Diabolik (1968)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

Mario Bava

Writers:

Angela Giussani (story) and
Luciana Giussani (story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

May 1968 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Thriller

Tagline:

Out for all he can take, seduce, or get away with...

Plot:

Fey super-thief Diabolik runs around stealing jewels, gold, murdering innocent people, and being a nuisance to the government of a generic European country.

Plot Keywords:

Thief | Gold | Anti Hero | Police Inspector | Heist

Cast

John Phillip Law	...	Diabolik
Marisa Mell	...	Eva Kant
Michel Piccoli	...	Inspector Ginko
Adolfo Celi	...	Ralph Valmont
Claudio Gora	...	Police Chief
Mario Donen	...	Sergeant Danek
Renzo Palmer	...	Minister's Assistant
Caterina Boratto	...	Lady Clark
Lucia Modugno	...	Prostitute
Annie Gorassini	...	Rose
Carlo Croccolo	...	Lorry Driver
Lidia Biondi	...	Policewoman (as Lidia Biondi C.S.C.)
Andrea Bosic	...	Bank Manager
Federico Boido	...	Valmont's Henchman
Tiberio Mitri	...	Valmont's Henchman
Isarco Ravaioli	...	Valmont's Henchman
Giorgio Sciolette	...	Morgue Physician
Terry-Thomas	...	Minister of Finance (as Terry Thomas)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Giulio Donnini	...	Dr. Vernier (uncredited)
Giuseppe Fazio	...	Tony (uncredited)
Giorgio Gennari	...	Rudy (uncredited)
Wolfgang Hillinger	...	Valmont's Henchman (uncredited)
Edward Febo Kelleng	...	Sir Harold Clark (uncredited)
Francesco Mulé	...	Crematoria operator (uncredited)

Directed by
Mario Bava

Writing credits
Angela Giussani		(story) and
Luciana Giussani		(story) &
Arduino Maiuri		(story) (as Dino Maiuri) &
Adriano Baracco		(story)
Arduino Maiuri		(screenplay) (as Dino Maiuri) &
Brian Degas		screenplay &
Tudor Gates		screenplay &
Mario Bava		screenplay

Produced by
Dino De Laurentiis	....	producer
Bruno Todin	....	producer

Original Music by
Ennio Morricone

Cinematography by
Antonio Rinaldi
Mario Bava		(uncredited)

Film Editing by
Romana Fortini

Casting by
Guidarino Guidi

Art Direction by
Flavio Mogherini

Costume Design by
Piero Gherardi
Luciana Marinucci

Makeup Department
Otello Fava	....	makeup artist
Renata Magnanti	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Bruno Todini	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Lamberto Bava	....	assistant director

Art Department
Ennio Michettoni	....	set dresser

Sound Department
Mavio Celentano	....	sound recordist

Camera and Electrical Department
Alfonso Avincola	....	still photographer
Antonio Rinaldi	....	camera operator

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Tigano Lo Faro	....	costumes

Other crew
Giorgio Adriani	....	production assistant
Nicola Balini	....	consultant: underwater sequences
Nino Lembo	....	jewellery
Rosalba Scavia	....	script girl
Fred Sidewater	....	production accountant
Marco Tamburella	....	production assistant

Production Companies

• Dino de Laurentiis Cinematografica
• Marianne Productions

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (1968) (USA) (theatrical) (dubbed)
• Paramount-Films (1969) (Finland) (theatrical)
• DMEG (2004) (Sweden) (VHS)
• Nelonen (2007) (Finland) (TV)
• Paramount Home Entertainment Finland (2008) (Finland) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2007) (Australia) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Video (????) (UK) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Video (2005) (USA) (DVD) (widescreen)
• Paramount Home Video (????) (USA) (VHS)

Also Known As:

Danger: Diabolik (USA)
Danger: Diabolik! (France)

Runtime:

France:105 min

Country:

Italy | France

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Australia:M (2007) | UK:12 | Finland:K-16 | USA:M (original rating) | USA:PG-13 (1992) | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Dino De Laurentiis Cinematografica Studios, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company:

Dino de Laurentiis Cinematografica

Trivia:

According to John Phillip Law, the first choice for the role of Ava Kent was an unknown model from New York, who was a friend of Charlie Bluhdorn, the CEO of Gulf & Western, the conglomerate that owned Paramount Pictures (which had contracted to distribute the film in the US). Second choice was Catherine Deneuve, who lasted for about a week, until director Mario Bava decided she just was not right for the part. He finally found the perfect Ava Kent in Marisa Mell.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Diabolik steals a 20-ton ingot of gold. The ingot is shown to be about the size of a VW minibus, but 20 tons of gold would be much smaller--it could be a cube just a little less than 39 inches long on each edge.

Quotes:

Eva Kant: I was expecting you, Inspector.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Danger: Diabolik - From Fumetti to Film (2005) (V)

If you enjoy 60s pop culture, comic books, Pop Art, psychedelia, trash and the Bond and Flint movies then don't miss 'Diabolik'!

A quick glance at the user comments for 'Diabolik' will show that it is a movie which divides people to say the least. Some misguided fools and the asinine Mystery Science Theatre 3000 gang (who actually screened an edited version of the movie when they parodied it in their last episode) think it is one of the worst movies ever made. I pity them. The rest of us (including Mike Myers and The Beastie Boys - see their "Body Movin'" video for an affectionate homage) love it as one of the best examples of 1960s Pop Art kitsch. 'Modesty Blaise' was I think the first of the 60s European comic book adaptations in this style, followed closely by 'Barbarella' and then 'Diabolik'. Later in the early 70s there was 'Baba Yaga', the last gasp for this short lived genre. Too bad, because I just can't get enough of this stuff! 'Diabolik's director Mario Bava is a horror legend largely because of brilliant movies like 'Black Sunday' and 'Kill, Baby... Kill!' but he was in fact very versatile, not just making Gothic horror classics, but also science fiction, westerns, Hercules movies and hard boiled crime thrillers. And then there's 'Diabolik', something else again. John Phillip Law, who played the blind angel Pygar in 'Barbarella', as well as appearing in cult favourites like 'Death Rides A Horse' and 'Open Season', is perfectly cast as Diabolik. Many criticize Law's performance, which is admittedly pretty wooden, but I didn't have a problem with it. He suits the material, which let's face it, isn't exactly Shakespeare. Marisa Mell ('Mad Dog') plays Diabolik's beautiful partner in crime Eva Kant, Bunuel regular Michel Piccoli ('Belle De Jour', 'La Grande Bouffe') is Diabolik's nemesis Inspector Ginko, Adolfo Celi ('Thunderball', 'That Man From Rio') plays Valmont, a rival criminal mastermind, and Terry-Thomas ('I'm All Right Jack', The Abominable Dr Phibes') is the Minister Of Finance. Bava was working with quite a small budget (less than half a million US dollars - for comparison 'You Only Live Twice' cost nine MILLION more!) but achieved wonders, a testament to his skill and creativity. It's a very stylish movie with some wonderfully inventive visuals, especially Diabolik's cave which is very impressive considering the lack of money you'd generally expect for this kind of movie. Added to that a fantastic score from Morricone, which many fans believe is one of his very best, if not THE best. If you want to see one of the inspirations for the Austin Powers series, especially if you enjoy 60s pop culture, comic books, Pop Art, psychedelia, trash and the Bond and Flint movies then don't miss 'Diabolik'. The rest of you can wait until 'Bad Boys 3' or whatever drivel you think is a good, fun popcorn movie. In my opinion, anyone who slams this movie is beyond redemption!