Diabolik (1968)

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)
Enzo Mondino	...	Party guest (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

Colour:

Colour (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:

Featured in the final episode of "Mystery Science Theater 3000" (1988).

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: The picture that Diabolik mounts in front of the surveillance camera during the emerald heist would not be able to substitute the actual picture on the police monitor. Firstly it is taken with a hand-held camera without flash, and secondly after mounting it is only lit from the back and would therefore appear much darker on the monitor.

Quotes:

Prostitute: Sure I do, who could forget what she looked like? The way she was decked out in red she looked like a mini cardinal. She had good legs. Want me to describe her? Well, look at that! That's a funny looking thing! What is it? Hey, I'm talking to you, what is it?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Le streghe (1967)

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.)