Among the directors for whom Bava photographed films were
Other than a series of short films in the 1940s which he directed, Bava
was a cinematographer until 1960. He developed a reputation as a
special effects genius, and was able to use optical trickery to great
success. Among the directors for whom Bava photographed films were
Paolo Heusch,
Riccardo Freda,
Jacques Tourneur and
Raoul Walsh. While working with Freda on
Lust of the Vampire (1957) in 1956, the director
left the project after an argument with the producers and the film
mostly unfinished. Bava stepped in and directed the majority of the
movie, finishing it on schedule. This film, also known as "The Devil's
Commandment", inspired a wave of gothic Italian horror films. After a
similar incident occurred on Freda's
Caltiki, the Immortal Monster (1959),
and Bava's having been credited with "saving" Tourneur's
The Giant of Marathon (1959),
Galatea urged Bava to direct any film he wanted with their financing.