Product Details

• Actors: John Phillip Law, Marisa Mell, Michel Piccoli, Adolfo Celi, Claudio Gora
• Directors: Mario Bava
• Writers: Mario Bava, Adriano Baracco, Angela Giussani, Arduino Maiuri, Brian Degas
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono)
• Subtitles: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Studio: Paramount
• DVD Release Date: June 14, 2005
• Run Time: 105 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (44 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000228EJA
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #159,760 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• Learn more about "Danger: Diabolik" on IMDb

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Master criminal Diabolik's got it all. He's got a black leather suit and ski mask, a pair of Jaguar XKEs, gadgets galore, an underground headquarters, and of course the ravishing Eva (played by Sixties Euro-hottie Marisa Mell). Together, the two of them pull off daring capers, staying a step or two ahead of the police, the government and rival mobsters all the while. Think the Sixties Batman TV series, James Bond, Barbarella, Matt Helm, and even a bit of Austin Powers for this distinctly Sixties crime romp. Director Mario Bava, as usual, made the most out of a less-than-lavish budget, with wild sets, an Ennio Morricone score, striking photography, and a psychedelic-soaked feel all the way around, with Bava's trademark camera work making it a visual delight in many scenes. Terry-Thomas comes in as a bumbling government official (the scene where his press conference is disrupted by Diabolik's "exhilarating gas" is a classic). It's all very tongue-in-cheek fun, based as it is on a comic book from the period. John Phillip Law, of course, is no better than he ever is as the rather fey master criminal, passing off his wooden performance as "stoic", but it works. Unlike contemporaries like Bond, though, Diabolik eschews the swinging Sixties life for a happily monogamous relationship with Eva (who wouldn't?). This is some goofy brain candy that's perfect for an evening of Sixties-retro fun. --Jerry Renshaw

Product Description

The suave, psychedelic-era thief called Diabolik (Law) can't get enough of life's good - or glittery - things. Not when there are currency shipments to steal from under the noses of snooty government officials and priceless jewels to lift from the boudoirs of the superrich. The elusive scoundrel finds plenty of ways to live up to his name in this tongue-in-cheek, live-action caper inspired by Europe's popular Diabolic comics. He clambers up walls, zaps a press conference with Exhilaration Gas, smacks a confession out of a crime lord while freefalling with him from an airplane, and pulls off the heist of a twenty-ton gold ingot.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Total enjoyment August 19, 2002

By Paul Williams

Format:VHS Tape

Once upon a time films were made with low budgets and heaps of imagination, and this is one of them. Though given a whopping $3M by the ego-maniac Dino de Laurentis (King Kong the atrocious remake) the genius Mario Bava brought this 60s beauty in at $400K. Even converted into today's hard currency it would be hard to conceive of a modern day director either struggling out of bed for such a miniscule sum, or ever bringing a film in under budget. Instead Bava treats the eye and the mind to a dazzling psychedelic modernist fantasy.
There seems to be a common notion that many directors of the past were somehow more stupid than the giant intellects of the cinema of today and that they had no comprehension of what they were doing. Bava knew exactly what he was making with this movie version of a popular European comic and that was to make a film that was fun.
Pitted against a world of old stilted politics, bumbling police and chalk-stripe-suited Mafia villains Diabolik, a cool ultra-thief with an underground lair to be envied by Dr No and every other evil genius, outwits his pursuers time and time again with a manic laugh, a delicious girl-friend and his 'n' hers Jaguar E-Types.
This film is a two-hour trip; the score is superb and the images have a vivid organic feel unachievable with today's over-processed CGI FX. If you love the visuals of Barbarella you'll love this. Bava, though, has a more cynical view of the world and in one scene presents us with a nightclub where villains ply the "innocent" hippies with drugs making them dance in hysterically funny ways that is just as an incisive critique of that era as it would be of some rave scenes today. Some things just don't change.
Sure if you want to adopt the brave stance of the post-modernist and assume the sophisticated position of The One Who Laughs At Bad Old Films then you'll get some kind of kick out of this. But you won't get anything like the kick you will by just relaxing into the brilliantly-lit mad world of Mario Bava where nothing is quite what it appears and baddies win - almost.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The definitive "Easy-listening" movie. January 26, 1999

By A Customer

Format:VHS Tape

If you like Burt Bacharach, Ennio Morricone, if you loved Barbarella, Harry Palmer, etc... You can't ignore "Danger : Diabolik". I've been looking for this movie in Europe for 18 months, and finally ordered it form the USA. And this is the most stylish film I've ever seen. Poor scenario (but this is definitely enjoyable) with an amazing atmosphere. E-Type Jaguars, secret underground bases, mind-blowing music : this is how the world should be.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A faithful comic book adaptation! June 21, 2005

By Cubist

Format:DVD

Mario Bava was known predominantly for making classic horror films like Black Sabbath but he also essayed several other genres in his long, illustrious career: sword and sandal epics, science fiction and, with Danger: Diabolik, a comic book heist thriller.

In the first 15 minutes there is more visual imagination at work than most films of its ilk made today. Bava uses close-ups for establishing shots (a la Sergio Leone), unusual perspective shots and snap zooms. The veteran filmmaker elevates the standard premise that was so in vogue in the `60s with impressive sets, cutting edge fashion (for its time), cool cars, hot babes, high-tech gadgets and a hep, swinging `60s Euro-lounge soundtrack mixed with jazzy spy music by Ennio Morricone. Bava understood that film was predominantly a visual medium and he tells the story with a minimal use of dialogue (Diabolik rarely speaks), instead propelling the narrative largely through eye-catching imagery.

Danger: Diabolik seems refreshingly inventive today and has aged surprisingly well despite the `60s fashion and décor. You have to admire a film that has the balls to have an anti-hero as its protagonist who has no problem killing cops that get in his way, stealing from a wealthy elderly couple and living a decadent lifestyle. Bava's film fulfills all of the requirements of its genre-exciting car chases, sword fights and so on-and does so with a style and panache that is missing from today's movies.

There is an audio commentary by actor John Phillip Law and Bava biographer Tim Lucas. Law recounts some of his experiences making the movie (including working with his lovely co-star Marisa Mell) with a great, deep resonating voice reminiscent of Robert Evans. This is a very informative track with Lucas providing the bulk of the factoids and Law the anecdotes.

"Danger: Diabolik: From Fumetti to Film" is a 20 minute featurette that traces the film's origins from its long-running Italian comic book (or Fumetti). Legendary artist Stephen Bissette (Saga of the Swamp Thing) and Beastie Boy Adam Yauch sing the praises of Bava's film. John Phillip Law talks about how he prepared for the role and even does Diabolik's famous laugh. This is an excellent look at the film and Bava's skill as a filmmaker.

Also included is the Beastie Boys' music video for "Body Movin'" which samples heavily from Diabolik only to substitute the close-ups with members of the band playing the certain roles. This is a funny, clever video that is the hallmark of the Beasties. Yauch provides an optional commentary which repeats most of what he said in the featurette.

Finally, there is a teaser and theatrical trailer.