Danger: Diabolik – Shout! Factory (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Italy, 1968
Director: Mario Bava
Writers: Adriano Baracco, Mario Bava, Brian Degas, Tudor Gates
Cast: John Phillip Law, Marisa Mell, Michel Piccoli, Adolfo Celi

Release Date: May 19th, 2020
Approximate running time: 100 Minutes 20 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: PG-13
Sound: DTS-HD Mono English
Subtitles: English SDH
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $29.99

"The suave, psychedelic-era thief called Diabolik (John Phillip 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 super-rich." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 3.5/5

Danger: Diabolik comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 34.3 GB

Feature: 28 GB

There’s no information given about the source of this transfer. It looks like this transfer comes from a dated source. Any print related debris is minimal, colors look very good, details generally look crisp, black levels fare well, there are no issues with compression, and though grain is present, there is an inconsistency in how the grain looks.

Audio: 4/5

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in English, and included with this release are removable English SDH subtitles. The audio fared better than the transfer; the source is in great shape, dialog comes through clearly, everything sounds balanced, and ambient sounds are well-presented.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a U.S. teaser (1 minute 5 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), U.S. theatrical trailer (2 minutes 23 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), The Beastie Boys music video Body Movin’ with optional audio commentary by Adam Yauch (6 minutes 38 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival featurette titled Danger: Diabolik – From Fumetti To Film (20 minutes 23 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English and Italian with non-removable English subtitles), an archival audio commentary with actor John Phillip Law and Tim Lucas, author of Mario Bava – All the Colors of the Dark and an audio commentary with film historians Nathaniel Thompson and Troy Howarth.

Summary:

Mario Bava is most remembered as a director of Gothic horror films, though he worked in just about every genre imaginable. Two things that have always been present in virtually every color film that he has directed are his ability to frame picturesque shots in his cinematography and his exquisite use of colors. Both of these assets would help him greatly when it came time to direct Danger: Diabolik, which was based on one of the longest running Fumetti’s Diaboliks that was created by two Milan sisters, Angela and Luciana Giustani.

Right off the bat, Danger: Diabolik is a direct contrast to what we normally recognize as a superhero, especially since he really is the villain of the piece, who at best could be considered an anti-hero. He is cold and calculated to the point that he will kill anyone who gets in his way. His girlfriend, Eva Kant, is not as sadistic as her personality relies more on her sexuality, which often gets her whatever she wants.

Mario Bava’s $400,000 budget for Danger: Diabolik would have the largest budget of his career, and the film benefits greatly from this. Many of Bava’s films suffer from a lack of budget, and even though he is very good at working wonders with a shoestring budget, they still don’t have the overall polish that Danger: Diabolik does. The optical effects used in this film now feel dated, but still, no one could manipulate a miniature or a matte painting like Mario Bava. The sets and costumes are deliriously over the top in their design, which adds to the comic book feel of the film.

Acting wise, Danger: Diabolik is blessed with strong leads and an equally strong supporting cast. John Philip Law has had a long and varied career as an actor, with 1968 being his most memorable year as he starred in Death Rides a Horse, Barbarella: Queen of the Galaxy, and Danger: Diabolik. His performance as Diabolik is as good as any I've seen from him, perfectly balancing his sinister side with his laid-back ladies man persona. Marisa Mell (Perversion Story, Gang War in Milan) has been known to steam up the screen in the various films that she has starred in, and as Eva Kant, she exudes sensuality with her sex kitten approach to the character.

No discussion of Danger: Diabolik is complete without the acknowledgment of Ennio Morricone’s contribution to the film via his masterful score. Just like he had done previously with Sergio Leone, he sets the mood and tone of the film with musical cues that are, in many cases, associated with certain characters. The music is playful most of the time, like in an early scene when the police officers are getting ready to transport the money.

There are many wonderful set pieces throughout Danger: Diabolik, with my favorite being the scene in which Diabolik and Eva make love on a rotating bed filled with money. Also, this version of Danger: Diabolik is a longer version that restores footage missing from the American release, most notably the scene where Diabolik and Eva make love in a bed filled with money. Visually Dangerous: Diabolik is a dazzling feast for the eyes that’s rich with texture as Mario Bava lays it on, layer after layer of eye candy. Ultimately, Danger Diabolik is Mario Bava’s greatest achievement as a director.

Shout! The factory once again charges premium prices for dated transfers. And most of the extra content has been carried over from Paramount’s 2005 DVD release. That said, despite this release’s shortcomings, there’s really no other way to see Danger: Diabolik if you don’t already own Paramount’s 2005 DVD release.

Written by Michael Den Boer