Let's talk Dario Argento...

This is not about Argento but there's no all-purpose giallo thread:

I LOVE Italian genre cinema of the 60's and 70's. Love the politics, clothes, design, the anything goes vibe and of course the soundtracks.

However, I am no good at dealing with gore and particularly violence against women in films, so have ignored the giallo genre while delving deep into spaghetti western and poliziotteschi.

So my question is, anyone know of any good efforts in the genre that lean more towards mystery or (even better) conspiracy thriller rather than the gore/horror side?

You might well favour the adjacent Poliziotteschi genre - essentially, Italian cop thrillers of the 1970s. These movies share some of the same DNA with Giallo - including not only a similar sense of seventies style but also, it has to be admitted, some fairly unreconstructed sexual politics and brutal violence - but with a greater emphasis on crime, corruption and politics (again, often of a pretty reactionary, all crims are scum kind). Some of Morricone's best 70s soundtrack work was done for Poliziotteschi.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poliziotteschi

I've watched tons of poliziotteschi, as per the previous post. :) "Milano Calibro 9" (smart) and "Street Law" (stoopid) are my faves.

Oops yes.

Saw him tonight introducing The Bird with the Crystal Plumage at Lincoln Center. It really is quite impressive as a first feature. The editing, which he hand-waved away in the Q&A (basically saying he edits when he shoots), is remarkably tight and good. Few if any contemporary directors would have the courage to edit like that. Was also struck for the first time by the humor in his writing… something that a large audience reminds you of when you hear the laughter in the room.