Maschera del demonio, La (1960)

Regista:

Mario Bava

Writers:

Nikolai Gogol (short story "The Viy")
Ennio De Concini (screenplay) ...

Data di uscita:

15 febbraio 1961 (USA)

Genere:

Horror

Slogan:

STARE INTO THESE EYES... discover deep within them the unspeakable terrifying secret of BLACK SUNDAY... it will paralyze you with fright!

Plot:

A vengeful witch and her fiendish servant return from the grave and begin a bloody campaign to possess...

Plot Keywords:

Moldavia | Curse | Witch | Crucifix | Trapdoor

Recensioni degli utenti:

One of the three or four best horror movies ever made!

Cast

Barbara Steele	...	Katia Vajda / Princess Asa Vajda
John Richardson	...	Dr. Andre Gorobec
Andrea Checchi	...	Dr. Thomas Kruvajan
Ivo Garrani	...	Prince Vajda
Arturo Dominici	...	Igor Javutich / Javuto
Enrico Olivieri	...	Priince Constantine Vajda
Antonio Pierfederici	...	Priest
Tino Bianchi	...	Ivan
Clara Bindi	...	Inn Keeper
Mario Passante	...	Nikita, the Coachman
Renato Terra	...	Boris
Germana Dominici	...	Sonya, the Innkeeper's Daughter

Alias:

Black Sunday (USA)
House of Fright
Mask of the Demon
Revenge of the Vampire (UK)
The Demon's Mask
The Hour When Dracula Comes
The Mask of Satan

Durata:

87 min | USA:83 min

Nazionalità:

Italy

Lingua:

Italiano

Colore:

Bianco e nero

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sonoro:

Mono

Divieti:

UK:15 (1986) | Australia:M (TV rating) | Australia:MA | UK:(Banned) (1961) | Finland:K-18 | Sweden:15 | USA:Unrated

Luoghi delle riprese:

Titanus Studios, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company:

Alta Vista Productions

Curiosità:

Good reviews plus word-of-mouth reportedly turned this into American International's highest grossing film up to that time, exceeding their grosses for Terrore dei barbari, Il (1959) and Roger Corman's House of Usher (1960).

Errori:

Continuity: In the scene where Princess Asa pauses by her father’s coffin, she is wearing black stockings and shoes under her dress. She then leaves the room to look for the others and is seen running down the hall barefoot and without stockings.

Citazioni:

Princess Asa Vajda: You will never escape my vengeance, or of Satan's! My revenge will seek you out, and with the blood of your sons, and of their sons, and their sons, I will continue to live forever! They will restore me to life you now rob from me!

Movie Connections:

Citato in Adam Hart i Sahara (1990) (V)

One of the three or four best horror movies ever made!

'Black Sunday's reputation grows with every year that passes, and watching it it's no wonder why! It is not only one of the three or four best horror movies ever made, it is one of the most extraordinary movies of any genre I've ever seen. Mario Bava went on to direct several movies of note after this, but if he hadn't and this was the only movie he made, he would still be a legend. On a relatively small budget, but with buckets of talent, style and originality, Bava conjured up one of the most atmospheric and haunting movies of all time. He may not be the household name he deserves to be, but he is a film makers film maker with an enormous influence on not only subsequent Italian horror giants Dario Argento and Lucio Fulci, but directors as diverse as Tim Burton (who rates this as an all time favourite) and even Martin Scorsese. 'Black Sunday' will also be remembered as one of Barbara Steele's most memorable roles. Steele is best known for her work in 60s European horror movies, but in her career worked with everyone from Fellini to Cronenberg. If she is to be remembered for only one movie it will be this one. Steele was one of the most beautiful actresses to ever set foot in front of a camera, and it is impossible to imagine anyone else in the lead (duel) role. The supporting cast is fine, and includes the fondly remembered John Richardson ('One Million Years B.C.'), but this is Steele's show all the way. 'Black Sunday' is still fresh and exciting over forty years after it was originally released. A landmark movie that deserves to be watched again and again!