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Danger: Diabolik (1968)
Runtime: 1 hr 40 mins
Synopsis: Made at the height of the Swinging '60s, Mario Bava's stylish, tongue-in-cheek adaptation of the popular Italian comic strip DIABOLIK captures all the lavish decadence typical of the psychedelic era. Square-jawed leading man John Phillip Law stars as the titular antihero, a suave,... Made at the height of the Swinging '60s, Mario Bava's stylish, tongue-in-cheek adaptation of the popular Italian comic strip DIABOLIK captures all the lavish decadence typical of the psychedelic era. Square-jawed leading man John Phillip Law stars as the titular antihero, a suave, cunning superthief who steals from the government and kills innocent bystanders for his own personal gain. Sharing an opulent underground lair with his stunning, amoral girlfriend Eva Kant (Marisa Mell), Diabolik globetrots Europe in his quest for wealth while confounding both the police (Michel Piccoli and Terry Thomas) and a rival criminal (Adolfo Celi). With its innovative cinematography and a pulsing score by soundtrack maestro Ennio Morricone, DIABOLIK has been referenced in a Beastie Boys video and Roman Coppola's CQ--and owns the dubious honor of being the last film parodied by Mystery Science Theater 3000. [More]
Genre: Action/Adventure
Starring: John Phillip Law, Marisa Mell, Michel Piccoli, Terry Thomas, Adolfo Celi
Screenwriter: Mario Bava, Adriano Baracco, Brian Degas, Tudor Gates, Dino Maiuri
Producer: Dino De Laurentiis
Composer: Ennio Morricone
DVD Info
Release:
Jan 7, 2005
DVD Features:
- Region 1
- Keep Case
- Anamorphic Widescreen
Audio:
- Dolby Digital Mono - English
Interactive Features:
- Scene Access
- Interactive Menus
Reviews
... one of the best films from the late Italian director Mario Bava
Looking at the film on Paramount's superb new DVD, it's clear that a neglected masterpiece of the genre has now emerged.
... a surreal mix of spy movie, heist thriller, and anti-establishment satire, all with delirious style and tongue firmly in cheek.
Although it's too long and eventually loses track of Itself, Danger: Diabolik is very nearly the movie Barbarella should have been.


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