The severely burned and mutilated corpse of a young woman clad in yellow
pyjamas is discovered in an abandoned car wreck on a Sydney beach. Her face has
been disfigured beyond recognition, and the only clues remaining which could
possibly identify her are the pyjamas and a few grains of rice found nearby.
Retired but restless Inspector Timpson (Ray Milland) is intrigued by the case,
and sensing that the enquiry undertaken by his former colleagues is going
nowhere – as they are more concerned with beating confessions out of potential
suspects and wrapping things up as quickly as possible - he joins the
investigation. Timpson's old-fashioned, methodical detective work turns out to
be much more fruitful than that of the younger officers, and his efforts lead to
piecing together the identity of the woman, Glenda Blythe, and unfolding the
mystery of her tragic death.
Glenda (Dalila Di Lazzaro), a beautiful but troubled Dutch immigrant,
has a rather complicated love life – she is having simultaneous affairs with fellow
recent arrival Antonio (Michele Placido), a penniless but hardworking Italian;
Antonio's best friend, slimeball Roy (Howard Ross); and the cashed-up Professor
Douglas (Mel Ferrer). Glenda eventually marries Antonio, hoping that their
union will lead to the happiness she desperately seeks. However she quickly
becomes disillusioned as she sees herself and Antonio tied to their menial
waiting jobs and living in a cramped Kings Cross apartment forever and resumes
her liaisons with Roy and the professor. Glenda's impulsive desires for love,
attention and the trappings of a comfortable lifestyle lead to her life spiralling
out of control, humiliating sexual degradation…and to her brutal death. But who
committed the horrific crime? Inspector Timpson knows the answer – but will he
survive to see Glenda's killer brought to justice?
A stylish, unique murder mystery from former art director Flavio
Mogherini, The Pyjama Girl Case is loosely based on a true crime that
took place in Australia in the 1930's. Though often catergorised as a giallo,
the film is one of the more unorthodox entries of the subgenre as it steers
clear of expected key elements – there is no rampaging black-gloved killer, no
trail of bloody, over-the-top murders and no baroque Italian architecture (the
story is set in contemporary 1970's Sydney). Despite its lurid title, those
expecting a sensationalistic, gory late entry in the giallo cycle might be let
down by The Pyjama Girl Case, but the film is actually a highly
ingenious 'whodunit', a fascinating character study, a police procedural, and a
visually striking experience.
The plot is split into two halves; the first is the investigation into
Glenda Blythe's murder, and the second is the story of the doomed woman’s life
up until it ended (which is revealed in flashbacks). The pleasant, sun-drenched
cinematography of Sydney's landmarks, beaches and parks contrasts sharply with
the film's downbeat and occasionally voyeuristic and sleazy tone (including a
memorable scene of the baffled authorities putting Glenda's naked corpse on
public display in a glass case, attracting hordes of sweaty, morbid curiosity
seekers). A subtext of the movie is isolation – in Glenda and Antonio's case
having to adapt to a new, unfamiliar country (wonderfully realised in shots of
the couple wandering around the strangely underpopulated city streets and Opera
House, creating an alien, lonely atmosphere and dwarfing the characters by
their surroundings).
The Pyjama Girl Case features a solid cast, the standout being Oscar
winner Ray Milland as the cantankerous, world-weary Inspector Timpson. Milland
steals the show by injecting humour into his character - his expressions and
mannerisms when having to deal with a procession of oddball and sexual deviant
characters are priceless. Dalilia Di Lazzaro is excellent as the doomed 'Pyjama
Girl' Glenda; a former model usually cast as decorative eye-candy, clearly
relishes the chance at actually being required to 'act' and though Glenda is
often impulsive and irresponsible, Di Lazzaro manages to bring depth and sympathy
to the role. Also worth mentioning are Michele Placido as the gullible,
hopelessly lovestruck Antonio and Howard
Ross in typical oily form as meathead Roy, who gives the naive Antonio helpful
pointers on women such as : "If you want their respect you have to slap
them around a bit, treat them like dogs and let them know who their master
is".
The Pyjama Girl Case is an innovative and successful rework of
the giallo genre with an uncharacteristic plot structure, intriguing twists,
and above-average performances, as well as an air of morbidity and quiet desperation
that tends to creep up on the viewer rather than immediately pack a punch.
