The Laughing Woman


The Laughing Woman, also known as The Frightened Woman, is a 1969 Italian erotic thriller film directed by Piero Schivazappa.

Plot

Dr. Sayer, the director of a philanthropic foundation, spends his weekends at his luxurious villa outside of Rome toying with sadistic fantasies. His games are usually acted out with the help of a prostitute conversant with his desires. When his regular prostitute becomes unavailable at the last minute, Sayer substitutes Maria, a young journalist on his staff. After the drugged Maria regains consciousness at his villa, Sayer realizes that he now has a real victim on his hands. She is subjected to his unpleasant games but soon begins subverting him.

Cast

The soundtrack to the film was composed by Stelvio Cipriani and released in 1969.

Track listing

Release

English-language prints have badly faded, so the theater is screening an 85-minute digital English-language version followed by the first three 35mm reels of the Italian version, allowing the viewer to "bathe in the vivid colors and intense production design."