author of Stardom, Italian Style: Screen Performance and Personality in Italian Cinema
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Giallo!?
The Arts > Performing arts > Films, cinema > Film history, theory or criticism
Where can I read a sample of Giallo!?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781438480336
How long is Giallo! and how many pages does it have?
Giallo! has 184 page(s)
Is Giallo! part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?
Yes it is a part of series SUNY series, Horizons of Cinema
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Giallo!?
Alexia Kannas
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Giallo! is available as hardcover(ISBN 9781438480336) and paperback(ISBN 9781438480329) and pdf(ISBN 9781438480343)
Where can I buy Giallo! online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Giallo! from below