French Sex Murders

Year releasted: 1972

by Keith Phipps
January 25th, 2006

Also known as: Casa D'Appuntamento, The Bogey Man And The French Murders

Plot: There isn't any waiting around to see why this film is called French Sex Murders: In the opening scene, a man falls off the Eiffel Tower. Then there's a quick cut to a brothel, where a none-too-nice john (Pietro Martellanza) demands exclusivity from a prostitute, then viciously beats her when she makes way for another customer. (Maybe no one explained to him what a prostitute does?) Moments later, she's dead. Martellanza is quickly convicted of the crimes, but he launches a daring escape. Unfortunately, it kills him, shortly after he says, "If there's a second world, I promise you something: From the grave, I'll come back." And that's just for starters. Also on hand: a scientist interested in dissecting Martellanza's head; a police inspector who looks, dresses, and talks just like Humphrey Bogart (professional Bogart look-alike Robert Sacchi); and Anita Ekberg as a debauched madam whose later murder seems to suggest Martellanza has made good on his revenge promise.

Key scenes: Unsurprisingly, most of the important moments involve France, sex, and murders, usually all at once. Players in the Martellanza mystery die horribly, usually after getting it on with each other. (A helpful hint: When trying to avoid a serial killer, avoid homes with ornamental swords and lots of dangling, strangler-friendly ribbon.) Between the gruesomeness, Sacchi Bogarts his way around the city, uncovering the mystery slowly enough to put Sam Spade and Philip Marlowe to shame.

Can easily be distinguished by: When he needs to juice up a scene, director Ferdinando Merighi switches the image to negative. Groovy.

Sign that it was made in 1972: The Bogey doppelgänger is the only one without big, bushy sideburns.

Timeless message: Sex is not healthy for Frenchmen and other living things.

Memorable quote: Noting tops this instance of a bad translation turning into accidental poetry: "A case like you should be considered psychopathological."

Available on DVD from Mondo Macabro.