Mark of the Vampire (1935) 6.3
When a nobleman is murdered, a professor of the occult blames vampires; but not all is what it seems. Director:Tod Browning |
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Mark of the Vampire (1935) 6.3
When a nobleman is murdered, a professor of the occult blames vampires; but not all is what it seems. Director:Tod Browning |
|
| 0Share... |
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Lionel Barrymore | ... |
Professor
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Elizabeth Allan | ... |
Irena
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| Bela Lugosi | ... |
Count Mora
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| Lionel Atwill | ... |
Inspector Neumann
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| Jean Hersholt | ... |
Baron Otto
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Henry Wadsworth | ... |
Fedor
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| Donald Meek | ... |
Dr. Doskil
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Jessie Ralph | ... |
Midwife
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Ivan F. Simpson | ... |
Jan
(as Ivan Simpson)
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Franklyn Ardell | ... |
Chauffeur
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Leila Bennett | ... |
Maria
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June Gittelson | ... |
Annie
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Carroll Borland | ... |
Luna
(as Carol Borland)
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Holmes Herbert | ... |
Sir Karell
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Michael Visaroff | ... |
Innkeeper
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After Sir Karell Borotin is found dead in his study, drained of his blood, the local doctor determines that he was killed by a vampire. The coroner and police Inspector Neumann dismiss the suggestion but a year later, Sir Karell's daughter is attacked and bite marks are found on her throat. Neumann calls in the eminent Professor Zelin who thinks the story of vampires is true. The locals are convinced that Count Mora and his daughter Luna are the perpetrators of the crime, creatures of the night that can turn themselves into bats. There may be another solution however and the Professor sets a trap. Written by garykmcd
This was one of the best vampire films of the classic black-and-white era. Essentially a composite remake of "Dracula" and an earlier film called "London After Midnight" with some bizarre twists, in terms of ghoulish settings and atmosphere, particularly the cemetery scenes, and Lugosi and Borland wandering in the night, this film is second to none. There is no doubt that Bela Lugosi was the classic Dracula of the early sound period. If I were to make a list of his best 10 films, this would be one of them along with the 1931 "Dracula", the 1943 "Return of the Vampire", the 1940 "The Devil Bat" and others. Carol Borland's role as "Luna"sets the standard for "Vampira" of the 1950s and "Elvira" of the 1980s as well as "Morticia" of the Addams Family on TV. She does an excellent job in the role of a "creature of the night". And of course, Bela Lugosi as Count Mora is without peer. The entire cast including Lionel Barrymore, Lionel Atwill, Elizabeth Allen, Jean Hersholt, and others do an excellent job.
10/10.
Dan Basinger