‘Pray you can take it!’
What Have They Done to Your Daughters? is a 1974 Italian Giallo film about an investigation into the apparent suicide of a teen girl that uncovers a sordid crime racket. The police go on the hunt for a motorcycle-riding killer. Also released as The Co-ed Murders
The movie was directed by Massimo Dallamano (Colt 38 Special Squad; The Cursed Medallion; What Have You Done to Solange?; Dorian Gray) from a screenplay co-written with Ettore Sanzò. The movie stars Giovanna Ralli, Claudio Cassinelli, Mario Adorf, Franco Fabrizi and Farley Granger.
The film is part of a trilogy concerning the corruption of teenage girls that began with the aforementioned Solange and ended – after Dallamano’s premature accidental death – with Rings of Fear in 1978.
The infectious soundtrack score was composed by Stelvio Cipriani.
Plot:
Police are investigating the case of fourteen-year-old Silvia Polvesi who, after receiving an anonymous phone call, has been found hanged. After interrogating suspects and witnesses, a tape in which several illicit carnal encounters are recorded is discovered. This leads the police to a sleazy crime racket ring…
Reviews:
“In true Giallo fashion, the film mixes mystery and brutality with raw sexuality, accentuated with top-notch handheld cinematography by Franco Delli Colli. What sets this film apart, however, is the focus on the procedural aspect, following the investigation more than the victims and perpetrators […] It’s an excellent film and ranks high on the list of many Giallo films to be released in this era…” Film Pulse
“Dallamano doesn’t shy away from the red stuff either- heads quite literally roll, hands are lopped off and noggins are split by a killer keen to keep secret what continues to remain undiscovered. Dallamano also displays a hard-nailed edge so typical of early ’70s crime flicks, carrying it through to the horror elements…” Hysteria Lives!
“Whether tearing at frightening speed down a corridor or veering through the city streets on his bike, this is one of the more memorable ’70s psychos […] One sequence involving his cleaver and a light switch will have jaded gorehounds squealing with glee…” Mondo Digital
“Ultimately if this isn’t quite as good as Solange, it comes damn close. A very worthy follow up made by a talented cast and crew, this is a film that deals in some very unpleasant subject matter – but it does so by providing plenty of food for thought alongside its expertly directed action set pieces and hard-edged mystery tropes.” Rock! Shock! Pop!
“While it may be true that elements of the police procedural subgenre occasionally threaten to dominate the bulk of Daughters, both the sleazy schoolgirl atmosphere and enough Giallo conventions remain to ensure that followers of black-gloved slashings will receive their necessary dose of chills.” The Terror Trap
Buy Giallo Essentials Volume 2 Blu-ray from Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk
Blu-ray release:
Arrow Video released a comprehensive Blu-ray release of the film on August 14, 2018, with the following special features:
- 2K restoration of the film from the original camera negative
- High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation
- Original lossless Italian and English mono soundtracks
- English subtitles for the Italian soundtrack
- Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing for the English soundtrack
- New audio commentary by Troy Howarth, author of So Deadly, So Perverse: 50 Years of Italian Giallo Films
- Eternal Melody, an interview with composer Stelvio Cipriani
- Dallamano’s Touch, an interview with editor Antonio Siciliano
- Unused hardcore footage shot for the film by Massimo Dallamano
- Italian theatrical trailer
- Image gallery
- Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Adam Rabalais
- Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by Michael Mackenzie
Filming locations:
Dear Studios, Rome, Italy
Release:
What Have They Done to Your Daughters? was released in Italy on 10 August 1974 and was distributed by P.A.C.
Watch the trailer on YouTube
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