Gefahr: Diabolik! (1968)

Gefahr: Diabolik!: Directed by Mario Bava. With John Phillip Law, Marisa Mell, Michel Piccoli, Adolfo Celi. International man of mystery Diabolik and his sensual lover Eva Kant pull off heist after heist, all while European cops led by Inspector Ginko and envious mobsters led by Ralph Valmont are closing in on them.

“Whatu0026#39;s the matter with you people? Doesnu0026#39;t anyone enjoy a good, fun, cheesy Italian spy flick anymore? These are the same people who donu0026#39;t like Godzilla films because they canu0026#39;t get over the low-budget special effect and the u0026quot;sillinessu0026quot;, and who canu0026#39;t tolerate anything different than mega-budget hollywood blockbusters, and that just breaks my heart. I kind of enjoyed seeing it on MST3K, but I was dissappointed that they included it in the same league as the truly awful (but no les enjoyable) Hobgoblins and Space Mutiny. This is one of the great 60s films as far as iu0026#39;m concerned. What really sets the films apart is stylish cinematography and direction by the great, sadly underappreciated Mario Bava, also responsible for great films like Black Sabbath, Planet of the Vampires, Bay of Blood, Lisa and the Devil, and the gritty, cynical Rabid Dogs, which was a real surprise after Diabolik. (Even if you hated Diabolik, you owe it to yourself to track down a copy of Rabid Dogs). Also noteworthy is the psychedelica-tinged score by the great Ennio Morricone, my favorite film composer.”