Theatrical Release Date: Italy, August 16th, 1971
Director: Sergio Martino
Writers: Ernesto Gastaldi, Eduardo Manzanos Brochero, Sauro Scavolini
Cast: George Hilton, Anita Strindberg, Janine Reynaud, Luigi Pistilli

DVD Released: May 30th, 2004
Approximate Running Time: 90 minutes
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
Rating: NR
Sound: Dolby Digital Mono
DVD Release: X-Rated Kult DVD
Region Coding: Region 2 Pal (Germany)
Retail Price: $21.95

---

Synopsis: Lisa Baumer (Ida Gali), makes love to her lover and in the sky above in an airplane with her husband Kurt Baumer an explosive detonates killing everyone on board. A phone call awakens her with the bad news as she lay in bed with her lover. She is informed that her husband unknown to her had taken out a life insurance policy for $1,000,000 that named Lisa as his beneficiary. In order to collect on the policy she must fly to Athens for the release of the funds. In Athens after Lisa has collected her money she runs into some trouble when Lara Florakis (Janine Reynaud), Kurt’s mistress wants a piece of the pie. Lisa is murdered by a blacked gloved killer in her hotel room and he makes off with her money. Insurance detective Peter Lynch (George Hilton), helps Cleo Dupont (Anita Strinberg), who photographed Lisa’s murder as they set out to solve Lisa’s Murder.

Sergio Martino is a master craftsmen filmmaker who has worked in about every genre of cinema and in the early 1970′s when the giallo was at the height of its popularity it only made sense for Martino to capitalize on the current trend. The 1970′s would be Sergio Martino’s most creative decade as a filmmaker. He would direct several classic giallo’s Next!, Case of the Scorpion’s Tail, All the Colors of the Dark, Torso and Gently Before She Dies most them which would star his girlfriend at the time Edwige Fenech. The Case of The Scorpions Tale was shot on several locations Italy, England, Spain and Greece and cinema photographer’s Giancarlo Ferrando and Emilio Foriscot beautifully capture the landscapes.

Composer Bruno Nicolai most know for his collaborations with Ennio Morricone the score is nerve wracking and haunting as his gorgeous melody give the film more depth. The Case of The Scorpion Tale is a perplexing story that weaves so many red herrings that once the killer’s identity is revealed you will be surprised. There are also a couple brutal set peices that the giallo is know for in this film. Sergio Martino direction is creates intense moments throughout and he manages to give us in the final product one of his most suspenseful films of his career.

The DVD:

The Case of The Scorpions Tail is presented in its original 2:35:1 aspect ratio and it has been given the anamorphic treatment. This is the best looking transfer yet from X-Rated Kult DVD’S giallo series. The grain is kept to a minimum and the colors are nicely saturated. The blacks are deep and the print for the most part is crisp and clear throughout.

Their are two audio options available German and Italian both are in Dolby Digital 2.0 mono and they are both are solid soundtracks without any distracting hiss or other flaws. The only English option is during the Italian language track and the English subtitles are forced they are easy to read and follow.

This DVD is light when it comes to extras, the original theatrical trailer and trailers for other titles from X-Rated Kult DVD. The Case of The Scorpions Tale is one of the better films the giallo genre has to offer and X-Rated Kult’s DVD looks really good. This DVD should be in every giallo fans collection.