Maria Marchi is a redeemed supporting antagonist in the giallo film The Bloodstained Butterfly. She's the wife of TV news reporter and convicted murderer Alessandro Marchi, who hopped he would be in prison to be with Giulio Cordero, his lawyer who only wants to exploit the family.
She's portrayed by Ida Galli, who also portrays Lisa Baumer in The Case of the Scorpion's Tail, Isabella Carter in The Weekend Murders, and Martha Veronesi in Arabella, Dark Angel.
Biography[]
Maria was in a strained marriage with Alessandro, having to primarily care for their young daughter Sarah, who was more attached to Alessandro than her. While Alessandro had an affair with Marta Clarici, she slept with the family lawyer, Giulio Cordero. Alessandro was arrested when witnessed running from the scene of the murder of Francoise Pigout, a young French exchange student who was a dear friend of Sarah. A woman recognized him on TV and reported him to the police. Alessandro was suspected of sexually harassing Francoise before she fought back and threatened to talk. Giulio pretended to defend Alessandro, when he and Maria were really satisfied with him going down for murder. Maria lied under oath about the clothing Alessandro wore that day to look supportive, down to her fake tears when the prosecutor demanded the truth.
Giulio and Maria celebrated with a night in bed, and Sarah was bitter over her father's conviction. But two more women were killed similarly, and an anonymous called taunted the police claiming responsibility. Marchi got his appeals trial, and Marta testified to a fake alibi for him. Before Alessandro was to be released, Marta came home and stopped Giulio from raping Sarah. After she confronted his shamelessness, she threw him out, but Giulio was welcomed back for a dinner with the family. Alessandro was lured to a meeting with Giorgio, Sarah's former boyfriend. Giorgio revealed he knew Marchi killed Francoise, so he killed the two other women to get Marchi released for answers. They both murdered each other in a final standoff.
Gallery[]
