Danger: Diabolik
| Danger: Diabolik | |
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Italian theatrical release poster by Renato Casaro
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| Directed by | Mario Bava |
| Produced by | Dino de Laurentiis |
| Screenplay by |
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| Story by |
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| Based on |
Diabolik by Angela and Luciana Giussani |
| Starring | |
| Music by | Ennio Morricone |
| Cinematography | Antonio Rinaldi |
| Edited by | Romana Fortini |
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Production
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| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
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Release date
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Running time
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105 minutes |
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| Budget | ≈₤200 million |
| Box office | ₤265 million |
Danger: Diabolik (Italian: Diabolik) is a 1968 action film directed by Mario Bava based on the Italian comic series Diabolik. The film is about a criminal named Diabolik (John Phillip Law) who plans large-scale heists for his girlfriend Eva (Marisa Mell). Diabolik is pursued by Inspector Ginco (Michel Piccoli) who blackmails the gangster Ralph Valmont (Adolfo Celi) into catching Diabolik for him.
An adaption of the Italian comic book was originally envisioned by producer Tonino Cervi. Cervi hired director Seth Holt and had an international production with a cast that included Jean Sorel, Elsa Martinelli and George Raft. After producer Dino De Laurentiis saw the footage that had been shot, he halted production on the film and had a new director, cast, and screenplay developed. This resulted in Bava directing the film on a much smaller budget with more well known actors taking smaller roles. Many of the cast and crew members were brought in from Barbarella De Laurentiis' other comic book adaptation of that year.
The film did not do as well at the box office as De Laurentiis had expected and received negative reviews on its initial release from The New York Times and Variety. With the re-evaluation of Bava's filmography, contemporary reception of the film has been more positive, with critics praising its visuals. Two new adaptions of Diabolik were announced in the 2000s, but none went into production.
After an armored car leaves a bank with ten million dollars, it is attacked en route by Diabolik (John Phillip Law) who manages to steal the money and escape with his partner Eva Kant (Marisa Mell). Leaving the money in their underground hideout, Diabolik and Eva attend a press conference held by the Minister of the Interior which they disrupt by releasing laughing gas. Due to the high level of crime, the death penalty is brought back. The police cannot find Diabolik, and gang leader Valmont (Adolfo Celi) suffers at their hands from a clampdown because of his actions. Realising things can only get worse because of Diabolik's crime spree, Valmont contacts Inspector Ginco (Michel Piccoli) and makes a deal to catch him for the police. At his hideout, Diabolik decides to steal the famous Aksand emerald necklace from the Saint Just Castle for Eva's birthday. Valmont builds up an identikit picture of Eva and circulates it as a means of capturing Diabolik. Diabolik scales the walls of Saint Just Castle where he finds the police lying in wait. He manages to steal the necklace by fooling the police officers with mirrors on the road and dummy decoys of himself.
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Wikipedia