Knives of the Avenger

Starring:Cameron Mitchell, Fausto Tozzi, Giacomo Rossi-Stuart, Luciano Pollentin, Amedeo Trilli, Renato Terra, Sergio Cortona, Elissa Pichelli, Goffredo Unger, Osiride Pevarello, Bruno AriÃ©
Director: Mario Bava
Studio: Image Entertainment
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
Mario Bava's second and last Viking picture is a landlocked tale of treachery, ancient sin, and atonement for past wrongs. Cameron Mitchell stars as a coastal wanderer whose wicked gift for throwing knives saves a woman and her son from barbarian thugs. Falling for the beautiful woman, he becomes a sort of foster father and macho mentor to the boy. Think of Shane in leather tunics and iron helmets, with Italian beaches and inland forests standing in for the Scandinavian landscape. Mitchell makes a thoughtful action hero burdened by the sins of his past, but his reddish-blonde bleach job is about as convincing as the slipshod dubbing, and his odd gracelessness makes him more convincing as a brawler than a marksman. It's a handsome-looking film (would you expect less from former cinematographer Bava?) with a complicated legacy of war and murder and other unspeakable crimes at the core of the tale. Apart from the dark pasts of the main characters, however, there are few surprises, despite the efforts to give a mythical dimension to this story of revenge and redemption.

Amazon.com

Five of Mario Bava's best films are included in this box set, minus his forays into eroticism, like Blood and Black Lace. Still, the lines between sexual pathos and violence blur in these selections that influenced not only other famed directors of Giallo, such as Dario Argento and Lucio Fulci, but also spawned the American golden age in horror, led by directors such as John Carpenter. Three black and white films here exemplify Bava's trademark use of chiaroscuro mixed with suspense-building cinematography first developed in early horror classics like Nosferatu and The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. In the Hitchcock-inspired Evil Eye (1963), tourist Nora Davis (Leticia Roman) witnesses a murder but can't convince police of the crime. Kill Baby Kill! (1966) is the prototype for all little girl-ghost films. Dr. Paul Eswai (Giacomo Rossi-Stuart) is recruited to solve the mystery of Villa Graps, where Baroness Graps (Giana Vivaldi) reanimates her dead daughter, Melissa, by killing innocent villagers. In Black Sunday (1960), the witch Princess Asa Vajda comes back from the dead to inhabit her look-alike, Katia, both played by Barbara Steele, the original femme fatale to which all brunette vamps, like Soledad Miranda (Vampyros Lesbos) and Elvira, are indebted.

In Technicolor, Bava's fantastically rainbow-lit films underpin the director's fascination with connections between our world and those imagined. Black Sabbath (1963) is a trilogy hosted by Boris Karloff, who also stars as a Russian vampire in its segment, "The Wurdalak." "The Telephone," and "The Drop of Water," in which a nurse, Helen Correy (Jacqueline Pierreux), steals a ring then fears that her dead medium patient seeks revenge, are acute studies of guilt and paranoia. The Viking saga, Knives of the Avenger (1966), like Bava's Hercules in the Haunted World, spawned several sword and sorcery films, while protagonist Rurik's (Cameron Mitchell's) knife-throwing is indeed entertaining. Screened back to back, these films provide evidence of Bava's influence in the horror genre. Moreover, they reveal Bava's deep understanding of horror's many facets, whether sexually, psychologically, or physically based. —Trinie Dalton

Description

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.

Customer Reviews:

Finally..........2007-06-23

Kill Baby Kill is a flic choc full of foreboding atmosphere that can only be appreciated in the original wide-screen aspect. Contrary to Amazon's misleading information, this version IS widescreen with the option to view in Italian w/subtitles. The dubbed version is there for those who dislike subtitles. I paid 19.99 for an earlier crappy edition so needless to say I find this collection offered at 19.99 to be a gift from Amazon. Clear colors and sound make this DVD a joy to watch; great nostalgic fun. I can't wait to view the other titles, also in original theatric aspect, a bonus for me. Am I in Horror Heaven? (I bought an extra set as a present for a relative; no borrowing, please.)

great collection.......2007-04-10

Sorry, but giving this set a bad rating just because the AIP-versions aren't included is stupid in my opinion.
This box includes 5 fantastic movies by Bava (yes, even "Knives Of The Avenger" is a great one) in overall amazing quality with very good bonus features. I believe there is a good reason that AB didn't include the different cuts of "The Girl Who Knew Too Much" and "3 Faces Of Fear": legal issues. If these are solved, hopefully we see these versions someday on DVD (though the only one that really interests me is "The Evil Eye". "Black Sabbath" would just be nice because of Karloff's own dubbing,
but everything else is clearly inferior to the italian version.)
Until then - enjoy what's IN this box, it is an amazing value for the cheap price. Of course many people who want to buy this, already may have different DVDs of some of the movies in there - so everyone must decide for themselves if it is worth getting.

Bittersweet Box Set.......2007-04-09

It's great to have all of these Mario Bava titles in one set. The transfers are really beautiful, and a revelation to those of us with memories of grainy 16mm TV prints. "Black Sunday's" monochrome atmosphere looks particularly lush in this set. "Kill Baby Kill" is a major upgrade to the crummy, desaturated DVD I have from Image.
But they really SHOULD have included BOTH US and Italian versions of the star attraction, "Black Sabbbath". Or at least cut in Karloff's actual voice to the Italian version! Why not re-edit the way it should be? I still rushed out to buy this set, but cannot give it five stars due to the pre-release publicity which stated BOTH Black Sabbath versions would be in the box set. Anchor Bay owes all of us an apology or a free DVD of the English version.

Bate and Swich.......2007-04-06

(NO STARS)
This is not what I was promised in the add.
I will never buy anything "Anchor Bay" again!!!

Very Pleased Overall.......2007-04-06

I'll echo what a previous reviewer wrote concerning the absence of the American International versions of "Mask of Satan" ("Black Sunday"), and "Three Faces of Fear" ("Black Sabbath"). I had fully anticipated their inclusion in this set. After watching the trailer, I know I'm going to need the AIP release "Black Sunday." What really sold me on this set was the opportunity to finally see and own the international edit of "Black Sabbath," and I was frankly unprepared for the vivid clarity of this transfer, and that of "Kill, Baby...Kill." It's great to finally have these films the way they were meant to be seen (however I'm not a fan of English or any other subtitles; English dubs would have been nice).

I haven't gotten around to watching "Knives of the Avenger" or "The Evil Eye," so I can't really weigh in on them. I've been generally pleased with the extras on these discs, the one caveat being the inclusion of the same trailers on each disc. Couldn't they have expanded this selection? As with so many other movie box sets in my collection, the package art's bizarre! Additionally, a decipherable illustration or two of Mario Bava would have been a fitting homage.

On VHS I have the AIP version of "Black Sabbath," and really enjoy it, but seeing this uncut Italian dub I can understand now why this was Bava's favorite film. It's very evident that AIP really went wild in the editing room--it's much more interesting in its original form. Having an educational commentary was also a selling point in my decision to shell out for this; honestly, I don't regret buying this set and I haven't even seen the whole thing yet. If you've been curious about the works of Mario Bava, and you don't mind the subtitles, you won't see finer transfers for his three best films (BLACK SABBATH, BLACK SUNDAY, AND KILL BABY KILL) included here.

However, having said all that, I have to put in a plug for the production of an edition of "Kill Baby Kill" with its killer new WS transfer, but in English and with Tim Lucas' commentary accompanying it. Another highly worthy title of Bava's deserving a more respectable issue is "Planet of the Vampires." When these two finally get the treatment they deserve, a large void will have been filled.

Hasta, and May the Force be With you!

Average customer rating:

Have Knives--Will Travel !
Enjoyable Spaghetti-Viking Flick
Bava's Nordic Western

Knives of the Avenger
Starring: Cameron Mitchell , Fausto Tozzi , Giacomo Rossi-Stuart , Luciano Pollentin , and Amedeo Trilli
Director: Mario Bava
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Hercules in the Haunted World
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KILL BABY KILL

ASIN: B00005IAQE
Release Date: 2001-06-26

Amazon.com

Mario Bava's second and last Viking picture is a landlocked tale of treachery, ancient sin, and atonement for past wrongs. Cameron Mitchell stars as a coastal wanderer whose wicked gift for throwing knives saves a woman and her son from barbarian thugs. Falling for the beautiful woman, he becomes a sort of foster father and macho mentor to the boy. Think of Shane in leather tunics and iron helmets, with Italian beaches and inland forests standing in for the Scandinavian landscape. Mitchell makes a thoughtful action hero burdened by the sins of his past, but his reddish-blonde bleach job is about as convincing as the slipshod dubbing, and his odd gracelessness makes him more convincing as a brawler than a marksman. It's a handsome-looking film (would you expect less from former cinematographer Bava?) with a complicated legacy of war and murder and other unspeakable crimes at the core of the tale. Apart from the dark pasts of the main characters, however, there are few surprises, despite the efforts to give a mythical dimension to this story of revenge and redemption.

Customer Reviews:

Have Knives--Will Travel !.......2003-04-17

Unlike the other reviewers, I am not an expert on Bava's oeuvre, although I know that horror film fans respect him highly. However, I have always enjoyed the Italian "spear and sandal" epics that were popular in the late 50s and early 60s, even when the setting moved north to Scandinavia and the heroes and villains were Vikings. Of course, this is what we have here.

I really enjoyed this movie. The simple plot is very familiar--one reviewer mentioned "Shane"--Clint Eastwood's "Man-With-No-Name" persona also comes to mind. Instead of bullets, we have blades. Cameron Mitchell--not always a great actor--is very effective here as the world-weary "avenger", searching for the man who destroyed his family. The otherwise Italian cast is adequate, although--given this type of movie--the villain could have been a bit more "hissable". The action scenes are well staged, and our hero's knife-throwing prowess certainly gets the viewer's attention.

What impressed me the most ? This film has a great "look"--it is beautifully photographed, which I understand is a Bava trademark.
The DVD exhibits a gorgeous picture, and it is widescreen, both of which add much to the viewer's enjoyment. I have seen other Italian action pictures of the same vintage on DVD that did not exhibit such quality.

This movie is not in the same league as "The Vikings" or even "The Long Ships" ( The latter is due for release on DVD in June 2003--great news ! ) Nevertheless, with a much more modest budget and story, "Knives" is entertaining and--kudos to Mr. Bava and the people at Image--beautiful to watch.

So put on the popcorn, break out the beer, and enjoy it !

Enjoyable Spaghetti-Viking Flick.......2001-07-18

It's great that Bava's films are finally being released in the US. I grew weary of buying one poor dub after another. I had lost interest in the maestro's work until his films resurfaced on laser disc in the nineties. Now, with the popularity of the DVD format even more facets of Bava's career are being revealed. Beyond his classic horror films there are smaller gems like Rabid Dogs, 5 Dolls For An August Moon and this film, Knives of The Avenger. According to Tim Lucas' always informative liner notes Bava made this film so quickly that he finished three-quarters of the film in less than a week. After watching the picture I never would have guessed that such a fine looking film could be made so fast (or cheaply), but that is part of Bava's genius isn't it. Knives... is not a great film but it is enjoyable. The film's plot and look doesn't differ much from Leone's western films. The anti-hero of this picture is Cameron Mitchell. He's scruffy, looks like he smells awful, and he's just as quick with a knife as Eastwood is with a pistol. He's a loner condemned to a life of wandering. Other than the excessive jumping into the air at an opponent (a ridiculous feat that I doubt any skilled fighter would do) the fight scenes in this film are well staged. The added bonus here is Mitchell's endless supply of knives (Bava's idea). The film has a great score, but that too follows the spaghetti western formula. Despite some of the lame dialogue, "She's dead", Knives Of The Avenger is well acted. The DVD is decently letterboxed and the colors are fairly strong. The disc comes with a heavily damaged black and white trailer and a small supplement of production photos and poster stills. Take a close look at the production pictures and you'll see Mitchell's stunt double. The disc also comes with English and Italian language options but no subtitles.

Bava's Nordic Western.......2001-07-06

This is a very strong Mario Bava film that under the Nordic costumes and settings it comes across more as a western, with a terrific performance by Cameron Mitchell (who collaborated with Bava for Erik The Conqueror and Blood And Black Lace). Mitchell plays a beggar who saves a woman and her son from being assaulted by a couple of men with his prowess with knives (hence the title). The movie's familial themes, along with the avenger's conflicts between two divided camps makes this one of Bava's most engrossing and endearing films. This DVD comes with a four page booklet with liner notes by Tim Lucas, a Mario Bava biography and filmography, theatrical trailer, photo and poster gallery, and trailers from other Mario Bava's films.
A worthwhile experience. Check it out!

KNIVES OF THE AVENGER dvd Starring Cameron Mitchell & Jack Stuart Authentic Region 1

Average customer rating:

KNIVES OF THE AVENGER dvd Starring Cameron Mitchell & Jack Stuart Authentic Region 1

Manufacturer: Anchor Bay
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Product Features:

Starring: Giacomo Rossi Stuart, Fausto Tozzi
Director: Mario Bava
Format: Widescreen ...
Language: English ...

ASIN: B000Q6T6IK

Product Description

Karin, Queen of the Land, is distraught by the loss at sea of her husband, King Harald. The king's exiled general Hagen vows to return to marry Karin and assume the throne, killing anyone in his path and Karin herself once they are married. Karin takes her young son Moki to a tiny cottage to hide out until Hagen is gone and perhaps King Harald has returned. While in hiding, a stranger named Helmut approaches the cottage.

DVD:

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