Review of Spirits of the Dead (1968) by Lo & — 27 Oct 2012
Three Poe tales told by three different directors. The Fellini segment, however, is an absolute five star masterpiece that stands up to his finest films. The first segment, directed by Roger Vadim and featuring Jane Fonda, hot off the heels of "Barbarella", deliver an entertaining, visually arresting story.
It's not up to "And God Created Woman" standards, but it's the second best of the three. There's also a nice creep factor to the segment when Jane's real-life brother Peter plays her romantic object of desire.
The Louie Malle Poe tale is the weakest of the three and quickly becomes a tedious doppelgänger story. Alain Delon though is fine in the lead of this story as William Wilson. The last and best of the the three Poe tales is directed by Frederico Fellini and can actually stand alongside his best work.
Who cares that it bears virtually no connection to the Poe story it is supposedly based upon. It could more accurately be described as a mash-up of "8 1/2" and "Two Weeks in Another Town".
This segment also features a terrific score by frequent Fellini collaborator Nino Rota. "Toby Dammitt" is really a lost Fellini masterpiece.
This review of Spirits of the Dead (1968) was written by Lo & on 27 October 2012.
Spirits of the Dead has generally received positive reviews.
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