Lust of the Vampire (1956)
"I vampiri" (original title)

A mad scientist captures young women and drains their blood, in order to keep alive an ancient, evil duchess.

Director:

Riccardo Freda

Writers:

Riccardo Freda (story), Piero Regnoli (story),

Stars:

Gianna Maria Canale, Carlo D'Angelo, Dario Michaelis

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Gianna Maria Canale	...	Giselle du Grand
Carlo D'Angelo	...	Inspector Chantal
Dario Michaelis	...	Pierre Lantin
Wandisa Guida	...	Lorrette Robert
Angelo Galassi	...	Ronald Fontaine
Renato Tontini	...	Rinaldo, Assistente
Charles Fawcett	...	Lorrette's Father
Gisella Mancinotti	...	Schoolgirl #1
Miranda Campa	...	Lorrette's Mother
Antoine Balpêtré	...	Dr. Julien du Grand
Paul Muller	...	Joseph Signoret

Storyline

In Paris, France, a crazed duchess, obsessed with retaining her youth, has her scientist lover kill various women and draining their blood for her use while a smug journalist seeks out leads for the so-called 'vampire murders' and links a local drug addict to the case whom is connected to the mad scientist.

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Plot Keywords:

mad scientist | drug addict | vampire | paris france | double identity | 

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Taglines:

Beautiful Parisian girls were his victims!

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Genres:

Horror

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Details

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

1963 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Devil's Commandment

Company Credits

Production Co:

America, Athena Cinematografica, Titanus

Technical Specs

Runtime:

85 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This was the first Italian made horror film of the sound era.

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Connections

Referenced in Cannibal Holocaust (1980)

User Reviews

Bava's first directing

Translated as The Vampires I must say that I haven't seen any vampire throughout this Italy's first sound horror film directed by Riccardo Fredo and Mario Bava.

No fangs to spot but still it's a worth looking. The story itself leans more towards the Bathory legend then towards the creatures of the night. A scientist who's gone mad captures young women to drain blood from them to give eternal youth to an old duchess. When bodies are found the are quickly linked to vampirism and the press called them the vampire killings. A journalist links a drug addict to the case. There's no believe in the journalist but slowly they must trust him.

There's no spot of blood to trace here in this Gothic story but what makes it watchable is the way the camera and lighting were used to create the eerie atmosphere. Bava lensed this flick just before he starts directing. After Freda encountered difficulties with the investors and quit the production he asked Bava to direct the last 2 days.

The acting is of course typical fifties and that I never liked so far. But I enjoyed the flick itself maybe because there weren't that much of effects used that looked stupid like so many from that era, in fact, I was impressed with the way they shot the woman getting older in a one taker.

This is a must see for Bava buffs. Further it doesn't deliver that much. Being available together with Black Sunday (1958) on Blu ray on the Arrow label it's a must have.

Gore 0/5 Nudity 0/5 Effects 3/5 Story 2,5/5 Comedy 0/5