FTER LA VENERE D’ILLE, Mario Bava returned to semi-retirement and odd consultation jobs, hoping that the
forthcoming broadcast of his film would bring more opportunities to direct. In the mean- time, he stayed at home, read a lot—and smoked a lot.
DETAIL of the rare UK quad poster,
picturing Mater Tenebrarum’s triumphant transformation into the spectre of Death.
During this listless period, circa 1978, Bava’s beloved dog Centi finally died, suc- cumbing to advanced age and renal failure. “Mario and Centi were absolutely close,” says Georgia Bava. “He refused to buy another dog, but my aunt Elena [Mario’s daughter] had a female dog called Tappo, who had three pup- pies. Elena kept two females from the litter and gave away the male. One of the two fe- males, the one called Isotta, was given to Mario—and returned to Elena after his death.”
