Mario Fanelli, an Italian director and writer, made a significant impact on the giallo genre in the 1970s. He is best known for his work on Footprints (1975), where he not only directed but also penned the screenplay, showcasing his dual talent behind the camera. Additionally, his writing contribution to The Fifth Cord (1971) further solidified his reputation in the realm of cult cinema. Fanelli's films often blend suspense with intricate narratives, making him a notable figure in the exploitation film landscape.
The Fifth Cord
"Mr. Bild" is a reporter with a drinking problem who is assigned to investigate an assault in a tunnel. In the meantime, a number of murders begin to pile up in which the killer is leaving a black glove with digits cut off to symbolize the number of people he has killed. The speculation is that the first victim was not killed due to the intervention of a couple making out near the tunnel, but now the killer has returned to finish killing his victims. The police have no clues, but as Mr. Bild gets closer and closer to the truth, the police begin to suspect him, his newspaper tries to take him off the story, and the killer makes threatening phone calls. More people are killed however, until the killer tries to kill his son and Mr. Bild intervenes, catching the real murderer red-handed.
