Bava's Spirit Looms at Oscars

Mario Bava never got anywhere near an Academy Award in his lifetime of service to the Seventh Art. However, last night -- at the 79th annual Academy Awards ceremony -- his spirit loomed large with the honoring of DANGER: DIABOLIK composer Ennio Morricone (Lifetime Achievement Award) and Bava's devoted admirers Martin Scorsese (Best Director) and Guillermo del Toro (whose film PAN'S LABYRINTH was recognized for Best Cinematography, by Guillermo Navarro).

We at VIDEO WATCHDOG extend our heartiest congratulations to all three gentlemen -- especially to Marty, who's been an ardent supporter of VW since the very beginning and, as you may have noticed, penned the Introduction to the Bava book that he, like you, is eagerly awaiting. We're happy to know that we'll be finally presenting him with a copy of the book in what has become his Oscar year. And I'm doubly pleased to know that he's agreed to appear in Joe Dante's film of THE MAN WITH KALEIDOSCOPE EYES, the script I co-wrote with Charlie Largent, which we're all hoping will go before the cameras later this year.

For those of you who are curious about the book's progress, Donna and I had to take two weeks out of our gallop along the homestretch to produce VIDEO WATCHDOG #129 -- which is being mailed out later this week, which will claim a little more of our time. Nevertheless, I've done my final polishing and Donna tells me she has every expectation of finishing within the next week or two.