This Friday, we’re going to talk about one of the most amazing Italian directors in our movie history. One that truly painted the screen with color, even if it was in black and white. Today, we celebrate the birthday of the late, great Mario Bava. Even before he was “officially” directing, he gave us incredible looking films, such as I, Vampiri (1957) and Caltiki, The Immortal Monster (1959). When he finally took the director’s chair, we were even more of a treat, with a stunning debut with Black Sunday (1960), then giving the world the first real giallo film with The Girl Who Knew Too Much (1963). When he moved to color films, he showed them like we’d never seen before, with some much style, with Blood and Black Lace (1964) being a perfect example. Even in Planet of the Vampires (1965), which may seem a bit cheesy now, the look of it is incredible, not to mention giving a little blueprint for the future creators of Alien (1979).
So for this Friday Favorites, on what would be his 106th birthday, let’s take a moment to discuss what your favorite film of Mario Bava is. This should at least be a very “colorful” conversation!
kitleyskrypt.com 
Although I love almost everyone of his movies I’ve seen, believe it or not my favorite is a sci-fi/horror mix called Planet of the Vampires. When I was a kid they showed it on one of our local horror host’s movie. We had a black and white TV at the time and the scenes of the dead bodies ripping free from the plastic they were buried in scared the crap out of me. That image haunted me long afterwards. So as an adult, when I found out the name of the movie, I rented it and watched it in color. Still a great movie!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Next would be Kill Baby, Kill
LikeLiked by 1 person
that is one creepy film!
LikeLike
I got to see Planet of the Vampires in the theater at a Bava Retrospective and was getting pissed at a few people in the audience laughing and making jokes! Such a beautiful looking movie.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hmmmmmm, I would go with Black Sabbath if I can only pick one. Even his movies that maybe weren’t that great looked GORGEOUS.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very true, Cate.
LikeLike
I have enjoyed and own a number of Bava films, but my favorite would have to be Baron Blood (1972). I have childhood memories of being pretty creeped out by this film on TV, and it has stood the test of time upon repeated viewings. I would vote Black Sunday as a very close 2nd place favorite (great atmosphere in that film)!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I loved that you not only picked Baron Blood but because of the memory you have, watching it as a kid. That is the one thing about favorites…it really can matter when you first saw it and now it can make such an impression.
Honestly, it has been quite a long time since I’ve seen Baron Blood…need to revisit that one soon.
LikeLike
So many good ones to choose from! A Bay of Blood, Black Sabbath, and Blood and Black Lace all rank very highly, but Black Sunday is the one that takes the top spot for me. Quite possibly the most beautiful black and white film ever made!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I knew this would be a tough nut to crack because of all the great titles he gave us, but thought on his birthday it would be nice to put some thought into all those great movie memories Bava has given us. And yes, Black Sunday is just stunning.
LikeLike
For my favorite Bava, like everyone else here, it is a tough call. I would say Black Sunday because it still remains just a beautiful looking picture. But I think I’m going to have to go with Blood and Black Lace, because of the colors and style in just about every second of film! Just amazing.
I will also give a shout out to Lisa and the Devil which I’ve always found so strange and eerie, but so much fun.
LikeLiked by 1 person
When it comes to Lisa, the alternate House of Exorcism version has one of the all time great lines of any possession film!
“Where do you come from?! Where do you come from?! WHERE DO YOU COME FROM???!!!!
FROM A C@#T YOU JERK!!!!!!!”
Klassick! Hahahahahaha!
LikeLike
Funny, we just talked about Bava a couple weeks back on an episode of Kicking the Seat with Ian and Bryan/Kevin. If I had to pick a top five, I’d go with:
Black Sunday (First Bava I ever saw and it just knocked me out. The opening scene alone would land it on this list.)
Black Sabbath (I’ve always been a sucker for anthologies and this is one of the best. I actually prefer the Americanized version more than the Italian cut, but they’re both pretty great.)
Bay of Blood (All the Kills! And that plot!)
Blood and Black Lace (So. Gorgeous.)
Rabid Dogs (Just because it’s the polar opposite of what we’ve come to expect from him. It’s so claustrophobic and sweaty and grimy, plus the fact that he pretty much made an entire movie inside of a car!)
LikeLiked by 1 person
First time I watched Rabid Dogs, I wanted to take a shower afterwards. I felt like I knew George Eastman really well.
After seeing it in the theater, there wasn’t enough soap!
LikeLike
Honorable Mentions: Planet of the Vampires, Kill Baby Kill, Danger: Diabolik
LikeLiked by 1 person
Black Sabbath tops my list. I love anthology and this is one of the best and I love the atmosphere in this one as well. Bay of Blood would be next on my list.
LikeLiked by 1 person