Omicidio per appuntamento

Plot

Vince Dreyser (George Ardisson), an American private detective working in Rome, meets with his old friend Walter Dempsey (Hans von Borsody) in the countryside. Several days later, Dempsey has vanished under suspicious circumstances, leading Dreyser to investigate the disappearance. Dempsey was in the country to be married, and the search for his whereabouts leads Dreyser into a web of organised crime, while trying to keep an eye on the hippie daughter of a wealthy client. The detective is beaten and left for dead by two thugs, after which he manages to kill the gangster who disposed of his friend. One sequence features a death scene in which a gangster is shown falling to his death from the roof of a building as the camera follows him down in a point-of-view shot. Vince continues on, trying to find his missing friend.

Cast

Production

Omicidio per appuntamento was written and directed by Mino Guerrini. Guerrini had previously worked as a script supervisor on the film La ragazza che sapeva troppo, which has been described as the first giallo film. Guerrini's screenplay, written alongside Fernando Di Leo, was based on the story "Tempo di massacro" by Franco Enna.

Guerrini also appeared in a cameo role.

Release and reception

Omicidio per appuntamento was released in 1966, and was also distributed under the titles Agent 3S3 setzt alles auf eine Karte (Agent 3S3 Bets it all on One Card), Date for a Murder and Rendezvous met de dood (Rendezvous with the Dead).

Writing for AllMovie, Robert Firsching has described the film as "stylish" and "flamboyant", finding Guerrini's direction to have been influenced by the works of fellow countryman and giallo "pioneer" Mario Bava.