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Directing
Lamberto Bava
Also known as: Larry Louis, John Old Jr.
Biography
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.
Personal Info
Known For
Directing
Birthday
April 3, 1944
Age
82 years old
Place of Birth
Roma, Lazio, Italia
Popularity Score
0.6
Filmography
The Dark Fantastic
Self
2025Movie
Dario Argento: Panico
Self
2024Movie
Titanus 1904
Self
2024Movie
Nightmare Delirium
self
2024Movie
Dream Time
Sé stesso
2023Movie
Inferno Rosso: Joe D'Amato on the Road of Excess
Self
2021Movie
All the Colors of Giallo
Self - Director / son of Mario Bava
2019Movie
Erinnerungen an Lucio Fulci
Self
2019Movie
Bava Puzzle
Himself
2018Movie
Dogman's Rabies: Underdog
Thanks
2018Movie
Il mistero della cattedrale
self
2017Movie
In der Folterkammer des Barons
self
2017Movie
Blood on Méliès' Moon
Lamberto Bava
2016Movie
Screaming for a Sequel: The Delirious Legacy of Demons 2
2014Movie
I Tarantiniani
Self
2013Movie
Of Fire And Darkness
himself
2012Movie
The Captives
Director
2012Movie
Tailor Made Murder
Director
2012Movie
Visions of Murder
Director
2012Movie
6 passi nel giallo
Director
2012TV
Paura: Lucio Fulci Remembered - Volume 1
Self
2008Movie
Hanging Shadows
Self
2007Movie
End of the Road: Making 'Rabid Dogs' & 'Kidnapped'
self
2007Movie
Ghost Son
Screenplay
2007Movie
Ghost Son
Director
2007Movie
Ghost Son
Story
2007Movie
Inspector Coliandro
Questore
2006TV
The Torturer
Director
2005Movie
The Torturer
Screenplay
2005Movie
The Three Faces of Terror
Himself
2004Movie
The Exorcism of Lisa
2004Movie
Mario Bava: Operazione paura
Self
2004Movie
Scerbanenco Noir
Self
2004Movie
The Art of Crime
Himself
2004Movie
Il castello dell'orrore
self
2004Movie
Italian Kings Of B
Self
2003Movie
L'Impero
Director
2001TV
L'Impero
Creator
2001TV
Mario Bava: Maestro of the Macabre
Self
2000Movie
Fantaghiro: Quest for the Quorum
Writer
2000Movie
Pirates: Blood Brothers
Director
1999TV
The Princess and the Pauper
Director
1997Movie
The Princess and the Pauper
Producer
1997Movie
La principessa e il povero
Director
1997TV
The Cave of the Golden Rose 5
Director
1996Movie
Alisea and the Dream Prince
Director
1996TV
Rabid Dogs
Producer
1995Movie
Rabid Dogs
Assistant Director
1995Movie
Desideria e l'anello del drago
Director
1995TV
Desideria e l'anello del drago
Creator
1995TV
The Dragon Ring
Director
1994Movie
The Dragon Ring
Producer
1994Movie
The Cave of the Golden Rose 4
Director
1994Movie
The Cave of the Golden Rose 3
Director
1993Movie
Body Puzzle
Screenplay
1992Movie
Body Puzzle
Director
1992Movie
The Cave of the Golden Rose 2
Director
1992Movie
The Cave of the Golden Rose
Director
1991Movie
The Cave of the Golden Rose
Director
1991TV
The Cave of the Golden Rose
Creator
1991TV
The Mask of Satan
Story
1990Movie
The Mask of Satan
Director
1990Movie
Eyewitness
Director
1990Movie
The Mask of Satan
Producer
1990Movie
Eyewitness
Producer
1990Movie
The Prince of Terror
Director
1989Movie
School of Fear
Director
1989Movie
The Man Who Didn't Want to Die
Director
1989Movie
The Prince of Terror
Producer
1989Movie
The Man Who Didn't Want to Die
Producer
1989Movie
School of Fear
Producer
1989Movie
Sabbath
Script
1989TV
Sabbath
Director
1989TV
Graveyard Disturbance
Shop Keeper
1988Movie
The Ogre
Man in bar (uncredited)
1988Movie
Graveyard Disturbance
Writer
1988Movie
Dinner with a Vampire
Director
1988Movie
Graveyard Disturbance
Director
1988Movie
The Ogre
Director
1988Movie
The Ogre
Writer
1988Movie
Until Death
Director
1988Movie
Dinner with a Vampire
Screenplay
1988Movie
Until Death
Screenplay
1988Movie
Delirium: Photo of Gioia
Director
1987Movie
Night Shift
Director
1987TV
Demons 2
Sally's Father
1986Movie
You'll Die at Midnight
Police Photographer (uncredited)
1986Movie
Demons 2
Writer
1986Movie
Demons 2
Director
1986Movie
You'll Die at Midnight
Director
1986Movie
You'll Die at Midnight
Editor
1986Movie
You'll Die at Midnight
Screenplay
1986Movie
You'll Die at Midnight
Producer
1986Movie
Demons
1st Man Exiting Subway (uncredited)
1985Movie
Demons
Director
1985Movie
Demons
Screenplay
1985Movie
Devil Fish
Director
1984Movie
Blastfighter
Director
1984Movie
Devil Fish
Additional Writing
1984Movie
A Blade in the Dark
Director
1983Movie
A Blade in the Dark
Editor
1983Movie
A Blade in the Dark
Producer
1983Movie
Tenebre
Elevator Repairman #1 (uncredited)
1982Movie
Tenebre
First Assistant Director
1982Movie
The Venus of Ille
Director
1981Movie
The Venus of Ille
Writer
1981Movie
The Devil's Game
Screenplay
1981TV
The Devil's Game
Director
1981TV
Macabre
Writer
1980Movie
Macabre
Director
1980Movie
Cannibal Holocaust
Assistant Director
1980Movie
Inferno
Assistant Director
1980Movie
Last Feelings
First Assistant Director
1978Movie
Shock
Mover / Airplane Passenger
1977Movie
Shock
Screenplay
1977Movie
Waves of Lust
Screenstory
1975Movie
The House of Exorcism
Assistant Director
1975Movie
The Kiss
First Assistant Director
1974Movie
Lisa and the Devil
Assistant Director
1973Movie
A Bay of Blood
Assistant Director
1971Movie
Roy Colt and Winchester Jack
First Assistant Director
1970Movie
Hatchet for the Honeymoon
Second Unit Director
1970Movie
Hatchet for the Honeymoon
Assistant Director
1970Movie
Danger: Diabolik
Assistant Director
1968Movie
Kill, Baby... Kill!
Assistant Director
1966Movie
Planet of the Vampires
Second Assistant Director
1965Movie
Masters of Mayhem
Self
—Movie
Untitled Geretta Geretta Horror
Producer
—Movie
Twins
Director
—Movie