Diabolik (1968)

Director:

Mario Bava

Writers:

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

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

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)

Danger:Diabolik

Considered to be the finest adaption of a comic book to date, Danger:Diabolik is to my my knowledge Bava's biggest budgeted film and looks it. The cast headed by John Philip Law as the suave super thief Diabolik and Marisa Mell as his beautiful girlfriend/accomplice Eva Kent do a superb job. There's also some strong supporting performances by Michel Piccoli as Diabolik's nemesis Inspector Ginko and Adolfo Celi as the degenerate crime lord Ralph Valmont here as well. On the technical side of things, Bava does his usual masterful job of directing. Pace is kept lively and never falters. The musical score was written by Ennio Morricone and is one of the best. I highly recommend this film.