Lamberto Bava

Attore, Regista, Sceneggiatore, Produttore, Montatore

3 aprile 1944 (82 anni)
Lamberto Bava was born in Rome, Italy, and was the first of a third generation of Italian filmmakers. His grandfather, Eugenio Bava (1886-1966), was a cameraman and optics effects artist during the early days of Italian silent cinema. His father, Mario Bava (1914-1980), was a legendary cinematographer, special effects designer and director. Lamberto entered the cinema as his father's personal assistant, starting with "Planet of the Vampires" (1965). Bit by bit he gained experience from his father, who made him the assistant director for most of the rest of his films. He even co-wrote the screenplay for "Shock" (1977), Mario's last theatrical film where, in poor health during the shoot, Mario often feigned illness so Lamberto could direct a few scenes, uncredited, to gain further experience.

Both Lamberto and Mario directed the made-for-TV drama "I giochi del diavolo: La Venere d'Ille" (1979). Both worked on the Dario Argento horror flick "Inferno" (1980), for which Mario designed some of the color set pieces, including the underwater ballroom, and created all the visual special effects, while Lamberto worked as Argento's assistant director. Late in 1979 Lamberto made his solo directorial debut with "Macabre" (1980), a tense drama-horror flick loosely based on a 1977 incident in New Orleans about a woman who keeps her lover's severed head in her freezer. According to Lamberto, the project started by chance when producer Pupi Avati approached him to direct as well as write the screenplay, which took just six weeks to write and direct. "Macabre" was released in Italy in February 1980 to mixed reviews, but won him recognition by his father Mario. Just two months later Mario Bava died, and an era in Italian film making came to a close.

"Macabre" was not a box-office hit and, as a result, Lamberto went back to assistant directing. He worked with Dario Argento again in 1982 with "Tenebrae" (1982). In 1983 Lamberto was offered the opportunity to direct another film, titled "A Blade in the Dark" (1983), which was a violent mystery thriller shot in only three weeks on a tight budget and filmed almost entirely in a producer friend's house. Next he directed the action-flick "Blastfighter" (1984), which was filmed in the state of Georgia, and immediately afterwards directed the "Jaws" (1975)-like thriller "Devil Fish" (1984), which was shot in Florida. On both films Lamberto was purely a director for hire and had nothing to do with the script or production end. He used the pseudonym of 'John Old Jr.' for this latter film, which was a tribute to his father Mario, who often used the pseudonym 'John M. Old'. He enjoyed his best commercial success to date with "Demons" (1985), produced by Dario Argento, co-written by Dardano Sacchetti and filmed in West Berlin. This film's international success allowed him to co-write, produce and direct a sequel, "Demons 2" (1986). Lamberto returned to giallo thrillers with "Delirium" (1987).

In the late 1980s the Italian cinema turned moribund. Lamberto, like most of his colleagues, turned to making films for Italian television. He also directed a remake of his father's "Black Sunday" (1960), which was titled "La maschera del demonio" (1990).

Nowadays Lamberto Bava continues to divide his time between TV work and a few movies, acknowledging his inspiration from his late father, Mario.

Film e Serie su Plex

  • Cannibal Holocaust
    Cannibal Holocaust1980
  • Tenebre
    Tenebre1982
  • Dèmoni
    Dèmoni1985
  • Ecologia del delitto
    Ecologia del delitto1971
  • Dèmoni 2… L'incubo ritorna
    Dèmoni 2… L'incubo ritorna1986
  • Operazione paura
    Operazione paura1966
  • Terrore nello spazio
    Terrore nello spazio1965
  • Lisa e il diavolo
    Lisa e il diavolo1973
  • Cani arrabbiati
    Cani arrabbiati1974
  • Il rosso segno della follia
    Il rosso segno della follia1970
  • Gli orrori del castello di Norimberga
    Gli orrori del castello di Norimberga1972
  • La casa con la scala nel buio
    La casa con la scala nel buio1983
  • Macabro
    Macabro1980
  • Le foto di Gioia
    Le foto di Gioia1987
  • Roy Colt e Winchester Jack
    Roy Colt e Winchester Jack1970
  • 6 passi nel giallo
    6 passi nel giallo1 episodio
  • Tailor Made Murder
    Tailor Made Murder2012

Famoso per

  • Dèmoni
    Dèmoni1985
  • Tenebre
    Tenebre1982
  • Dèmoni 2… L'incubo ritorna
    Dèmoni 2… L'incubo ritorna1986
  • Ecologia del delitto
    Ecologia del delitto1971
  • Inferno
    Inferno1980
  • Cani arrabbiati
    Cani arrabbiati1974
  • La casa con la scala nel buio
    La casa con la scala nel buio1983
  • Operazione paura
    Operazione paura1966
  • Shark - Rosso nell'oceano
    Shark - Rosso nell'oceano1984
  • Macabro
    Macabro1980
  • Lisa e il diavolo
    Lisa e il diavolo1973
  • Le foto di Gioia
    Le foto di Gioia1987
  • Schock
    Schock1977
  • La chiesa
    La chiesa1989
  • Terrore nello spazio
    Terrore nello spazio1965
  • Blastfighter
    Blastfighter1984
  • Il rosso segno della follia
    Il rosso segno della follia1970
  • Body Puzzle
    Body Puzzle1992
  • Caraibi
    Caraibi4 episodi
  • Morirai a mezzanotte
    Morirai a mezzanotte1986

Filmografia

2003
Inspector Coliandro · as Questore
1987
Brivido giallo · as Man In Bar
1987
The Ogre · as Man In Bar (uncredited)
1987
Graveyard Disturbance · as Shop Keeper
1986
Demons 2 · as Sally's FatherSu Plex
1986
You'll Die at Midnight · as Police Photographer (uncredited)
1985
Demons · as 1st Man Exiting Subway (uncredited)Su Plex
1984
Devil Fish · as Omaha Tour Guest
1982
Tenebrae · as Elevator Repairman #1 (uncredited)Su Plex
1980
Inferno · as Pedestrian
1977
Shock · as Mover / Airplane Passenger
1972
Baron Blood · as Man At AirportSu Plex

2007
Ghost Son · as Screenplay
2005
The Torturer · as Screenplay
2000
1992
Body Puzzle · as Screenplay
1989
1988
Dinner with a Vampire · as Screenplay
1987
Brivido giallo · as Screenplay
1987
Until Death · as Screenplay
1987
1987
1986
Demons 2Su Plex
1986
You'll Die at Midnight · as Screenplay
1985
Demons · as ScreenplaySu Plex
1981
1981
The Devil's Game · as Screenplay
1980
MacabreSu Plex
1977
Shock · as Screenplay

1999
Fantaghirò · as Based On The Tv Series
1989
The Mask of Satan · as Story
1989
Sabbath · as Story
1984
Devil Fish · as Additional Material
1984
Blastfighter · as Concept
1982
Tenebrae · as First Assistant DirectorSu Plex
1980
Cannibal Holocaust · as Assistant DirectorSu Plex
1980
Inferno · as Assistant Director
1978
Last Feelings · as First Assistant Director
1975
Waves of Lust · as Screenstory
1975
The House of Exorcism · as Assistant Director
1974
The Kiss of Death · as First Assistant Director
1974
Kidnapped · as Assistant DirectorSu Plex
1973
Lisa and the Devil · as Assistant DirectorSu Plex
1971
A Bay of Blood · as Assistant DirectorSu Plex
1970
Roy Colt & Winchester Jack · as First Assistant DirectorSu Plex
1970
Hatchet for the Honeymoon · as Second Unit DirectorSu Plex
1968
Danger: Diabolik · as Assistant Director
1966
Kill, Baby... Kill! · as Assistant DirectorSu Plex
1965
Planet of the Vampires · as Second Assistant DirectorSu Plex