If you’ve been following this site for a while now, you will be familiar with Elio Petri’s pop art sci-fi film The 10th Victim (La decima vittima, 1965).
Set in a dystopic future, The Tenth Victim introduces the viewer to a world that has turned the human race’s hunger for violence into a game called “The Big Hunt”. Shortly after the film begins, we see the American Caroline Meredith (Ursula Andress) travel to Rome to look for her tenth victim, Marcello Poletti (Marcello Mastroianni).
I recently found this rare image of Petri with Ursula Andress on the set of the film and I thought I would share it since it proves how the main inspiration for the costumes – designed by Giulio Coltellacci – came directly from André Courrèges and his use of dynamic designs.
When Caroline first appears in the film she is running away from her hunter wearing a short black and white sleeveless cow-print belted tunic dress and black tights. White-framed sunglasses, a white bag, cut-out gauntlets and flat mid-calf boots complete her look. As soon as she steps into the “cubist” environment of the Masoch Club, Caroline turns from victim into hunter.
Her dark wig is removed to reveal a cascade of blonde hair, her dress is replaced by a seductive metallic corset, silver sandals and a mask. A member of the audience removes Caroline’s corset, unveiling a silver lamé bikini decorated, like her mask, with sharp metal flakes.
The first clip embedded here refers to the opening of the film so that you can see Caroline in action in her cow-print dress and in her rapid-fire brassiere. I'm embedding also a second clip featuring Piero Piccioni's "The Chase" from the movie soundtrack and a picture of Marcello's mistress Olga (Elsa Martinelli) who in the film sports a Vidal Sassoon hairstyle and bold modernist dresses à la Courrèges, styled with PVC accessories. It's worthwhile noting how the exposed skin on Olga’s cut-out dresses is part of the design and in the film becomes her signature look.
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