Lamberto Bava

Personal Info

Known For Director

Gender Male

Birthday 1944-04-03 (80 years old)

Place of Birth Roma, Lazio, Italia

Also Known As Larry Louis, John Old Jr.

Lamberto Bava

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.

Known For

Director

Twins

as Director

2012
Kammerspiel

as Director

2012
Tailor Made Murder

as Director

2012
Visions of Murder

as Director

2012
6 passi nel giallo

as Director

2007
Ghost Son

as Director

2005
The Torturer

as Director

2001
L'Impero

as Director

1999
1999
1996
Rabid Dogs

as Assistant Director

1994
The Dragon Ring

as Director

1992
Body Puzzle

as Director

1990
Eyewitness

as Director

1989
The Mask of Satan

as Director

1989
1989
School of Fear

as Director

1989
Sabbath

as Director

1988
1988
1988
The Ogre

as Director

1988
Until Death

as Director

1987
1986
Demons 2

as Director

1986
1985
Demons

as Director

1984
Devil Fish

as Director

1984
Blastfighter

as Director

1983
1982
Tenebre

as First Assistant Director

1981
The Venus of Ille

as Director

1981
The Devil's Game

as Director

1980
Macabre

as Director

1980
Cannibal Holocaust

as Assistant Director

1980
Inferno

as Assistant Director

1978
Last Feelings

as First Assistant Director

1975
The House of Exorcism

as Assistant Director

1973
Lisa and the Devil

as Assistant Director

1971
A Bay of Blood

as Assistant Director

1970
Roy Colt and Winchester Jack

as First Assistant Director

1970
Hatchet for the Honeymoon

as Second Unit Director

1970
Hatchet for the Honeymoon

as Assistant Director

1968
Danger: Diabolik

as Assistant Director

1966
Kill, Baby... Kill!

as Assistant Director

1965
Planet of the Vampires

as Second Assistant Director

Actor

2024
Titanus 1904

as Self

2023
Dream Time

as Sé stesso

2019
All the Colors of Giallo

as Self - Director / son of Mario Bava

2018
Bava Puzzle

as Himself

2016
Blood on Méliès' Moon

as Lamberto Bava

2013
2012
2006
2003
1988
The Ogre

as Man in bar (uncredited)

1988
Graveyard Disturbance

as Shop Keeper

1986
Demons 2

as Sally's Father

1986
You'll Die at Midnight

as Police Photographer (uncredited)

1985
Demons

as 1st Man Exiting Subway (uncredited)

1982
Tenebre

as Elevator Repairman #1 (uncredited)

1977
Shock

as Mover / Airplane Passenger

Writer

2007
Ghost Son

as Screenplay

2007
Ghost Son

as Story

2005
The Torturer

as Screenplay

1992
Body Puzzle

as Screenplay

1989
1988
1988
The Ogre

as Writer

1988
Dinner with a Vampire

as Screenplay

1988
Until Death

as Screenplay

1986
Demons 2

as Writer

1986
1985
Demons

as Screenplay

1981
1981
The Devil's Game

as Screenplay

1980
Macabre

as Writer

1977
Shock

as Screenplay

1975
Waves of Lust

as Screenstory

Producer

1999
1996
Rabid Dogs

as Producer

1994
The Dragon Ring

as Producer

1989
1989
The Mask of Satan

as Producer

1986
1983

Crew

1989
Sabbath

as Script

1984
Devil Fish

as Additional Writing

Creator

2001
L'Impero

as Creator

Editor

1983