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Christopher Lee, Daliah Lavi, Jacques Herlin, Tony Kendall, Harriet Medin ... see more see more... , Luciano Pigozzi

Marred by controversy at the time of its release, this horror fantasy from Italy's legendary horror director Mario Bava centers on the twisted desires of a nobleman's son (Christopher Lee). Lee is ost... read more read more...racized by his father for his dalliances with a servant girl (who later commits suicide), but is allowed to return to the fold by his brother, whose lovely wife (Dahlia Lavi) immediately becomes the object of Lee's mad lust. Lee is later found murdered, along with several other victims from the surrounding village, leading superstitious locals to believe that Lee's evil spirit has returned to destroy them; the twist ending reveals the real evil at work. The kinky, sadomasochistic relationship between Lee and Lavi raised more than a few censors' eyebrows, leading to some harsh cuts. ~ Cavett Binion, Rovi

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70% liked it

1,259 ratings

Critics

71% liked it

7 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 30 min.

Directed by: Mario Bava

Release Date: August 29, 1963

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DVD Release Date: March 8, 2005

Stats: 71 reviews

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on the set of 'La frusta e il corpo' (1963) Giorgia Daliah Lavi and Tony Kendall Harriet Medin and Luciano Pigozzi Nevenka Lee as Kurt Menliff Daliah Lavi and Ida Galli 'La frusta e il corpo' Nevenka Nevenka Katia french poster Christopher Lee and Daliah Lavi Nevenka Katia Nevenka Lee as Kurt Menliff Daliah Lavi and Christopher Lee
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Flixster Reviews (71)

  • ajv2688
    August 23, 2011
    ajv2688
    Wow, this was a really cool movie. Lee is fantastically terrifying and sexy at the same time. The story is a spooky romance filled with murder and mystery. Also the costumes, set, and colours are beautiful. I really enjoyed this movie, it's exciting and I loved the end. If t... read morehe rest of the cast had been more well known, this would be a more popular movie, though. But overall, I really liked it.
  • matertenebraum
    April 14, 2011
    matertenebraum
    As I slowly get to watch more Mario Bava movies my enthusiasm for his extraordinary body of work grows and grows. I was already hooked after watching 'Black Sunday' for the first time, but after subsequently seeing 'Kill, Baby...Kill!', 'Planet Of The Vampires', 'Black Sabbath', ... read more'Diabolik' and 'Lisa And The Devil' (and others) I was convinced that he's THE most underrated director of the Fantastic. Now I've watched 'The Whip And The Body' three times and listened to Tim Lucas' informative DVD commentary I'm almost ready to bow down and worship Bava like a god! This is such a fascinating movie... Visually it's stunning, as to be expected, Bava being a top cinematographer before turning to directing. The subject matter is still provocative, but forty years ago it must have been scandalous! In fact the movie was heavily censored and when eventually released in America given the lousy title 'What'. Christopher Lee counts this among his favourite roles and it is essential viewing for his fans. He plays Kurt Menliff, an evil sadistic nobleman returning to his family home after hearing his younger brother has wed. Lee's family has disowned him after a scandal concerning a servant girl he seduced who subsequently suicided. His father the Count despises him, the dead girl's mother, who still works for the Count, curses him, and his brother's new bride Nevenka (Daliah Lavi) fears him. Kurt and Nevenka have a past, not only that, a complicated sadomasochistic relationship. The whipping scenes between the two actors were a bit too much for the censors to handle back in the day, and while they aren't all that explicit, they are still unsettling even today. Lee and the stunning Lavi (best know to most people for her later appearance in the star-studded Bond spoof 'Casino Royale') make a truly unforgettable couple. Many people regard 'The Whip And The Body' as Bava's single best movie. I wouldn't go that far myself, but it's definitely one of his very best films, and is sure to impress anyone who has enjoyed his other pictures. Ghost story, murder mystery, psychosexual character study, whatever you want to call it, it's a highly original movie that will stay with you for a long time. Newcomers to Bava are still best to start with 'Black Sunday' in my opinion, but this movie comes with my highest recommendation.
  • vierasesine
    March 19, 2009
    vierasesine
    Gorgeous, so gorgeous. The score, the colours, the setting, the clothing. The haunting scenes were exquisitely beautiful. Oh, if only the woman hadn't been so annoying.
  • kenstachnik
    January 28, 2008
    kenstachnik
    I don't really know what happened, but boy was it beautifully photographed and boy were the ladies smoking hot
  • mjgildea
    May 22, 2007
    mjgildea
    If Roger Corman hired Mario Bava to do a ghost story this is what you'd end up with. It's creepy, beautiful and scary--namely the scene with Christopher Lee enters Daliah Lavi's bedroom. (The green hand coming out of the darkness alone...) If you're looking to get into Bava I wou... read moreldn't start with Whip and the Body, but I definitely wouldn't miss it either.
  • fb1142797643
    February 5, 2011
    fb1142797643
    Under the name "John M. Old," Mario Bava directed this gothic melodrama of love, murder, sadomasochism and a ghost. The best reason to see "The Whip and the Body" (sometimes known as "What") is its spectacular lighting, as lurid red, violet and green bathes every corner of the de... read morecrepit mansion (a shot of a "green" hand slowly extending toward the camera is especially memorable). The ending almost saves the film, but otherwise the plot is rather trivial and belabored, with all the standard tricks like darkened stairways, halting footsteps, creaky doors and ominous coffins. And of course, we know unseen, maniacal laughter will echo through the rafters and frighten someone. Christopher Lee's whipping scenes are electrifying, but it's hard to forgive that his famous voice is inexplicably overdubbed.

    The score is maddeningly hokey, with a few florid lines of melody repeated over and over until they cause smirks rather than chills. Interesting that such a short film includes an intermission.
  • threefolddado
    March 22, 2008
    threefolddado
    Mario Bava's subversive classic. A kinky ghost story.
  • fb1731954250
    April 28, 2012
    fb1731954250
    Mario Bava (a master of Italian-gothic-horror-mystery) + Christopher Lee (a modern and gothic horror icon!); how could you go wrong? Well . . . I gave this movie 2 stars, BUT i would not say that it "went wrong"; but there were certainly a few things that, in my opinion, contribu... read moreted to a rather drab and uninteresting first act! And indeed, this movie is delineated as 2 separate acts, complete with intermission! First of all, I do believe that this is the flagship movie for myself in which I finally broke down and said to myself that the post-filming syncing/dubbing that the Italian film-making industry during this time period insisted on utilizing actually took away from my experience of the first act (which of course was mainly to be dialogue-driven). I mean lets face it; the potential to lose emotion or natural vocal dynamics when 100% of the dialogue is recorded in a sound studio is high. But in all the Italian films of the period that followed suit and followed this formula; Ive never been so 'put-off' by the voice-acting/synching as I was by this movie (not even by House by the Cemetery-in which young Bob's voice seems to be the 'poster-child' for poor voice over). However, let me state that the second act, and in typical Bava-fashion, the SET PIECES of the 2nd act are absolutely stunning! The crypt and castle scenes are nothing less than some of Bava's best! It somewhat saddens me to think that something as simple as the common practice of post-filming voice-over may have significantly dampened my experience of a Bava film that otherwise may hav possibly been quite good; but I guess in retrospect its hard to ignore the sub-par stand-in for such a recognizable and impressive cinematic presence and voice such as that of Chris Lee! So in conclusion: the 1st act-sorry, but nothing made me care much for the characters that were developing and the dialogue, quite possibly the voice-overs. The 2nd act-4 stars easily, the saving grace for this film for me! Awesome set pieces/locations which lead to captivating atmosphere and an awesome performance by Daliah Lavi as a 'losing it all psychotic'! Worth a watch for sure! Bava fans may disagree with my 2 star rating but . . . i can appreciate it cuz I hated giving Bava 2 stars as well!!
  • holmennnguy
    March 7, 2008
    holmennnguy
    This just wasn't my type of movie. It still managed to be entertaining, had some great scenes, and a good mystery.
  • futsin
    July 11, 2007
    futsin
    Very uneven but the artistic quality, Christopher Lee's performance, and the effective direction all made it worth it for me.

View All La frusta e il corpo (The Whip and The Body) Reviews

Critic Reviews

Fernando F. Croce
September 25, 2009
Fernando F. Croce, CinePassion

Mario Bava's erotic masterpiece Full Review

Jeffrey M. Anderson
July 30, 2009
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid

Many Mario Bava fans consider this to be one of his best, and it's certainly a contender with its effectively stylish rendering of a pulpy ghost mystery. Full Review

Ed Gonzalez
November 7, 2002
Ed Gonzalez, Slant Magazine

The Whip and the Body is a gothic horror fantasy that finds Bava at the peak of his visual prowess. Full Review

Ken Hanke
November 5, 2002
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Someone sent me this on tape. I may speak to them again one day.

Ed Gonzalez
May 2, 2001
Ed Gonzalez, Apollo Guide

A fascinating comment on the illusive and fetishistic nature of reality. Full Review

Emanuel Levy
August 12, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

James Kendrick
February 27, 2001
James Kendrick, Q Network Film Desk

No review available.

June 5, 2002
Boxoffice Magazine

No review available.

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