This is one of the oddest films I have ever seen. It is a combination of film noir, horror suspense. Anita Ekberg is stunningly beautiful as always in her role as a woman named Virginia.
Virginia Wilson is attacked while taking a shower by an escaped mental patient. The man is shot and and killed by her half brother and Virginia is in a state of shock and sent to a mental hospital for rest.
Her doctor, named Greenwood (Harry Townes) becomes infatuated with her and begins to control her every move until she is completely under his control. She begins her life again as an exotic dancer named Yolanda Lang and Greenwood becomes Bill Green, her manager.
Things get complicated when Yolanda is attacked by a mysterious "ripper" that stabs her. A reporter, Bill Sweeney (Phillip Carey) investigates and finds a connection between Yolanda's attack and another earlier attack that killed a dancer named Lola Lane.
Slowly but surely Sweeney unravels the bizarre story. The directing chores on this film were handled by Gerd Oswald and one of the producers was none other than Harry Joe Brown, who handled all of the excellent Randolph Scott westerns of the 50's.
There are many highlights in this gem including the exotic dance Ekberg does in an extremely sexy outfit and in shackles and chains. Yes the dance numbers are something I will never forget and what can I possibly say about Ekberg. I have always loved the woman and it's easy to see why she ruled the screen in the 50's. Simply delicious. The title refers to a statue that plays a key role in the murders.
If you like film noir , horror or suspense films, you should really check this out. Oh, did I mention Anita Ekberg is in this? The rest of the cast includes Gypsy Rose Lee, The Red Norvo Trio and an uncredited Betsy Jones Moreland.
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