Due occhi diabolici (1990)

Directors:

Dario Argento
George A. Romero

Writers:

Dario Argento (segment)
Franco Ferrini (segment)
(more)

Release Date:

25 October 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Fantasy | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

When I Wake You...You'll Be Dead.

Plot:

Two horror tales based on short stories by Edgar Allan Poe directed by two famous horror directors, George A. Romero and Dario Argento.

Plot Keywords:

Cat | Black Cat | Alcoholic | Photographer | Hypnosis

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Adrienne Barbeau	...	Jessica Valdemar (segment "The Facts in the Case of Mr. Valdemar")
Ramy Zada	...	Dr. Robert Hoffman (segment "The Facts in the Case of Mr. Valdemar")
Bingo O'Malley	...	Ernest Valdemar (segment "The Facts in the Case of Mr. Valdemar")
Jeff Howell	...	Policeman (segment "The Facts in the Case of Mr. Valdemar")
E.G. Marshall	...	Steven Pike (segment "The Facts in the Case of Mr. Valdemar")
Harvey Keitel	...	Roderick Usher (segment "The Black Cat")
Madeleine Potter	...	Annabel (segment "The Black Cat")
John Amos	...	Det. Legrand (segment "The Black Cat")
Sally Kirkland	...	Eleonora ("The Black Cat")
Kim Hunter	...	Mrs. Pym (segment "The Black Cat")
Holter Graham	...	Christian (segment "The Black Cat") (as Holter Ford Graham)
Martin Balsam	...	Mr. Pym (segment "The Black Cat")
Chuck Aber	...	Mr. Pratt (segment "The Facts in the Case of Mr. Valdemar")
Jonathan Adams	...	Hammer (segment "The Facts in the Case of Mr. Valdemar")
Tom Atkins	...	Det. Grogan (segment "The Facts in the Case of Mr. Valdemar")
Mitchell Baseman	...	Boy at Zoo (segment "The Facts in the Case of Mr. Valdemar")
Julie Benz	...	Betty (segment "The Black Cat")
Barbara Bryne	...	Martha (segment "The Black Cat")
Mario Caputo
Lanene Charters	...	Bonnie (segment "The Black Cat")
Bill Dalzell	...	Detective (as Bill Dalzell III)
Anthony Dileo Jr.	...	Taxi Driver (segment "The Facts in the Case of Mr. Valdemar")
Christine Forrest	...	Nurse (segment "The Facts in the Case of Mr. Valdemar") (as Cristine Forrest)
J.R. Hall	...	2nd Policeman (segment "The Black Cat")
Scott House	...	3rd Policeman (segment "The Black Cat")
James MacDonald	...	Luke (segment "The Black Cat") (as James G. MacDonald)
Charles McPherson
Larry John Meyers	...	Old Man (segment "The Facts in the Case of Mr. Valdemar")
Jeff Monahan
Fred Moore
Christina Romero	...	Mother at Zoo (segment "The Facts in the Case of Mr. Valdemar")
Peggy McIntaggart	...	Young Policewoman (segment "The Black Cat") (as Peggy Sanders)
Ben Tatar
Lou Valenzi	...	Editor (segment "The Black Cat")
Jeffrey Wild	...	Delivery Man (segment "The Black Cat")
Ted Worsley	...	Desk Editor (segment "The Black Cat")
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jonathan Sachar	...	Officer Brian (segment "The Black Cat") (uncredited)
Tom Savini	...	The Monomaniac (segment "The Black Cat") (uncredited)

Directed by
Dario Argento		(segment "The Black Cat")
George A. Romero		(segment "The Facts in the Case of Mr. Valdemar") (as George Romero)

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Dario Argento		segment "Black Cat, The"
Franco Ferrini		segment "Black Cat, The"
Peter Koper		uncredited
Edgar Allan Poe		stories
George A. Romero		segment "The Facts in the Case of Mr. Valdemar"

Produced by
Claudio Argento	....	executive producer
Dario Argento	....	executive producer
Achille Manzotti	....	producer

Original Music by
Pino Donaggio

Cinematography by
Peter Reniers

Film Editing by
Pasquale Buba		(as Pat Buba, segment 'The Black Cat')

Production Design by
Cletus Anderson		(segment "The Black Cat")

Set Decoration by
Diana Stoughton		(as Diana L. Stoughton)

Costume Design by
Barbara Anderson

Makeup Department
Everett Burrell	....	special makeup effects artist (as Everett Burrel)
Terrie Godfrey	....	assistant makeup artist
Will Huff	....	special makeup effects artist
Jeannee Josefczyk	....	hair stylist
Jeannee Josefczyk	....	makeup artist
Tom Savini	....	special makeup effects supervisor
John Vulich	....	special makeup effects artist

Production Management
Carol Cuddy	....	production manager
Fabrizio Diaz	....	production manager: Rome (as Fabrizio Cico Diaz)
Fernando Franchi	....	general manager
Andrea Tinnirello	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Luigi Cozzi	....	second unit director
Fred 'Fredo' Donatelli	....	second assistant director
Nicholas Mastandrea	....	first assistant director
Maria L. Melograne	....	second assistant director (as Maria Melograne)
Nicola Pecorini	....	second unit director

Art Department
Eloise Albrecht	....	set dresser
Lawrence Bailer	....	assistant set designer
Charles Ballew	....	scenic artist
Norman Beck	....	props
Francine Byrne	....	set dresser
Nora Cline	....	scenic artist
Eileen Garrigan	....	set painter
Marty Garrigan	....	property master (as Martin Garrigan)
Thomas J. Garrigan	....	property department (as Thomas Garrigan)
Frederika Gray	....	first scenic artist
Howard Jones	....	chief carpenter
Gary Kosko	....	art department coordinator
Paula Payne	....	scenic artist
Jim Schneider	....	lead man
Louis P. Taylor	....	construction coordinator
Mark Worthington	....	art production assistant

Sound Department
Nick Alexander	....	adr editor: Rome
Luciano Anzellotti	....	additional sound effects (as Luciano Anzelotti)
Luciano Anzellotti	....	foley artist (as Luciano Anzelotti)
Massimo Anzellotti	....	additional sound effects (as Massimo Anzelotti)
Massimo Anzellotti	....	foley artist (as Massimo Anzelotti)
Felipe Borrero	....	production sound mixer
Romano Checcacci	....	sound re-recording mixer
Cesare D'Amico	....	dialogue editor: Rome
Tommy Louie	....	boom operator
Federico Savina	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby Stereo

Special Effects by
J.C. Brotherhood	....	ram effects
Kevin McTurk	....	special effects makeup
Tom Savini	....	special effects

Stunts
Norman Douglass	....	stunts
Andy Duppin	....	stunts
David S. Lomax	....	stunts (as David Lomax)
Phil Neilson	....	stunts
Mick O'Rourke	....	stunts (as Mike O'Rourke)
Michael Russo	....	stunts (as Mike Russo)
Tom Savini	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Joe Abeln	....	electrician
Erik L. Brown	....	first assistant camera (as Erik Brown)
Bart Flaherty	....	grip
Marcello Gabriele	....	lighting director
Brian Haughin	....	electrician
John Janusek	....	best boy grip
Barry Kessler	....	electrician
Beth Kukucka	....	still photographer
Michael J. Latino	....	first assistant camera (as Michael Latino)
Ed Letteri	....	gaffer
Fernando Massaccesi	....	gaffer
Frank McGough	....	best boy electric
John S. Moyer	....	second assistant camera (as John Moyer)
Nicola Pecorini	....	Steadicam operator
Joseph 'Bruno' Pelle	....	grip
Frank Perl	....	camera operator
Fred Pope Jr.	....	generator operator (as Fred Pope)
Rich Sieg	....	grip
Nick Tallo	....	grip (as Nick 'Bomba' Tallo)
Ted Wiegand	....	electrician

Casting Department
Donna M. Belajac	....	local casting (as Donna Belajac)
Staci A. Blagovich	....	extras casting (as Staci Blagovich)
Christina Romero	....	local casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Kathy Borland	....	wardrobe supervisor
Diane Collins	....	seamstress
Melinda Eshelman	....	wardrobe assistant (as Mindy Eshelman)
Debra Marks	....	seamstress
Nancy Palmentier	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
John S. Bich	....	second assistant editor
Ray Boniker	....	assistant editor
Pasquale Buba	....	executive editor
Lorenza Franco	....	first assistant editor: Rome

Music Department
Sergio Marcotulli	....	music mixer
Natale Massara	....	conductor
Paolo Steffan	....	musician: synthesizer

Transportation Department
Jon Bergholz	....	transportation coordinator
Edward J. France	....	driver
Anthony J. Yannone	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Bert Bell	....	interpreter
Lisa Bradley	....	production office coordinator
Kathy Carthers-Wayne	....	choreographer
Greg Day	....	public relations: international
Carlo Du Bois	....	production accountant: Rome
Allegra Elson	....	production secretary
Kenneth Gargaro	....	dialogue coach
Kevin Halloran	....	location consultant: PBS
Enrico Lucherini	....	unit publicist: Italy (as Lucherini-Fantoli)
Aldo Mafera	....	title designer
Judy Matthews	....	location manager
Matthew Myers	....	production assistant
Chris Peworckik-Call	....	cat wrangler
Grant Rhinehart	....	craft service
Andrew Sands	....	production assistant
J.S. Shoe	....	script supervisor
Luciano Tartaglia	....	production accountant
Burton White	....	dialogue coach

Production Companies

• ADC Films
• Gruppo Bema

Distributors

• Taurus Entertainment Company (1991) (USA) (theatrical)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (UK) (2002) (UK) (DVD)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (1997) (USA) (VHS)
• Beam Entertainment (Japan) (DVD producer)
• Blue Underground (2003) (USA) (DVD) (special edition)
• Blue Underground (2005) (worldwide) (DVD)
• Cinefear (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1990s) (Australia) (VHS)
• Creative Axa Co. Ltd. (Japan) (DVD)
• Finnkino (1998) (Finland) (VHS)
• Firebox (2008) (Finland) (DVD)
• Fox Video (199?) (USA) (VHS)
• Image Entertainment (199?) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Living Colour Entertainment (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Media Home Entertainment (199?) (USA) (VHS)
• Record Visión S.A. (1992) (Spain) (VHS)
• Stomp Visual (2005) (Australia) (DVD)
• Viking Video (2000) (Russia) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Perpetual Motion Pictures

Other Companies

• Cinesicurtà  insurance brokers
• Faso Edizioni Musicali  music production
• Fono Roma  post-production facilities
• Perpetual Motion Pictures  optical effects
• Studio A.M.  titles and opticals
• Zahiya & Associates Inc.  public relations

Also Known As:

Edgar Allan Poe (USA) (working title)
Two Evil Eyes (USA)

Runtime:

120 min

Country:

Italy | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Italy:VM14 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Australia:R | France:-16 | Germany:18 | Norway:18 (video premiere) | UK:18 | USA:R | Spain:18 | Australia:MA (DVD rating) | Argentina:18 | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

Company:

ADC Films

Trivia:

It was Julie Benz's first acting role and the first feature film she starred in.

Quotes:

Jessica Valdemar: I married a rich, old man. I let him use me, for pleasure and for show. Now I'm going to let him pay me for my services.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Dario Argento: Master of Horror (1991)

Not The Masterpiece One Might Expect From Romero/Argento, But Certainly Good Horror

When the two greatest Horror directors alive (and two of the greatest of all-time), George A. Romero and Dario Argento make a movie together, a fan of Horror might rightly hope for a masterpiece. "Due Occhi Diabolici" aka. "Two Evil Eyes" from 1990 features two separate 1 hour films based on the work of Edgar Alan Poe, "The Facts In The Case Of Mr. Valdemar", directed by Romero, and "The Black Cat" directed by Argento. "Two Evil Eyes" is certainly great entertainment and a pleasant Horror experience, however it does not quite come up to the high expectations one might have of a film by these two brilliant directors. It must be said, however, that it may be very difficult for a Poe-themed movie to impress me after Roger Corman's brilliant Poe-cycle from the sixties, starring my all-time favorite actor, the great Horror icon Vincent Price. These films, such as "Pit And The Pendulum", "The Haunted Palace" and "Masque Of The Red Death" (just to name the three most ingenious masterpieces of this brilliant cycle) are essential all-time Horror greats, no Poe-themed film has ever come close to those flicks, and it is very unlikely that any ever will.

The second segment, Argento's "The Black Cat" is, in my opinion, a lot better than Romero's "Mr. Valdemar", not only for the fact that one of the greatest living actors, Harvey Keitel, plays the lead, but also since it is far more twisted and atmospheric.

"The Facts In The Case Of Mr. Valdemar", mainly based on Poe's short story of the same name, tells the tale of a woman named Jessica (Adrienne Barbeau), who, alongside her ex-lover (Ramy Zada), is willing to do quite anything to inherit the entire property of her terminally ill older husband (Bingo O Malley)... The 1 hour segment has some very eerie moments, and a chilling atmosphere over-all. As mentioned above, however, Roger Corman handled the same topic with a lot more depth in 30 minutes as the final segment of "Tales Of Terror" (1962). Admittedly, Corman had a brilliant cast, Vincent Price, Basil Rathbone and Debra Paget.

"The Black Cat", is also mainly based on Poe's short of the same name. However, this second segment furthermore contains elements from certain other Poe works. A crime-scene photographer with a familiar name, Roderick Usher (Harvey Keitel) and his younger girlfriend Annabel (Madeleine Porter) live happily together in a nice old building. Until one day Anabel takes a black cat home... The second segment is highly atmospheric, nightmarish and very eerie, and crowned by Harvey Keitel's leading performance.

All said, "Two Evil Eyes" is neither a highlight of Romero's nor Argento's career, however it is still a good film. Let's not forget we're talking about two geniuses here! If you set your expectations too high and expect a masterpiece of the brilliance of "Night Of The Living Dead" Or "Suspiria" you'll be disappointed. Nevertheless, this is great Horror entertainment. Just keep in mind that you're not about to watch something comparable to Romero's or Argento's masterpieces in quality, and you will have a great time as a Horror fan. My rating: 6/10 for Romero's segment and 8/10 for Argento's segment, makes an overall 7/10. Recommended!