Mario Bava

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Mario Bava (Script error: No such module "IPA".; 31 July 1914 – 27 April 1980)[1] was an Italian filmmaker who worked variously as a director, cinematographer, special effects artist and screenwriter.[2] His low-budget genre films, known for their distinctive visual flair and stylish technical ingenuity, feature recurring themes and imagery concerning the conflict between illusion and reality, as well as the destructive capacity of human nature.[3] Widely regarded as a pioneer of Italian genre cinema and one of the most influential auteurs of the horror film genre,[4][5] he is popularly referred to as the "Master of Italian Horror"[6] and the "Master of the Macabre".[7]

After providing special effects work and other assistance on such productions as I Vampiri (1957), Hercules (1958) and Caltiki – The Immortal Monster (1959), Bava made his official feature directorial debut with the gothic horror film Black Sunday, released in 1960. He went on to direct such films as The Girl Who Knew Too Much, Black Sabbath, The Whip and the Body (all released in 1963), Blood and Black Lace (1964), Planet of the Vampires (1965), Kill, Baby, Kill (1966), Danger: Diabolik (1968), A Bay of Blood (1971), Baron Blood (1972), Lisa and the Devil (1974) and Rabid Dogs (1974).

According to the British Film Institute, "Bava took a vital role in the creation of the modern horror film. If there was to be a Mount Rushmore-style monument dedicated to four directors whose work pioneered a new form of big screen chills and thrills, those giant faces etched in granite on the mountainside would be: Bava, Alfred Hitchcock, Georges Franju and Michael Powell."[5]

Family

Born to sculptor, cinematographer and special effects pioneer Eugenio Bava, the younger Mario Bava followed his father into the film industry, and eventually earned a reputation as one of Italy's foremost cameramen, lighting and providing the special effects for such films as Hercules (1958) and its sequel Hercules Unchained (1959) (both were lampooned on Mystery Science Theater 3000).[8][9]

Mario Bava's son and frequent assistant director, Lamberto Bava, later became a noted fantasy and horror film director in his own right.

Biography

Mario Bava was born in Sanremo, Liguria on 31 July 1914. He was the son of Eugenio Bava (1886–1966), a sculptor who also worked as a special effects photographer and cameraman in the Italian silent movie industry.[10] Mario Bava's first ambition was to become a painter. Unable to turn out paintings at a profitable rate, he went into his father's business, working as an assistant to other Italian cinematographers like Massimo Terzano. He also helped his father at the special effects department at Benito Mussolini's film factory, the Istituto Luce.

Bava became a cinematographer himself in 1939, shooting two short films with Roberto Rossellini. He made his feature debut in the early 1940s. Bava's camerawork was an instrumental factor in developing the screen personas of such stars of the period as Gina Lollobrigida, Steve Reeves and Aldo Fabrizi.

During the late 1950s, his eventual career trajectory as a director began when he was relied upon to complete projects begun by or credited to his colleague Riccardo Freda and other filmmakers, including I Vampiri (1957) (the first Italian horror film of the sound era), The Day the Sky Exploded (1958) (the first Italian science fiction film), Caltiki – The Immortal Monster (1959) and The Giant of Marathon (1959).[3]

Bava collaborates in I vampiri (a.k.a. The Devil's Commandment) for director Riccardo Freda in 1956, a movie now referred to as the first Italian horror film.Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Bava was originally hired as the cinematographer, but when Freda walked out on the project midway through production, Bava completed the film in several days, even creating the innovative special effects that were needed. He also handled the cinematography and special effects on the 1955 Kirk Douglas epic Ulysses and the 1957 Steve Reeves classic Hercules, two films credited with sparking the Italian sword and sandal genre.

Bava co-directed The Day the Sky Exploded in 1958, the first Italian science fiction film, predating even the sci-fi films of Antonio Margheriti. Because he had no earlier credited experience as a director, the film was credited solely to Paolo Heusch.

File:Mario Bava.jpg
Bava in 1962

In 1960, Bava directed the gothic horror classic Black Sunday, his first solo directorial effort, which made a genre star out of Barbara Steele. His use of light and dark in black-and-white films is widely acclaimed along with his spectacular use of color in films such as Black Sabbath, Kill, Baby... Kill!, Blood and Black Lace and The Whip and the Body.

Later works

His work has proven to be very influential. Bava directed two films that are now regarded as the earliest entries in the Italian giallo genre: The Girl Who Knew Too Much (1963) and Blood and Black Lace (1964). His 1965 science fiction horror film Planet of the Vampires was a thematic precursor to Alien (1979). Although comic books had served as the basis for countless serials and children's films in Hollywood, Bava's Danger: Diabolik (1968) brought an adult perspective to the genre; the movie was influenced by Pop artists Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein.[11][12] Many elements of the 1966 film Kill, Baby... Kill!, regarded by Martin Scorsese as Bava's masterpiece, also appear in the Asian strain of terror film known as J-horror. 1971's A Bay of Blood is considered one of the early slasher films, and was explicitly imitated in Friday the 13th Part 2.[13]

Bava was disappointed with the theatrical distribution of some of his later films. His Lisa and the Devil (1972) never was selected by a distributor. Eventually, in order to get it released, the producer reedited the movie into an Exorcist clone, adding footage shot in 1975, and retitling it House of Exorcism. Bava's Semaforo Rosso (1974) never was released theatrically during his lifetime, and in the late 1990s, it also would be reedited, with new footage added, and retitled; it was released on video as Rabid Dogs. It was released on DVD in 2007, slightly altered and again retitled, as Kidnapped.

In 1977, Bava directed his last horror film, Shock. His son, Lamberto Bava, was an uncredited co-director. The elder Bava later did special effects matte work on Dario Argento's 1980 film Inferno. Bava died suddenly of a heart attack on 27 April 1980, at age 65. His doctor had given him a physical just a few days before, and had pronounced him to be in perfect health. At the time of his death, Bava was about to start shooting a science fiction film titled Star Riders, on which Luigi Cozzi had hoped to collaborate.[14]

Filmography

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Title Year Credited as Notes Ref(s)
Director Screenwriter Screen story writer Cinematographer Other
Scipione l'africano 1937 Yes Uncredited title designer. Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Il dottor Antonio 1938 Yes Uncredited camera assistant. Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Princess Tarakanova 1938 Yes Uncredited camera assistant. Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Giuseppe Verdi 1938 Yes Uncredited camera assistant. Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Inventiamo l'amore 1938 Yes Uncredited camera assistant. Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Il socio invisible 1939 Yes Uncredited additional photography Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Script error: No such module "sort". 1940 Yes Uncredited camera assistant Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Script error: No such module "sort". 1941 Yes Uncredited camera assistant Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Uomini sul fondo 1941 Yes Additional photography and special effects Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Capitan Tempesta 1942 Yes Camera assistant Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
La nave bianca 1942 Yes Camera assistant and special effects Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Alfa tau! 1942 Yes Additional photography and special effects Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Uomini e cieli 1943 Yes Additional photography and special effects Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Le avventure di Annabella 1943 Yes Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Sant'Elena, piccola isola 1943 Yes Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Montecassino nel cerchio di fuoco 1946 Yes Uncredited additional photography Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Il barbiere di Siviglia 1946 Yes Uncredited camera assistant Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Elisir d'amore 1947 Yes Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Natale ai campo 119 1947 Yes Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Follie per l'opera 1948 Yes Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Script error: No such module "sort". 1948 Yes Yes Special effects Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Antonio de Padova 1949 Yes Yes Special effects Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Miss Italia 1950 Yes Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Script error: No such module "sort". 1950 Yes Yes Special effects Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Script error: No such module "sort". 1950 Yes Yes Special effects Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Canzone di primavera 1950 Yes Yes Special effects Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Quel bandito sono io! 1950 Yes Yes Special effects Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Vita da cani 1950 Yes Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Guardie e ladri 1951 Yes Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Amor non ho, pero... pero... 1951 Yes Yes Special effects Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Script error: No such module "sort". 1951 Yes Yes Special effects Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Script error: No such module "sort". 1952 Yes Additional photography, uncredited Special effects work Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Papà diventa mamma 1952 Yes Yes Special effects Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Gli eroi della domenica 1952 Yes Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Sins of Rome 1953 Yes Uncredited as cinematographer Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Perdonami! 1953 Yes Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Script error: No such module "sort". 1953 Yes Yes Special effects Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Balocchi e profumi 1953 Yes Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Villa Borghese 1953 Yes Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Terza liceo 1954 Yes Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Cose da pazzi 1954 Yes Yes Special effects Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Graziella 1954 Yes Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Hanno rubato un tram 1954 Yes Yes Special effects Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Theodora, Slave Empress 1954 Yes Additional photography and uncredited special effects artist Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Buonanotte... avvocato! 1955 Yes Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Non ch'e amore piu grande 1955 Yes Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Script error: No such module "sort". 1955 Yes Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Script error: No such module "sort". 1955 Yes Yes Special effects artist Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Da qui all'ereditta 1955 Yes Uncredited additional photography and special effects Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Beatrice Cenci 1956 Yes Special effects creator Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Mio figlio Nerone 1956 Yes Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Roland the Mighty 1956 Yes Yes Special effects Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Script error: No such module "sort". 1957 Yes Yes Completed the film after Freda left production. Also did uncredited special effects. Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Hercules 1958 Yes Yes Special effects artist Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Città di notte 1958 Yes Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Script error: No such module "sort". 1958 Yes Yes Special effects creator. While credited to Paolo Heusch, actors on set state Bava directed the film. Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Toto in Paris 1958 Yes Yes Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Hercules Unchained 1959 Yes Yes Special effects artist Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Sheba and the Gladiator 1959 Yes Uncredited as cinematographer Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Script error: No such module "sort". 1959 Yes Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Caltiki – The Immortal Monster 1959 Yes Yes Special effects. Took over direction from Freda. Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
The Giant of Marathon 1959 Yes Yes Bava shot some interiors 10 days prior to the films premiere. Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Black Sunday 1960 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Bava developed the matte paintings and special effects uncredited. Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Hercules in the Haunted World 1961 Yes Yes Yes Yes Special effects creator Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Erik the Conqueror 1961 Yes Yes Yes Yes Special effects creator Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Script error: No such module "sort". 1962 Yes Uncredited special effects creator Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Script error: No such module "sort". 1963 Yes Yes Yes Yes Special effects creator Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Black Sabbath 1963 Yes Yes Yes Bava is uncredited as cinematographer on some scenes. Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".[15]
Script error: No such module "sort". 1963 Yes Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Blood and Black Lace 1964 Yes Yes Yes Yes Special effects creator Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Script error: No such module "sort". 1964 Yes Yes Yes Special effects creator Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Planet of the Vampires 1965 Yes Yes Yes Yes Special effects creator Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Knives of the Avenger 1966 Yes Yes Yes Yes Special effects Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Kill, Baby, Kill 1966 Yes Yes Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Dr. Goldfoot and the Girl Bombs 1966 Yes Yes Yes Special effects creator Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Danger: Diabolik 1968 Yes Yes Yes Yes Special effects creator Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Five Dolls for an August Moon 1970 Yes Yes Yes Special effects creator and film editor Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Hatchet for the Honeymoon 1970 Yes Yes Yes Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Roy Colt & Winchester Jack 1970 Yes Yes Yes Special effects creator Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Four Times That Night 1971 Yes Yes Yes Special effects creator Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Script error: No such module "sort". 1971 Yes Yes Yes Yes Special effects creator Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Baron Blood 1972 Yes Yes Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Lisa and the Devil 1974 Yes Yes Yes Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Shock 1977 Yes Yes Bava is uncredited as cinematographer Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Inferno 1980 Yes Bava created some optical effects, painted maquettes, and other trick shots. Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Rabid Dogs 1998 Yes Yes Yes Uncredited cinematographer and on screen as the man in the parking lot. Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

Influence and legacy

Although most of Bava's films as director failed to achieve major commercial success upon release, many eventually found acclaim as cult classics, with their content and production values being favourably compared to the works of Alfred Hitchcock. Despite his reputation as a talented artist during his lifetime, Bava's shy, self-deprecating demeanour prevented him from taking advantage of opportunities that would have furthered his international standing within the industry, and he declined multiple opportunities to work in Hollywood.[3]

Bava's son Lamberto worked for fourteen years as his father's assistant director (beginning with Planet of the Vampires), and became a horror film director on his own right. On several of Mario's movies, Mario was credited as John M. Old.[16] Later, Lamberto was sometimes credited as John M. Old Jr.[17] When Lamberto screened his debut film Macabre for his father, Mario commented jokingly to Lamberto: "I am very proud of you. Now I can die in peace". (He actually did die less than two months later.)

Several books have been published about Bava: Mario Bava by Pascal Martinet (Edilig, 1984) and Mario Bava edited by Jean-Louis Leutrat (Éditions du Céfal, 1994) in French; Mario Bava by Alberto Pezzotta (Il Castoro Cinema, 1995) in Italian; The Haunted Worlds of Mario Bava by Troy Howarth (FAB Press, 2002) and most recently, the massive critical biography Mario Bava: All the Colors of the Dark by Tim Lucas (Video Watchdog, 2007; Template:ISBN).

A documentary, Mario Bava: Maestro of the Macabre, was released in 2000.[18]

Bava's directing style heavily influenced many filmmakers, including Joe Dante, Martin Scorsese, Quentin Tarantino, Francis Ford Coppola, John Landis, and Tim Burton.[19][20][21] Bava and his works have also influenced Dario Argento, Lucio Fulci, Federico Fellini, John Carpenter, Nicolas Winding Refn, Roger Corman, Edgar Wright, and Jennifer Kent.[22]

Movie-mocking TV series Mystery Science Theater 3000 concluded its original ten-season run in 1999 with Danger: Diabolik.[23][24][25][26]

See also

References

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  1. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  3. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  4. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  5. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  6. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  7. ↑ Mario Bava: Maestro of the Macabre (2000)–MUBI
  8. ↑ "Mystery Science Theater 3000" Hercules Unchained (TV episode 1992)-IMDb
  9. ↑ "Mystery Science Theater 3000" Hercules (TV episode 1993)-IMDb
  10. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ Celebrating the Non-Horror Work of Mario Bava—Nerdist
  12. ↑ All 24 Mario Bava Movies Ranked from Worst to Best - Page 3 - Taste of Cinema
  13. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  14. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  15. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  16. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  17. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  18. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  19. ↑ Shock Video: Tim Burton Talks His Love of Mario Bava - ComingSoon.net
  20. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  21. ↑ 10 Essential Mario Bava Films Every Horror Fan Should See — Taste of Cinema
  22. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  23. ↑ Why MST3K's Original Finale Is One of the Best Episodes Ever—Nerdist
  24. ↑ Mystery Science Theater 3000 – Time
  25. ↑ Viva Bava, Celebrating a Master Craftsman|Balder and Dash|Roger Ebert
  26. ↑ Best Sci-Fi Movies Mystery Science Theater 3000 Watched|Gizmodo

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Bibliography

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External links

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