Giallogy: Five Dolls for an August Moon

It’s taken a few Giallogy posts, but we’ve finally landed on one of Mario Bava’s giallo films. Five Dolls for an August Moon (1970) isn’t as celebrated as noted Bava masterpieces like Black Sunday (1961), Bay of Blood (1972), or his early giallo, which influenced the evolution of the genre, Blood and Black Lace (1964). That film is a foundational text of any Giallogy course, and Bava is one of Italian cinema’s most celebrated directors.

Now that I’ve watched it, where does Five Dolls for an August Moon rank in the Bava filmography? Well, not nearly as high as the other works mentioned above, but what the film lacks in coherence and suspense, it makes up for in style. As an adaptation of Agatha Christie’s Ten Little Indians, Five Dolls does what it needs to do in the murder mystery department, as party guests are killed off at an alarming rate, while the remaining guests struggle to figure out which of them is the killer.

The guest list for this weekend getaway at a rich industrialist’s swanky, modernist pad includes five men and five women (the titular “dolls”). From an audience standpoint, it’s a little hard to keep track of who’s who, who’s with who, and what are they all doing there, again? A subplot about a revolutionary new resin being developed by one of the guests, a scientist, is crucial to the proceedings, but ultimately all I really care about here is basking in the stylish surroundings. The fashion on display is glorious, with ascots and miniskirts aplenty.

Speaking of fashion, none of the guests look better than Marie, a sexy swinger in an open relationship with her groovy husband. Most importantly, she’s played by Giallo Queen Edwige Fenech. Five Dolls was Edwige’s first giallo, and while she would have more screen time in future films, all the traits she would become known for in the genre are there: sexy cat-eyes, a propensity for wearing very little clothing, and an undeniable magnetism that makes her impossible to ignore. Special shoutout to the red lingerie she wears while attempting to seduce the scientist as she lounges on a spinning bed. A primo Edwige moment, for sure.

Unfortunately, the kills mostly happen offscreen, which would be fine except it makes the murders feel less immediate. This tactic inhibits the tension some, which is disappointing. Still, several of the other dolls do not disappoint! Besides Edwige, there’s the legendary Princess Ira von Fürstenberg, who shines as the scientist’s ice queen wife, who’s having an affair with the industrialist’s wife. Ely Galliani also leaves an impression as the mysterious teenage daughter of the industrialist’s game warden (are you following?), who hangs around the periphery of the group.

Ultimately, Five Dolls for an August Moon feels like Bava’s warmup before making his similarly themed Bay of Blood, which is just a better film, period. That one is essential to the genre, while this one is probably most notable for its fun, style-over-substance approach, and for being the giallo debut of Ms. Giallo herself, Edwige Fenech. Am I sorry I watched it? Heck no, but it likely won’t be one I return to as often as other Bava classics. Not that Edwige doesn’t make it tempting, of course.