Knives of the Avenger (Italian: I coltelli del vendicatore) is 1966 Italian film directed by Mario Bava. Bava entered production when it was already falling apart and re-wrote and shot the film in six days. It was credited to fictitious director John Hold.
Production
Knives of the Avenger was a troubled production originally directed by Leopoldo Savona. Mario Bava entered into the production to complete it, rewriting and reshooting the film and finishing the production in six days.[2] Film historian Tim Lucas described Knives of the Avenger as a remake of the film Shane in a Viking setting.[3]
The Knives of the Avenger was released theatrically in Italy on 30 May 1966. It received a theatrical release in the United States in January 1968.[1]Knives of the Avenger was released on DVD by Image Entertainment on 26 June 2001.[4]
Reception
Stuart Byron of Variety declared the film "a real surprise: a beautifully designed and exciting Viking tale from pseudonymous Mario Bava. Only subject and cast make this a programmer - but it's a top one."[5]
^Variety's Film Reviews 1964-1967. Vol. 11. R. R. Bowker. 1983. There are no page numbers in this book. This entry is found under the header "December 20, 1967". ISBN0-8352-2790-1.
Sources
Kinnard, Roy; Crnkovich, Tony (2017). Italian Sword and Sandal Films, 1908-1990. McFarland. ISBN978-1476662916.