About

Known credits:
112
Birthday:
1944-04-03
Place of birth:
Roma, Lazio, Italia
Website:
N/A

Lamberto Bava

Overview

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.

Known for

Acting

2024 Titanus 1904 Actor Self N/A
N/A
2024 Dario Argento: Panico Actor Self 59
Average
2023 Dream Time Actor Sé stesso N/A
N/A
2021 Inferno Rosso: Joe D'Amato on the Road of Excess Actor Self 58
Average
2019 Erinnerungen an Lucio Fulci Actor Self N/A
N/A
2019 All the Colors of Giallo Actor Self - Director / son of Mario Bava 59
Average
2018 Bava Puzzle Actor Himself N/A
N/A
2017 Il mistero della cattedrale Actor self 59
Average
2016 Blood on Méliès' Moon Actor Lamberto Bava 58
Average
2013 I Tarantiniani Actor Self N/A
N/A
2012 Of Fire And Darkness Actor himself N/A
N/A
2008 Paura: Lucio Fulci Remembered - Volume 1 Actor Self 58
Average
2007 Hanging Shadows Actor Self N/A
N/A
2004 The Exorcism of Lisa Actor N/A
N/A
2004 The Three Faces of Terror Actor Himself 58
Average
2004 Mario Bava: Operazione paura Actor Self 58
Average
2003 Italian Kings Of B Actor Self 58
Average
2000 Mario Bava: Maestro of the Macabre Actor Self 58
Average
1988 The Ogre Actor Man in bar (uncredited) 58
Average
1988 Graveyard Disturbance Actor Shop Keeper 58
Average
1986 Demons 2 Actor Sally's Father 59
Average
1986 You'll Die at Midnight Actor Police Photographer (uncredited) 58
Average
1985 Demons Actor 1st Man Exiting Subway (uncredited) 62
Fair
1982 Tenebre Actor Elevator Repairman #1 (uncredited) 64
Fair
1977 Shock Actor Mover / Airplane Passenger 59
Average
Masters of Mayhem Actor Self N/A
N/A

Directing

2018 Twins Directing Director N/A
N/A
2012 Kammerspiel Directing Director N/A
N/A
2012 Tailor Made Murder Directing Director 59
Average
2012 Visions of Murder Directing Director N/A
N/A
2007 Ghost Son Directing Director 58
Average
2005 The Torturer Directing Director 58
Average
2001 L'Impero Directing Director N/A
N/A
1999 Pirates: Blood Brothers Directing Director 69
Fair
1997 The Princess and the Pauper Directing Director 59
Average
1997 La principessa e il povero Directing Director N/A
N/A
1996 The Cave of the Golden Rose 5 Directing Director 58
Average
1996 Alisea and the Dream Prince Directing Director 59
Average
1996 Rabid Dogs Directing Assistant Director 64
Fair
1996 Alisea and the Dream Prince Directing Director 69
Fair
1995 Desideria e l'anello del drago Directing Director 68
Fair
1994 The Cave of the Golden Rose 4 Directing Director 59
Average
1994 The Dragon Ring Directing Director 59
Average
1993 The Cave of the Golden Rose 3 Directing Director 59
Average
1992 The Cave of the Golden Rose 2 Directing Director 59
Average
1992 Body Puzzle Directing Director 58
Average
1991 The Cave of the Golden Rose Directing Director 59
Average
1991 The Cave of the Golden Rose Directing Director 69
Fair
1990 The Mask of Satan Directing Director 58
Average
1990 Eyewitness Directing Director 58
Average
1989 The Prince of Terror Directing Director 58
Average
1989 The Man Who Didn't Want to Die Directing Director N/A
N/A
1989 School of Fear Directing Director 58
Average
1988 Dinner with a Vampire Directing Director 58
Average
1988 Until Death Directing Director 58
Average
1988 The Ogre Directing Director 58
Average
1988 Graveyard Disturbance Directing Director 58
Average
1987 Delirium: Photo of Gioia Directing Director 58
Average
1986 Demons 2 Directing Director 59
Average
1986 You'll Die at Midnight Directing Director 58
Average
1985 Demons Directing Director 62
Fair
1984 Devil Fish Directing Director 55
Average
1984 Blastfighter Directing Director 58
Average
1983 A Blade in the Dark Directing Director 58
Average
1982 Tenebre Directing First Assistant Director 64
Fair
1981 The Venus of Ille Directing Director N/A
N/A
1981 The Venus of Ille Directing Director 59
Average
1980 Macabre Directing Director 58
Average
1980 Inferno Directing Assistant Director 62
Fair
1980 Cannibal Holocaust Directing Assistant Director 62
Fair
1979 The Venus of Ille Directing Director 59
Average
1978 Last Feelings Directing First Assistant Director 58
Average
1975 The House of Exorcism Directing Assistant Director 58
Average
1973 Lisa and the Devil Directing Assistant Director 59
Average
1971 A Bay of Blood Directing Assistant Director 61
Fair
1970 Roy Colt and Winchester Jack Directing First Assistant Director 58
Average
1970 Hatchet for the Honeymoon Directing Assistant Director 59
Average
1970 Hatchet for the Honeymoon Directing Second Unit Director 59
Average
1968 Danger: Diabolik Directing Assistant Director 60
Fair
1966 Kill, Baby... Kill! Directing Assistant Director 62
Fair
1965 Planet of the Vampires Directing Second Assistant Director 60
Fair

Writing

2007 Ghost Son Writing Screenplay 58
Average
2007 Ghost Son Writing Story 58
Average
2005 The Torturer Writing Screenplay 58
Average
1992 Body Puzzle Writing Screenplay 58
Average
1990 The Mask of Satan Writing Story 58
Average
1988 Dinner with a Vampire Writing Screenplay 58
Average
1988 Until Death Writing Screenplay 58
Average
1988 The Ogre Writing Writer 58
Average
1988 Graveyard Disturbance Writing Writer 58
Average
1986 Demons 2 Writing Writer 59
Average
1986 You'll Die at Midnight Writing Screenplay 58
Average
1985 Demons Writing Screenplay 62
Fair
1981 The Venus of Ille Writing Writer N/A
N/A
1981 The Venus of Ille Writing Writer 59
Average
1980 Macabre Writing Writer 58
Average
1979 The Venus of Ille Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1977 Shock Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1975 Waves of Lust Writing Screenstory 58
Average

Production

1997 The Princess and the Pauper Production Producer 59
Average
1996 Rabid Dogs Production Producer 64
Fair
1994 The Dragon Ring Production Producer 59
Average
1990 The Mask of Satan Production Producer 58
Average
1989 The Prince of Terror Production Producer 58
Average
1989 The Man Who Didn't Want to Die Production Producer N/A
N/A
1986 You'll Die at Midnight Production Producer 58
Average
1983 A Blade in the Dark Production Producer 58
Average
Untitled Geretta Geretta Horror Production Producer N/A
N/A

Crew

2018 Dogman's Rabies: Underdog Crew Thanks 58
Average
1984 Devil Fish Crew Additional Writing 55
Average

Editing

1986 You'll Die at Midnight Editing Editor 58
Average
1983 A Blade in the Dark Editing Editor 58
Average