"Black Sunday" Review

 

by Daniel White

Shocktober

Possessing possibly one of the cruelest mouths ever found on a female in film, Barbara Steele secured stardom in 1960's, Italian-made, Black Sunday (aka The Mask of Satan). And it is a star making performance, allowing the English actress a chance to shine in dual roles. Playing both Satan-worshipping Asa and her "good girl" descendant, Princess Katia, she is given the opportunity to die not once, not twice, but THREE times! How many actors can put THAT on their resume?

Not only does she kick the bucket thrice, she also gets to terrorize her own damn self! When a gal is offered defining moments like these, she BETTER make good, for they only come along once in a career, if that. Fortunately, Miss Steele grabbed the brass ring and ran with it, becoming one of cinema's premier "scream queens." She is helped immensely by director Mario Bava, who has designed a resplendent production for our leading lady to ply her wickedness in. Bava is listed as handling the "photography" as well, but camera operator Ubaldo Terzano is the man actually responsible for the film's stunning B&W cinematography. He brilliantly evokes the eerie, shadowy look of early Universal sound horror movies. Once again, German Expressionism in film triumphs.

The black-haired beauty's luck continues in this spooky, sinister movie of the macabre. The cinema gods have offered up co-star for our daughter of darkness to toy with, John Richardson. Playing Dr. Andrej Gorobec (didn't the good doctor also win Wimbledon that year?), Richardson does everything humanly possible to save his beloved Katia from the clutches of the evil Asa.

I am aware there are several different copies of this masterful fright-flick floating around. I watched the George Higgins lll (who oversaw the dubbing) English version. Though Miss Steele claimed to have done her own voice work, that is inaccurate. It was provided by Joyce Gordon. The copy was beautiful and pristine-looking, and as far as I know, unedited. It graphically displayed the bronze devil mask being sadistically smashed into the diabolical Asa's face in the beginning. Yes!

Loosely based on a story by Nikolai Gogol, with a musical score by Roberto Niccolodi, a literate screenplay and a seasoned troupe of supporting players, the disquieting, spine-chilling Black Sunday is available on YouTube. Watch it tonight, if you dare!