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VAMPIRI (The Devil's Commandment/Lust of the Vampire/Les Vampires) Dir: Riccardo Freda; Prod: Titanus/Athena Cinematografica; S: Pedro Regnoli; Ph/SFX: Mario Bava; Music: Roman Vlad; Cast: Gianna Maria Canale, Carlo D'Angelo, Dario Michaelis, Wandisa Guida, Paul Muller, Riccardo Freda. The first Italian horror film, and one of the most important films of the modern horror era. Shot in Cinemascope, this luxuriant black and white film highlighted the photography and special effects of Mario Bava, who finished directing the film when Freda walked off the set. (Several years later Bava would employ the same "aging" effect in his first official directorial work, BLACK SUNDAY.) Cuts were made to the film in its United States release, DEVIL'S COMMANDMENT. The plastic surgery atmosphere film predates EYES WITHOUT A FACE by two years and THE AWFUL DR. ORLOFF by six; while the black-gloved stranger menacing barely clad women introduces the symbols of the giallo of the 1960s and 1970s. The star of the film, Gianna Maria Canale was married to director Freda. The film's lack of success compelled Freda to assume pseudonyms in the future (Robert Hampton). Review quotes: "Stylist
yarn." - Leonard Maltin's Move & Video Guide. |
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