The Scorpion with Two Tails

The Scorpion with Two Tails
Italian theatrical release poster by Enzo Sciotti[2]
Directed bySergio Martino
Screenplay by
Story by
Produced byLuciano Martino[1]
Starring
CinematographyGiancarlo Ferrando[3]
Edited by
Music byFabio Frizzi[3]
Production
companies
  • Dania Film
  • Medusa Distribuzione
  • Imp.Ex.Ci.Sa.
  • Les Films Jacques Leitienne[1]
Distributed byMedusa
Release dates
  • 17 September 1982 (1982-09-17) (Italy)
  • 24 August 1983 (1983-08-24) (France)
Running time
98 minutes[1]
Countries
  • Italy
  • France[1]

The Scorpion with Two Tails (Italian: Assassinio al cimitero etrusco, lit. 'Murder in the Etruscan Cemetery') is a 1982 film directed by Sergio Martino.[4]

Plot

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Joan has nightmares of Etruscan sacrifices. She knows very well the Etruscan language and her husband Arthur is an archeologist studying Etruscan tombs. In her nightmare, she foresees her husband's death. And Arthur is then killed in the same way the Etruscans killed their sacrifice victims, convincing her that someone (or something) may be after her as well.

Cast

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Production

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The Scorpion with Two Tails originally started life as an 8-part television series to be titled Il mistero degli Etruschi or Lo scorpione a due code.[1] Two original scripts are located in the SIAE archives, one signed by Ernesto Gastaldi and one by Dardano Sacchetti in 1982.[1][5] The French film producer Jacques Leitienne is also listed in the credits as a co-writer, but this was purely for bureaucratic reasons.[1][2]

Shooting lasted for four months in Volterra, Cerveteri, Formello, New York City and at R.P.A. Elios Studios in Rome.[1][2] Although originally made for television, the film was shot on 16mm and blown up to 35mm for its theatrical release.[2]

Release

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The Scorpion with Two Tails was distributed theatrically in Italy by Medusa on 17 September 1982.[1] It was distributed in France as Crime au cimetière étrusque on 24 August 1983.[1] In the late 1980s the series was purchased by Reteitalia to be shown as a two-part feature for Canale 5.[2] This abridged version was re-edited by Claudio Lattanzi but was never shown on Canale 5.[2]

Sergio Martino later regretted the film saying "it didn't add anything to my career, not even from an economic standpoint."[5]

See also

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Footnotes

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Curti 2019, p. 97.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Curti 2019, p. 98.
  3. ^ a b c d e Curti 2019, p. 96.
  4. ^ Roberto Chiti; Roberto Poppi; Enrico Lancia. Dizionario del cinema italiano: I film. Gremese, 2000. ISBN 8877424230.
  5. ^ a b Curti 2019, p. 99.

Sources

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  • Curti, Roberto (2019). Italian Gothic Horror Films, 1980-1989. McFarland. ISBN 978-1476672434.
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