Written and directed by Dario Argento 'The Bird with the Crystal Plumage' is a Hitchcockian thriller about an American writer living in Italy (Tony Mustane) who becomes involved in efforts to stop a serial killer. Our protagonist happens to be in the right place at the right time to stop a woman's murder, though the assailant gets away. Briefly considered a suspect, the police inspector realizes his value as a witness and takes away Mustane' s passport to keep him in country. Mustane decides to try and solve the case himself, so he and his Italian girlfriend can move to America as planed.
Mustane gets too close to the truth putting himself and his girlfriend in danger. The Inspector gives him back his passport and encourages the couple to leave the country, but by thus point Mustane has become obsessed and must see things through to the end.
Nicely shot and well paced, the film looks good but is not the visual frenzy that was the directors later film 'Susperia' (his only other work I have yet seen). A solid mystery/thriller enhanced by some eccentric side characters, including a gay merchant and a reclusive artist. Argento dosen't overplay his hand with these flourishes and the film remains very accessible, even mainstream feeling more then 50 years out. The ultimate identity of the killer was a bit of a risk but I found it worked. ***
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