Danger: Diabolik!

The ultimate anti-hero was here long before Deadpool.

Usually when people are confronted by the Comic Book subject they instantly think of "super heroes" but connoisseurs know there's more than meets the eye in the magnificent world of the ninth art. Today's entry should have been one of the earliest in the history of this humble time capsule known as SPAM Alternative but, what the heck beter late than never! 

Diabolik (Italian pronunciation: [djaˈbɔːlik]) is an anti-hero featured in Italian comics. He was created by sisters Angela and Luciana Giussani in 1962. His stories appear in monthly black-and-white, digest-sized booklets. The character was inspired by several previous characters from Italian and French pulp fiction.

Diabolik was born from seeing commuters every day. Creator Angela Giussani, who lived near Milano Cadorna Railway Station, thought of making comics in a format designed for traveling and carrying in one's pocket. To better understand the tastes of her potential readers, Angela made a survey of the market, from which she concluded that many commuters read mystery novels; another version of the story claims that the very idea came from her finding a Fantomas novel abandoned in a train. Thus was born the "Diabolik format" (a small 12 x 17 cm (7 in) book), which proved popular with other publications in the same genre. The pocketbook format contributed, in fact, to the success of the character.

Sorry, she's taken.

I must respect the driving restrictions.

Sorry, I'm an imbecile poser who only knows Marvel comics films, who the hell is Diabolik? 

Diabolik is a ruthless master thief. He typically steals from criminals (and has no issue with killing them if need be, but rarely, if ever, kills the innocent or the police), and has a set of lifelike masks which he uses to fool his opponents, assuming every identity at his will. He seems to have a deep knowledge in many scientific fields, including chemistry, mechanics and computers. In his first appearances, Diabolik was a more straightforward villain who did not hesitate to murder anyone in order to accomplish his deeds. He was later given a more "Robin Hood"-like persona and was shown stealing essentially from criminals, in order to soften the series’ violence and amorality.

He was raised as an orphan on a secret island hideout of a criminal combiné, where he learned all his criminal skills, including developing his special masks, before killing the head of the combine. Diabolik’s true name had never been revealed in the series, and he doesn’t know it himself. Diabolik took his name from a dangerous black panther that the head of the combine killed on the secret island. From issue #3 of the series, Diabolik is aided by his "moll", Eva Kant, who has gained an increasing role as his partner and lover.

Diabolik recommends Jaguar.

Of course you can suck my dick here!

Diabolik always drives a black 1961 Jaguar E-type. Graphically inspired by the actor Robert Taylor, he usually wears a skintight black body suit that leaves only his eyes and eyebrows (very distinctive ones) exposed when going "into action". Diabolik does not use firearms: his main weapons are the daggers he throws with uncanny ability, as well as a small dart gun with knockout darts. Eva drives a white Jaguar, and unusually goes into action wearing a heavy sweater and pants, no mask and no revealing clothing. The stories are set in a fictional town, Clerville, loosely inspired by Geneva, Switzerland.

Diabolik’s main opponent is Inspector Ginko, known only by his surname, a fierce and incorruptible police officer who is almost always thwarted by astute tricks devised by Diabolik. The only other recurring character is the noblewoman Altea, Ginko’s fiancee.

We'll catch the motherfucker.

Always bargain in pussy currency.

Danger: Diabolik, the 1968 movie.

Mario Bava's pop-art extravaganza was his only big budget film: Dino De Laurentiis gave him three million dollars to shoot it, Bava only needed 400,000 to turn "Danger: Diabolik" into an unforgettably entertaining cult film. 

This film was produced by Dino De Laurentiis (later responsible for the infamously mammoth King Kong (1976) and Hurricane (1979)) and its #3-million budget was much more than director Mario Bava was used to and enabled him to work with more money and a much more prestigious cast than he normally did. Howeer, he remained true to his principles, relying on imagination rather than money, and brought in the film substantially under budget, at a mere $400,000. De Laurentiis was so impressed with Bava's saving him so much money that he offered Bava the opportunity to make a sequel with the leftover funds, but Bava had by then tired of working with the producer and decided to pass. 

While hippies get high...

...Diabolik does the job.

Mario Bava may be best known for the horror films he directed, but he wasn't limited to just one genre. He dabbled in science-fiction, westerns, comedies, and peplums. That brings us to this, his "spy" film. And what a film it is!

- If you didn't know that Bava directed Danger Diabolik and you caught parts of it, you would immediately notice his style all over the film. Innovative camera work, impeccable lighting, wonderful mat paintings, and terrific set design are all highlights that have Bava's fingerprints all over them. It's a visually stunning movie from start to finish. It's a real pleasure to watch each scene just to see what Bava will come up with next.

Save the day and fuck me later.

My car engine won't start...

John Phillip Law plays Diabolik, a thief who takes from the rich to give to the girl he loves (Austrian bombshell Marisa Mell), Michel Piccoli is the policeman trying to stop him, and "Thunderball"-villain Adolfo Celi once again shows up as the bad guy. Adapted from the highly popular Italian comic strips of the 1960s, "Danger: Diabolik" became one of the first and most influential comic-based films in history.

Composer Ennio Morricone created one of his most haunting scores, which supports Bava's stunning visual ideas marvelously. There are many scenes that reveal Bava's masterful skills as a director, i.e. when Diabolik clambers up walls, messes up a press conference with Exhilaration gas or pulls of the heist of a twenty-ton gold ingot. Fortunately, "Danger: Diabolik" never loses its self-irony and cheeky, sexy humor. This (and the stylish sets) help to overlook some holes in the story and (very few) boring moments.

Getting ready for the man.

Sex & money.

According to John Phillip Law, the first choice for the role of Ava Kent was an unknown model from New York, who was a friend of Charlie Bluhdorn, the CEO of Gulf & Western, the conglomerate that owned Paramount Pictures (which had contracted to distribute the film in the US). Second choice was Catherine Deneuve, who lasted for about a week, until director Mario Bava decided she just was not right for the part. He finally found the perfect Ava Kent in Marisa Mell.  

Austrian-born actress Marisa Mell gave her star-turn in this picture. With her radiant looks and tongue-in-cheek attitude, she would have been the perfect Bond girl. Unfortunately, she never appeared in a Bond film but became some sort of B-movie queen of the 1970s with such vehicles as "Beast with a Gun" or "Diary of an Erotic Murderess". While she made one other great film, Fulci's Hitchcockian giallo "One on Top of the Other" (1969), her work for Bava will stand as her creative peak. Alas, Miss Mell died of cancer before she got a chance to prove her undeniable acting skills elsewhere.

I only spread them for you.

I'm craving for your cum Diabolik.

Overall, Diabolik is a film that can be enjoyed for historical purposes, allow me to explain: Diabolik is a 1968 film that has it all: 60's Groove?, check. Drugs & hippies?, check. Fake driving scenes?, check. Gunshots?, check. Super sexy mini skirts?, check. Sexploitation tease?, double check! and what is most important the whole secret agent with the super cool gadgets vibe is all over this film. In case you didn't know who this character is, you won't be lost if you watch the movie before reading the actual comic books.  The cast is superb and Mario Bava's clever direction bring some of the coolest scenes ever filmed. Diabolik & Eva look and feel as the coolest theft couple in the whole world and that's where this film wins massively, there are very few comic book adaptations that look this convincing and cool.

Here's the trailer:

Here's the cool opening theme by the great Ennio Morricone:

(Thanks to Rutaflashback for the reminder) Bonus video with "Body Movin'" a Beastie Boys tribute to the film, featuring many scenes from the movie reworked by the band itself:

La Belva Col Mitra

DVD release cover.

Beast With a Gun (a.k.a La Belva Col Mitra, Mad Dog  & Mad Dog Killer) is another excellent example of the italian police thriller cult sub-genre. The film is quite a lot nastier than most of the Italian crime films around, and  some times it feels like it could righteously fit into the exploitation cult genre. Naturally, there's the usual array of fistfights, shootouts and car chases; but here we've also get to see some  rapes (light stuff nothing too literal this movie is not I Spit on Your Grave) and scenes of knife injuries - among other stuff. So La Belva Col Mitra might not be for everyone's taste, but I think most people would agree that the nasty action certainly gives the film a bit more of flavor. 

The film begins with the runaway of three nasty convicts. Their leader is a man named Nanni Vitali, and their first port of call after escaping from jail is killing the dirty scumbag that rat them out on the fuzz. However, when they catch up with him; Nanni gets interested in his girlfriend, and proceeds to rape her behind the trees before killing the snitch. He also wants the girl to help them pull off a robbery; and she's ok with helping them, but not before telling the police all about it of course.

Original movie titles, my copy says "Mad Dog"

Mr. Bad guy.

The main bad character is absolutely spot on with his role as the bad to the bones criminal at the centre of the tale, and every moment he's on screen is completely gripping. He is joined by Marisa Mell, who provides the eye candy in style! Richard Harrison rounds off the central cast with the tough and experienced cop role and like his co-stars - plays it well. 

Realism obviously wasn't big on director Sergio Grieco's priority list, however, as the film features numerous instances that don't make a lot of sense - the scene that springs to mind instantly is the one where Giuliana is shot in the leg...and then instantly diagnoses it all by herself as 'not serious' and barely bats an eyelid! funny!

Innocent bystander?

Not so innocent now right?

At first she suffered, but then she liked it! mother of God!

Tell me about it!

Most of Marisa Mell pictures are in nude format.

Now, let's check the strongest points in this Italian Police Thriller: 

- The Vicious Nanni. Nanni Vitali is one of those vicious, brutal, sadistic type characters that are necessary for this kind of film to work. The things he is capable of doing can be at times shocking. The ferocious way he beats-up the gas attendant for no real purpose at all is the perfect example. He's the kind of character you wouldn't want to run into in real life.

- Marisa Mell. Marisa Mell is another of those European actresses who may not have been much of a thespian, but she has a certain screen presence that's undeniable. It's too bad the decision was made to ignore her character for the final third of the movie.

Police hero Italian style.

It's crime time!

Now let's check the weakest points of the film according to yours truly: 

- Unbelievable Plot Points. While I could write about several instances where the movie stretches credibility, I'll limit these comments to two. First, no real police would bungle a heist set-up as bad as the police in this film. They have inside information. They know where and when the robbery is to take place. They have their own people poising as factory workers. Yet two people are killed and the robbers make off with a van full of hostages. Second, while scouting the vast Italian countryside, the police just happen to select and climb the very electric pole that will give them a clear view of the killers' hideout. How lucky can you be! 

- Originality. Beast with a Gun is a fairly standard Italian police thriller that offers very little in the way of innovation. It's all routine, run-of-the-mill, seen-it-before type stuff. A little more creativity would have gone a long way to making it a good film of its type.

In the end, if you're a fan of this kind of film, you probably won't see anything you haven't seen before. But what is presented is generally well done with some very nice accompanying music. And, Marisa Mell makes the whole thing worthwhile for me.

Kidnapped sister.

Don't kill me!

By the Way...

Do you remember the scene in Jackie Brown with Robert DeNiro and Bridget Fonda watching TV and then Samuel Jackson walks in and goes: "Is that Rutger Hauer?" and Fonda replies: "No, it's Helmut Berger."?

alright gotta set the table and make some tea for my wife, you know real life is really important.

This movie can be found on DVD on the 50 Drive-In Movie Classics box set released by MillCreek Entertainment originally in 2006, but a 2010 re-relase of the same exact box set is available.

Here's the original Italian movie trailer: