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 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, beautiful girlfriend...who uses her awesome powers to help Diabolik foil gangsters and steal billions from the government. As the anti-hero of the film, Diabolik must face off against bumbling cops and revenge-seeking mafiosi.

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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

The movie is based on "Diabolik", one of the longest running - and most successful - Italian comic strips (known as "fumetti"). It was created by Angela Giussani and Luciana Giussani, two Milan sisters who built a small but very profitable publishing empire out of the "King of Terror"'s success. In the comic version, "Diabolik" is much more sinister than its cinematic counterpart - he's a criminal fighting evil with evil, often resorting to murder to "punish" the evildoers he meets. The film was made assuming some knowledge of the fumetti, thus explaining the negative reaction it initially received outside Italy, although it has since been reevaluated as a classic of 1960s cinematic psychedelia and pop art.

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Goofs

Near the beginning of the film when Diabolik rendezvous with Eva his black Jaguar E-Type enters a tunnel, turns around and soon leaves one can see that the entrance is unfinished rough rock with straight vertical sides and a curved roof (like a piece of bread). However in the next scene this tunnel entrance seen from the air is concrete smooth and circular - the only straight piece being the road.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Sergeant Danek: All right, how we doing?
Police Officer: The last bag.
[flicks through a small pile of white paper the size of dollar bills]
Police Officer: All plain paper. Hm, very clever! You know, I wonder how security would feel if they knew they were guarding waste paper instead of ten million dollars?
[puts the remaining "bills" into the bag]
Police Officer: Well, seems to be it.

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Alternate Versions

The most widely seen version, seen on Mystery Science Theatre 3000, has trimmed many scenes so it could fit in the 2-hour time slot, along with the host segments.

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Connections

Referenced in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010)

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Soundtracks

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

User Reviews

Danger: Psychedelic!

This movie has instantly become one of my very favorite Mario Bava features. Think James Bond, as a suave master thief, filmed in a psychedelic, occasionally campy, comic book style. (Diabolik was a comic first.) Add to that some fun humor and very fitting themes by the legendary Ennio Morricone, and you have one cool, little cult flick! The cheap DVD comes with some great extras, like a pleasant and informative commentary by star John Phillip Law and Bava expert Time Lucas. The short featurette was very good too, going over just how well Bava captured the comic book stylings in the film. Recommended purchase! By the way, Diabolik's mask and laugh---perfect.