Nowadays we know the modeling business is dangerous. There’s always reports of how sleazy agencies will lure their lower earning model into prostitution to pay off their various expenses. The women have to fend off stalkers who think they’ve received secret messages from the magazines featuring the models. There’s also a range of eating and body issues that affects models as they attempt to achieve and maintain their perfect figure. Back in the ’80s, we didn’t know that such messed up stuff was happening in the modeling industry. When Nothing Underneath came out in 1985 and Too Beautiful To Die arrived in 1988, they showed the dark side of the super model industry on the silver screen.
Nothing Underneath comes up with a psychic connection to create an American and Italian feel to the movie. Bob Crane (Fever Pitch‘s Tom Schanley) is a forest ranger in Yellowstone Park. His twin sister Jessica (Nicola Perring) is a rising star in modeling and strutting her stuff in Milan, Italy. She sends Bob her latest magazine cover. Even though the duo are on the other side of the globe from each other, their psychic bond is as tight as ever. While Bob is at work in the woods, he gets visual flashes that something horrible is about to happen to his sister. He does his best to contact her, but he can’t reach her. They’re not telepathic and the telephone company is inept. He grabs the first flight from Wyoming to Milan to try to track down his missing sister. He receives the run around at the police station until he convinces Inspector Danes (Halloween‘s Donald Pleasence) that something happened. The Inspector doesn’t have to play hunches too long as quite a few models get cut down in their prime of life by a gloved killer with a pair of scissors. Who is ruining fashion week in Milan? And is Jessica’s disappearance connected to the dead models?
Nothing Underneath could be considered Giallo even though it was made after the genre’s heyday nearly a decade before. The killer is mysterious and wears black leather gloves which is a big qualifier. There’s a great scene when characters go to a Wendy’s with a salad bar and Pasta. Who knew you could get a juicy square hamburger in Milan? Wendy’s might have funded part of the film to get people into slasher films to try their amazing spaghetti. The film has the jet set trashy fun that seems so ’80s in Europe. Director Carlo Vanzina fills the screen with shiny fashion, cocaine and cheesy music. During a fashion show, we get to see the models take the runway to Murray Head’s “One Night in Bangkok.” The ending is absolutely torrid and grotesque. This movie is perfect if you’re looking for a fashionable murder mystery.
Too Beautiful to Die was also billed as Nothing Underneath 2, but it isn’t a real sequel. Producer Achille Manzotti was the main carryover from the original film. But he brought on a new creative crew including director Dario Piana (Lost Boys: The Thirst). There were no cast members brought back. Since the both films featured models, murder and Milan, it made perfect sense to claim the sequel connection.
Alex (Giovanni Tamberi) runs a successful modeling agency and hosts a fun party at his home for four of his favorite models. Also on the guest list is an old guy who is important to the agency. While Alex is playing an erotic video game, the old guy pops up in the giant hot tub to surprise the soaking models. He’s not there to chat about their dreams and aspirations. He wants to hook up with the newest member of the agency. She isn’t into it, but her model friends hold her down and let the powerful man attack her. When she gets free, she tells off Alex and takes his car. The other models end up in a music video for Frankie Goes To Hollywood’s “Warriors of the Wasteland” except without Frankie Goes To Hollywood. They do get to dance around with freakish blade weapons. It’s like if the Solid Gold Dancers were paying tribute to Conan the Barbarian. During the shoot, the cops show up having found the model in a car crash. Alex acts surprised. He has better things to do like replace the missing model with a fresh off the jet American girl. They need to finish the Frankie Goes to Hollywood video except the studio and the props turn into death traps.
This is truly over the top Italian thriller action. The best part is the lack of the police wanting to truly investigate. When someone dies during the making of the Frankie Goes To Hollywood video, the cops don’t shut down the set and thoroughly investigate what the hell went wrong. They don’t even question the director why Frankie Goes To Hollywood aren’t even in their own video. They toss a sheet on the body and get the dancers and models back in front of the cameras. There’s no need to mourn when the world is waiting for the next video from Frankie. You also get to hear Toto’s “I Won’t Hold You Back” during a steamy love scene. The end credits feature Huey Lewis and the News’ “Perfect World.” It’s almost like they stole the soundtrack from an teen film. There is a mystery killer using the weapons from the music video to kill people around the set. This film offers so much ’80s weirdness.
This double feature of Nothing Underneath and Too Beautiful to Die works since both films have the Models, Murders and Milan connection. The directors do vary in their approach to the subject so you won’t get confused as to which film featured the model getting killed with scissors as opposed to the stylized knife. You will indulge in the visions of Italy. You’re going to want to book your tickets to fashion week by the time the double feature ends.
The Video is 1.78:1 anamorphic for both films. Both films are scanned and restored from the original negatives. They bring out the details of the modelling world in the ’80s. Audio on Nothing Underneath includes DTS-HD MA 2.0 that really gives depth to Pino’s score. There’s also the original Italian soundtrack in DTS-HD MA 2.0. Since the main two actors spoke English, this Italian track wasn’t record live on the locations in Milan. Too Beautiful to Die also has the English DTS-HD MA 2.0 soundtrack that gives you the sounds of the creepy pool party. There’s also original Italian dub track. The movies are subtitled in English
Nothing Underneath
Commentary track by The Hysteria Continues! The podcasters join in to discuss the history and context of the film. They all enjoy the film so they’re happy to share the film filled with models and giant scissors.
Commentary track by film historian and critic Rachael Nisbet. She specializes in Italian genre films since they are the best. She gives a details about cast and crew.
Murders a la Mode (28:34) interviews screenwriter Enrico Vanzina. This is around the time his career took off. He details how their success with comedies led to them getting to make their first thriller. He speaks of a real murder that influenced the film. He also speaks of being a fan of De Palma movies which was felt in the score.
Murder He Wrote (28:56) meets up with screenwriter Franco Ferrini. He talks about working with Enrico Vanzia on the script. They worked on more projects, but only thrillers. Vanzia didn’t want him to help out on the comedies. The script for Nothing Underneath was based on a best selling novel. Originally they wanted Michelangelo Antonioni to direct, but the man behind Blow-Up and The Passenger said no.
High Fashion Music (12:36) sits back with composer Pino Donaggio. He understood the filmmakers wanted the musical feel of a Brian De Palma film. He talks about what he did musically to enhance the characters.
Models, Murders and Italy (19:20) interview with actor Tom Schanley about his starring role. Schanley is a very active actor with parts on major TV shows. He talks about how his early work on a TV show with David Soul (Starsky and Hutch) led him to flying out to Milan. He’s going to appreciate how the Blu-ray will bring out his youthful glown.
Too Beautiful to Die
Commentary track by film historian and critic Rachael Nisbet. She goes deep into the history of the film. She explains how this isn’t a sequel.
“Nothing True But The Eyes” (42:13) lets writer/director Dario Piana get deep into his career. He came from making commercials. He discusses coming on board the production that wanted to be a sequel to Nothing Underneath and yet a whole different movie. He did get a lot of freedom in making the movie. The producer even let him shoot for an extra week.
Alternate ending storyboards (1:59) has a bit more high speed action and a different killer. The budget would have been steeper with this finale.
Deleted Scenes Storyboards (12:21) includes helicopter, alligators and a fan boat.
Vinegar Syndrome presents Nothing Underneath/Too Beautiful to Die. Directed by Carlo Vanzina and Dario Piana. Starring: Tom Schanley, Renée Simonsen, Nicola Perring, Donald Pleasence, Florence Guérin, François-Eric Gendron, Randi Ingerman. Rated: Unrated. Boxset Contents: 2 movies on 2 Blu-ray discs. Released: October 19. 2021.
