|
More than a quarter of a century after his death, director Mario Bava remains one of international cinema’s most controversial icons. Today his influence — marked by stunning visuals, daring sexuality and shocking violence — can still be seen in the works of Martin Scorsese, David Lynch, Tim Burton, Dario Argento and countless others in a legacy that extends far beyond the horror genre.
This collection brings together 5 landmark movies from the first half of Bava’s career — encompassing the original giallo, a bold Viking epic, and his three gothic horror masterpieces — featuring new transfers, original European versions, and exclusive featurettes to create the definitive celebration of one of the most important filmmakers of all time.
BLACK SABBATH (I TRE VOLTI DELLA PAURA / THE THREE FACES OF FEAR / THE THREE FACES OF TERROR / LES TROIS VISAGES DE LA PEUR) - 1963
A trio of atmospheric horror tales about: "The Drop of Water" concerns a nurse who steals a ring off a dead spiritualist, only to have the corpse seek revenge. "The Telephone" features a prostitute who is terrorized by phone calls from a dead client. "The Wurdalak" stars Boris Karloff as a vampire who feeds on the blood of his loved ones.
DVD FEATURESAnamorphic (16:9) Widescreen (1.77:1) VersionItalian AudioOptional English SubtitlesAudio Commentary by Tim Lucas"A Life in Film" - An interview with Mark DamonTrailersTV SpotRadio SpotBiosPoster and Still Gallery
BLACK SUNDAY (MASCHERA DEL DEMONIO, LA / MASK OF SATAN / HOUSE OF FRIGHT / REVENGE OF THE VAMPIRE / MASK OF THE DEMON ) - 1960
Bava's most frightening masterpiece, a tribute to the classic horror of Universal Pictures. In 17th Century Moldavia, the evil Princess Asa is condemned to death for witchcraft and vampirism, along with her brother, Prince Igor Javutich. Two hundred years later, two doctors en route to a medical convention discover her crypt and accidentally set her resurrection in motion! With the help of Javutich and others whom she enthralls with her cold, dead kiss, Asa sets her sights on her ultimate victim--Princess Katia, her own twin descendant.
Filmed in gorgeous black & white by the director himself, this is a stylish and relentlessly visual film of undiluted violence starring cult film star Barbara Steele.
DVD FEATURES Anamorphic (16:9) Widescreen (1.66:1) Version English Audio Audio Commentary by Tim LucasTrailersTV SpotBiosPoster and Still Gallery
THE GIRL WHO KNEW TOO MUCH (LA RAGAZZA CHE SAPEVA TROPPO) - 1963
Nora Davis (Leticia Roman) jets away to Rome to vacation with Edith, an old family friend. Unfortunately, her trip is anything but relaxing... On the first night, Edith dies - and as Nora runs into the night for help, she becomes an eyewitness to a murder as she sees a woman stabbed to death on the Piazza di Spagna! Being a young woman with an insatiable appetite for murder mysteries, Nora can't get anyone to believe her story, but with the help of the attentive Dr. Marcello Bassi (John Saxon), she learns that a murder did occur on that very spot - 10 years earlier - when Emily Craven fell victim to the "Alphabet Murderer"! What did Nora Davis really see, and who is stalking her through Rome? Could it be the Alphabet Killer, looking for victim D?
Mario Bava's The Girl Who Knew Too Much (La ragazza che sapeva troppo, 1963) is more than a stylish homage to the "Americans Abroad" thrillers of Alfred Hitchcock. It was the first movie to show the influence of a distinctly Italian breed of thriller known as the "giallo" -- named after a series of mystery pulps with yellow ("giallo") jackets published in Italy by Mondadori, which were renowned for their lurid cover art and attention to violent detail. Originally released in America (in greatly revises form) as Evil Eye, Bava's innovative thriller is presented here -- in its original director's cut, in Italian with English subtitles.
DVD FEATURESAnamorphic (16:9) Widescreen (1.77:1) VersionItalian audioOptional English subtitlesAudio Commentary by Tim Lucas"Remembering the Girl" with John Saxon
TrailersBiosPoster and Still Gallery
KILL BABY KILL (OPERAZIONE PAURA / KILL, BABY…KILL!) - 1966
Dr. Eswai (Giacomo Rossi-Stuart) is called by Inspector Kruger (Piero Lulli) to a small village to perform an autopsy on a woman who has died under suspicious circumstances. Despite help from Ruth (Fabienne Dali), the village witch, Kruger is killed and it is revealed that the dead woman, as well as other villagers, have been killed by the ghost of Melissa, a young girl who, fed by the hatred of her grieving mother, Baroness Graps, exacts her revenge on them.
Dr. Eswai, along with Monica (Erika Blanc), a local nurse, are lured into a fateful confrontation at the Villa Graps. Stars Giacomo Rossi-Stuart, Erika Blanc & Fabienne Dali.
DVD FEATURESAnamorphic (16:9) Widescreen (1.85:1) VersionEnglish & Italian audio optionsOptional English subtitlesTrailerTV SpotsBios
KNIVES OF THE AVENGER (I COLTELLI DEL VENDICATORE / EINE HANDVOLL BLANKER MESSER) - 1966
With husband King Harald missing at sea and presumed dead, Queen Karin goes into hiding with her young son Moki to escape being forced into marriage with Hagen, a general in Harald's army and now a bloodthirsty pretender to the throne.
Wary of strangers, she turns a beggar away from her cottage, but upon hearing her cries for help, the stranger returns and saves her from two men with well-thrown knives--Knives of the Avenger. Stras Cameron Mitchell, Fausto Tozzi & Giacomo Rossi-Stuart.
DVD FEATURESAnamorphic (16:9) Widescreen (2.25:1) VersionEnglish and Italian audio optionsOptional English subtitlesTrailerBios
We also carry BAVA: THE MARIO BAVA COLLECTION - VOLUME 2. |
![BAVA: THE MARIO BAVA COLLECTION - VOLUME 1 [5 DVD BOX SET]](images/mbavaab.jpg "BAVA: THE MARIO BAVA COLLECTION - VOLUME 1 [5 DVD BOX SET]")
|
|
DVDs
Action
