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Danger: Diabolik
[Paramount]
1968; color
Directed by Mario Bava
Starring: John Phillip Law, Marisa Mell, Terry Thomas & Adolfo Celi
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Based on an Italian comic by the same name, Danger: Diabolik has been dubbed "the best" film adaptation of a comic by those in the know. (Meaning, I guess, those who know stuff about comic book adaptations.) As for me, I don't know anything about comic books. Or film adaptations of comic books (unless we're talking about the original Batman movie, which I pretty much have committed to memory) but I would agree this is one super cool film! Incidentally, knowledge of the comic is pretty much unnecessary in terms of being able to follow / enjoy the movie. In fact, I gather if you watched it with the sound off, it would still be enjoyable thanks to the glorious sets, lighting and costumes, as well as the collective hotness of it's hero and heroine, Diabolik and Eva. (Played to the hilt by John Phillip Law and Marisa Mell.) I don't really recommend that you watch it that way though, because then you'd also miss the kick-y, kitschy soundtrack courtesy composer Ennio Morricone. Anywhoo, one of the other really cool aspects of this film is that Diabolik is not a hero in the traditional sense. To paraphrase the way someone interviewed for the documentary that appears in the "extras" portion of the disc put it - he doesn't rob the rich to give it to the poor, he robs the rich to keep it for himself. Or to hand it over to Eva. (Which, if you saw how awesome she looked in a bright orange mini-dress and beige leather calf-high go-go boots, you would totally understand.) Thus, much of this film is a series of anti-the man criminal shenanigans, followed by a series of anti-Diabolik police shenanigans. Followed by an even more extensive series of criminal shenanigans to show the police who's boss. And so forth, until one party defeats the other. In keeping with the way I haven't gone into much detail with the plot, I won't spoil the non-ending ending either. You'll just have to watch this essential piece of cinematic eye candy for yourself to see who stands tall encased in a mass of molten pure gold goo at the end. And, perhaps, wonder where the sequel(s) were / are. (Or am I the only one who wondered about that?) There are a couple extras of note here as well - the aforementioned 20-minute documentary, plus an awesome Beastie Boys video (sadly, for a less than awesome song) that "was heavily influenced by" the film. (Read: "features a ton of swiped footage from"; interspersed with typical BB ridiculousness.) Highly recommended for the fan of sexy '60s style, Italian filmmaking, or anyone who enjoys the work of Mario Bava; which should cover pretty much everyone reading this review.
—Bunny
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