Danger: Diabolik (1968) Diabolik (original title)

Director:

Mario Bava

Writers:

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

Release Date:

May 1968 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Comedy | Fantasy

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:

Money | Jewel | Anti Hero | Thief | Police Inspector

Cast

John Phillip Law	...	Diabolik
Marisa Mell	...	Eva Kant
Michel Piccoli	...	Inspector Ginko
Adolfo Celi	...	Ralph Valmont
Claudio Gora	...	Police Chief
Mario Donen	...	Sgt. 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:
Lella Cattaneo	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
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)
Enzo Mondino	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Francesco Mulé	...	Crematoria Operator (uncredited)
Domenico Ravenna	...	Party guest (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

Stunts
Francesca Romana Coluzzi	....	stunts
Biagio Gambini	....	stunt coordinator
Donatella Gambini	....	stunts

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

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Tigano Lo Faro	....	costumes
Gabriele Mayer	....	assistant costume designer

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
Adriana de Roberto	....	voice dubbing: Caterina Boratto (uncredited)

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:

"Diabolik" - Italy (original title)

Runtime:

France:105 min

Country:

Italy | France

Language:

Italian

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | USA:M (original rating) (Approved No. 21645) | USA:PG-13 (re-rating) | West Germany:16 | Singapore:PG | Australia:M (2007) | UK:12 | France:U

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 recovers emeralds from the ashes of a cremated body. Emerald, a type of green beryl, fractures and discolors when exposed to even mild flame (thus losing considerable value), and certainly cannot survive the intense heat of a crematorium.

Quotes:

Eva Kant:I was expecting you, Inspector.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Ninja Scroll (1993)

Bad movie?!? Yeah right...More like terrific movie!

Unbelievable! The majority of comment-authors here on this site haven't got the slightest clue how far the brilliance of this film reaches...Here you have one of the coolest, most ingenious productions ever, and they're calling it "awful" and an ideal climax for the Mystery Science Theater?!? Aren't there any people left who appreciate sweet pop art? Or a healthy dose of delightful kitsch? Danger: Diabolik is a cult masterpiece and part of the greatest achievements of the brilliant director Mario Bava (or God, like I tend to call him). Bava easily is one of the most diverse directors who ever lived and delivered horror classics, solid thrillers, old-fashioned westerns and ... Danger Diabolik! A film that can't possibly be categorized entirely. Pivot figures are a young, vital couple of criminal masterminds. They steal from innocent people as well as from dangerous maffiosi, while killing innocent bystanders. Our funky couple single-handedly takes away billions that belong to the government, and then cheerfully retire in their underground lair in order to make love on top of a pile of money! It comes this far that the police cooperates with the entire gangster-network in order to finally arrest them...but our hero always is multiple steps ahead of them. Danger Diabolik introduces more kinky gadgets than 20 James Bond films ever could and the amount of creativity in just endless. The used scenery and experimental cinemathograpy mark this film with an undeniable cult-status that even impressed Mike Myers! Just compare this film with the Austin Powers trilogy!! Add to this a dazzling soundtrack and a ravishing siren (Marisa Mell) and you've got yourself an intolerably misunderstood cinema milestone. If you're a tiny bit open-minded and/or a bit less prejudiced on non-American films, you just HAVE TO see Danger: Diabolik.