Scott LeBrun The idea of an Italian murder mystery set in Australia (based on, or inspired by, a true story) is a compelling enough hook for this reasonably well done film. Ray Milland plays Inspector Thompson, a retired detective who is allowed to help out in the investigation of a partly charred corpse found in a car on a beach. At the same time, we follow another story, that of a waitress named Glenda (the stunning Dalila Di Lazzaro) who has a couple of lovers, and even marries one, but won't commit to one man alone. As it turns out, the stories are ultimately connected."The Pyjama Girl Case" is a stylish film, gorgeously shot by Raul Artigot and Carlo Carlini and capably directed by Flavio Mogherini. It didn't always completely involve this viewer; the melodrama in Glendas' story just wasn't as interesting as the murder investigation portions of the picture. The slow pace has to rate as another debit. But at least the film is always pleasing to look at, in more ways than one: it also features some striking female nudity, and Di Lazzaro looks great in or out of costume. This further benefits from a lovely music score by the always reliable Riz Ortolani (of "Cannibal Holocaust" fame).The acting is solid from all concerned. It's a treat to see Milland (who actually smiles on a number of occasions) in this sort of thing, but when he disappears from the story, the film can't help but suffer. The international cast also includes Michele Placido, Mel Ferrer, Howard Ross, Rod Mullinar, and Giacomo Assandri.Admirers of those Italian films known as Gialli may find this to their liking.Seven out of 10.

spotlightne I only watched this film because Ray Milland was in it. But boy, was it boring.Over 100 minutes of slow scenes, seemingly go on forever. Accompany this with the most mindless soundtrack imaginable. Tedious songs sung by what sounds like a transvestite in a sleazy nightclub.I'm very surprised this film has the '6' rating it has. It's dreadful. Terrribly acted and badly directed. There is a story. But it could have been condensed into a 30 minute short.Also, if you're watching the American version it's dubbed from Italian into English. Even this is terrible.I will give it 3 out of 10, simply because of Ray Millland. Otherwise you can forget it.Not one of this best films. In fact, I'd go as far as to say it's his worst.

bensonmum2 Based on a true story from 1930, The Pyjama Girl Case is a difficult movie to categorize. It is more often than not considered an Italian Giallo, but is it really a Giallo? Even though I've included it on my Top 50 Giallo list, The Pyjama Girl Case differs so much from the model that I'm not sure this label is accurate. There is no black-gloved, masked killer. There is no string of over-the-top murders. The Pyjama Girl Case lacks the stylish look of most Gialli. And, there is no sense of dread or real tension usually associated with the genre. So, why do I include The Pyjama Girl Case on my list of favorite Gialli – this is not a good answer, but I do it because everyone else does.If it's not a real Giallo, then what is The Pyjama Girl Case? I would say it best fits in the drama category with touches of a police procedural thrown in for good measure. The Pyjama Girl Case is the story of a mysterious half-burned body found in an abandoned car on a beach. In addition to being burned, the body also shows signs of severe head trauma and a bullet through the neck. The case is particularly interesting to Inspector Thompson (Ray Milland), a retired detective wanting one last case to investigate. Using outdated techniques and very few clues, he is determined to find the killer before he rides off into the sunset. I disagree with a lot of what I've read and feel Milland is one of the films weak points. His crotchety old man routine is rather predictable. His Inspector Thompson is the cliché for the "non-conforming just because I'm old" type character.The Pyjama Girl Case's structure can be off-putting to some. In addition to the police investigation, the film also features a concurrent look at the events leading up to the girl's death. It can be confusing at first because of the uncertainty of what's going on, who these people are, and how they relate to each other. But everything works out in the end and all the pieces fall into place. The girl's story is a tragic one. Her life is a series of miserable events (a bad marriage, a miscarriage, a string of unfulfilling relationships, etc.) all leading to her brutal murder. The girl is played by Dallia Di Lazzaro in a very memorable and believable performance. She gives her character a sense of depth not often found in Italian movies of this sort. She is easily the highlight of the movie for me.

Coventry It's weird but always thrilling to come across a completely unknown and hard-to-find giallo, especially when you're an avid fan of this Italian sub genre of horror, like myself. The majority of good gialli have received fancy DVD-releases by now and, considering this gem was still nowhere available, I began to fear that it might be a real stinker. The opposite is true, however, as this is an engaging murder mystery with original plot-twists, an innovating structure and good acting performances. The decomposed body of a murdered young girl is found on the beach, with only her yellow pajamas as a possible lead to find the killer. Retired detective Thompson (Ray Milland from "Premature Burial") teams up with the police and his old-fashioned investigation methods are a lot more fruitful than the routine cop-work. This film differs from other gialli because the body count is really low and the cinematography is is rather monotonous. Nevertheless, the red herrings are more effective than usual and the flashback sequences are extraordinary stylish. If the whole thing seems too confusing at first, just force yourself to carry on watching, as the actual revelation clarifies all you need to know in a very original way. Intriguing stuff, definitely worth a look if you can find it.