Black Sunday/Fun Facts

From The Grindhouse Cinema Database

< Black Sunday

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  • In the October 17-23, 1998 edition of "TV Guide", director Tim Burton says this is his favorite horror film.
  • A young girl is sent out at night to milk a cow when Javuto (portrayed by Arturo Dominici) claws his way out of the grave nearby. The young girl is played by Dominici's real life daughter Germana Dominici.
  • Both Barbara Steele and Arturo Dominici were fitted with vampire fangs. Mario Bava decided against using them in the film. They can be seen in some of the publicity photos.
  • Galatea gave Mario Bava a lavish six weeks shooting schedule for this film beginning 28 March 1960. The typical Italian production during this period had only a three to four week shooting schedule.
  • Barbara Steele didn't see the script in advance. She would be given pages daily.
  • In the Italian language version Princess Asa and Javutich are brother and sister which hinted at an incestuous relationship. This relationship is not part of either English language version.
  • Good reviews plus word-of-mouth reportedly turned this into American International's highest grossing film up to that time, exceeding their grosses for Terrore dei barbari, Il (1959) and Roger Corman's The House of Usher (1960).
  • The U.S. version released by American International Pictures has a replacement score by Les Baxter. Although Baxter is given sole credit, his score actually contains themes from Roberto Nicolosi's original score.
  • Mario Bava claimed that an American company approached him about doing a color remake. He refused.
  • The film was rejected for UK cinema by the BBFC in 1961. The uncut version was released (as "Mask of Satan") with a 15 certificate on the UK Redemption video label in 1992.
  • Remade as La Maschera del demonio (1989)
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