Comments on: Celebrating Val Lewton & Dario Argento

by: Maya

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 01:06:19 +0000

Kimberly, I’m sorry I’m so late getting back to you to thank you for the shout-out regarding the Val Lewton blogathon. I hope you’re feeling better. And whenever, or if ever, you feel like writing that piece about Lewton’s influence on Argento, please just let me and I’ll link it into the blogathon belatedly! I would love to read it!

by: cinebeats

Wed, 16 Jan 2008 15:13:09 +0000

Thanks for the feedback! And I appreciate the nice comment Fulcanalli.

I’ve read about Jacques Tourneur’s influence on Argneto, but I haven’t come across any mention of the way Robson’s films may have influenced him. Generally speaking, it seems that Robson’s work with Lewton is often overlooked in favor of the films he made with Jacques Tourneur, but I think The Seventh Victim is an extremely important movie and if you look hard enough you might see traces of the films influence on Suspiria like I do.

I do want to add that an entire book could be written about the many ways in which the pool scene in Cat People has influenced countless films that followed it. In particular though, I think Italian horror cinema and gialli is often seeped in Lewton’s influences.

by: fulcanalli

Wed, 16 Jan 2008 01:36:25 +0000

Yes. The Seventh Victim has been indicated even by Argento for Inferno, instead Suspiria is connected more with Cat People, in fact he makes in this film his own vision of the famous swimming pool scene by the Tourner movie.

by the way I’d like to see the documentary in italian. Wonderful site and wonderful tastes Cinebeats.

by: robertmonell

Tue, 15 Jan 2008 17:09:59 +0000

THE SEVENTH VICTIM seems to have been an influence on INFERNO as has been mentioned. I saw it in 35mm in New York City in 1975 and it really impressed me. Not much coverage of it in the doc, though. My favorite is I WALKED WITH A ZOMBIE, a perfect masterwork. I watched it again after the doc and it always floors me. It was interesting to see Tourneur being interviewed, also.

by: adrien

Tue, 15 Jan 2008 13:09:48 +0000

a comparison of The Seventh Victim and Suspiria sounds exceedingly interesting.

by: cinebeats

Tue, 15 Jan 2008 11:23:09 +0000

Thanks Keith! The doc was interesting even though I was rather out of it while I watched. I recorded it so I hope to watch it again when I’m not full of cold meds.

I did notice that the doc seemed to short change The Seventh Victim… again. Maybe I’m wrong, but it seemed like all his other films got more coverage.

by: Keith

Tue, 15 Jan 2008 08:39:54 +0000

Sounds cool to me. Val Lewton definitely has been an inspiration to so many. I saw part of this doc last night when I got home from work. I hope you get well soon. Take care of yourself.