Danger: Diabolik (1968)

International man of mystery Diabolik and his sensuous lover Eva Kant pull off heist after heist, all while European cops led by Inspector Ginko and envious mobsters led by Ralph Valmont are closing in on them.

Director:

Mario Bava

Writers:

Angela Giussani (story), Luciana Giussani (story)

Stars:

John Phillip Law, Marisa Mell, Michel Piccoli

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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	...	Mr. Hammond - Second Minister of the Interior
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	...	Joe - Valmont's Henchman
Tiberio Mitri	...	Valmont's Henchman

Storyline

In psychedelic swinging 60s style, the dreaded thief (and killer) Diabolik wreaks havoc on a generic European country for his own financial gain and amusement. He shares an extravagant underground lair (and a giant bed of money) with his curvaceous, superficial girlfriend...who uses her awesome powers of wig-wearing to help Diabolik kill innocent people and steal billions from the government. Nonetheless, Diabolik is the "hero" of the film because he must face off against bumbling cops and revenge-seeking mafiosos.

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Plot Keywords:

death penalty | underground base | jaguar e type | crane the machine | crime syndicate | 

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Taglines:

Meet Diabolik. Slick. Suave. Gentle. Brutal. Wild. Out for all he can take, seduce, or get away with...

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Genres:

Action | Comedy | Crime

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

Italy France

Language:

English

Release Date:

May 1968 (USA)

Also Known As:

Danger: Diabolik

Filming Locations:

Capri, Italy

Box Office

Budget:

$400,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Dino de Laurentiis Cinematografica,Marianne Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When Valmont is trying to determine Eva Kant's appearance, the "identikit" sequence generates images of Barbarella (portrayed by Jane Fonda in Barbarella (1968), the sister production of this film) and British model Twiggy. The resulting image of Eva was drawn by Angela Giussani and Luciana Giussani, with their usual design of the character being modified to resemble Marisa Mell.

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Goofs

After the emerald heist, as Diabolik is pulling the "mirror" across the road, he is wearing no mask as he begins, then it cuts to a shot with his mask on, then he is mask-less once again as he finishes pulling.

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Quotes

Diabolik: If you didn't see him... he's there.

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Connections

Referenced in Baby Driver (2017)

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Soundtracks

Deep Down
(uncredited)
Music by Ennio Morricone
Performed by Maria Cristina Brancucci

User Reviews

Stylish adaptation of a popular Euro Comic

Another great visual piece by the great Bava, this film is a faithful adaptation of the popular European comic about the anti-hero master criminal Diabolik. Almost overdosing on intense 60s color and style, the film moves through comic-style adventures with considerable European flair and well captures the atmosphere of the original material and the time.

(Yes, I understand that this made the last installment of Mystery Science Theater 3000, and I'm a MiSTie myself. But Diabolik is a good film, whether it has riffing potential or not.

Say you never heard a thing about Batman (as so many seem to never have heard a thing about Diabolik)--if you saw the 1988 Batman film, you'd think it was pretty stupid and over the top, wouldn't you? Unrealistic? Stupid, even? Maybe even think that the main character wasn't much of a hero, so dark, so sinister? And if you think that a lot of 'stylish' 90's films with their music-video montages aren't going to look dated in twenty years, you're kidding yourself. I'd advise supposed 'reviewers' to stop being such contemporist snobs.)