Diabolik (John Phillip Law) is a master criminal who, along with his sexy girlfriend, Eva Kant (Marisa Mell), are responsible for some of the most sophisticated crimes in the area. Diabolik is a major thorn in the side of Police Inspector Ginko (Michel Piccoli). His most recent caper was the theft of ten million dollars. Despite the Inspector trying to create a diversion, Diabolik manages to outsmart Ginko and abscond with the cash.
To try to combat Diabolik’s one man crime wave, the Minister of the Interior (Terry-Thomas) announces the return of the death penalty. Diabolik and Eva infiltrate the news conference and release Exhilarating Gas among the participants, and audience members of the press conference, thereby making a mockery of the conference.
To combat Diabolik, Inspector Ginko is given free rein to use whatever means he wishes to bring in the criminal. Ginko arrests crime boss, Ralph Valmont (Adolfo Celi) and extorts his cooperation in capturing Diabolik. Valmont has no choice but to agree.
In the meantime, Eva’s birthday is coming up and Diabolik asks her what she wants. A news report reveals that British Finance Minister, Sir Harold Clark (Edward Febo Kelleng) and his wife, Lady Clark (Caterina Boratto) will be visiting. The report states that the Clarks will be attending a reception in their honor and that Lady Clark will be wearing the famous Aksand emerald necklace to the event. Eva likes emeralds. Diabolik steals the necklace.
Although Diabolik gets away, Eva is spotted and kidnapped by Valmont’s goons. Valmont tells Diabolik that he wants ten million dollars and the emerald necklace for Eva’s return. Valmont, however, is working on behalf of Ginko. The crime boss has no intensions of returning Eva and plans an elaborate trap to kill Diabolik.
“Danger: Diabolik” AKA “Diabolik” was released in 1968 and was directed by Mario Bava, who also did the matte paintings. It is an Italian Euro-spy style crime thriller with some comedy elements. The film is based on the Italian comic series Diabolik by Angela and Luciana Giussani.
Some of the sets could rival James Bond with their flashy 60’s mid-century modern style; however, the film doesn’t have the kitchy tongue-in-cheek humor that the Bond films do. In addition, John Phillip Law doesn’t have the same suave charm as Bond. His performance is almost deadpan. Some regard him as an anti-hero, but his lack of concern for his fellow humans puts him full in the sociopathic realm. The heists were intricate and over-the-top in keeping with the genre. I didn’t think the film was all that great, but the cult has spoken, and they disagree with me.
The identi-kit rendering of Eva in the film was drawn by creators Angela Giussani and Luciana Giussani.
Adolfo Celi, who plays Ralph Valmont, also played SPECTRE agent Emilio Largo in the James Bond film “Thunderball” 1965.