I vampiri (1956)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Riccardo Freda
(more)

Writers:

Riccardo Freda (story) (dialogue)
Piero Regnoli (story) (dialogue)
(more)

Release Date:

1963 (USA)

Genre:

Horror

Tagline:

Beautiful Parisian girls were his victims!

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Mad Scientist | Vampire | Drug Addict | Paris | Grave Robbing

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	...	Mr. Bourgeois
Gisella Mancinotti	...	Schoolgirl #1
Miranda Campa	...	Lorrette's mother
Antoine Balpêtré	...	Dr. Julien du Grand
Paul Muller	...	Joseph Signoret
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Armando Annuale	...	Man #1 (uncredited)
Riccardo Freda	...	Autopsy doctor (uncredited)
Ronny Holiday	...	Nora (uncredited)
Joy Holliday	...	Anita (uncredited)
Emilio Petacci	...	Man #2 (uncredited)
Barbara Wohl	...	Lisette (uncredited)

Directed by
Riccardo Freda		(as Robert Hampton)
Mario Bava		(uncredited) (completed film)

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Riccardo Freda		story (dialogue)
Piero Regnoli		story (dialogue)
J.V. Rhemo		writer

Produced by
Luigi Carpentieri	....	producer
Ermanno Donati	....	producer
Piero Donati	....	producer

Original Music by
Franco Mannino
Roman Vlad

Cinematography by
Mario Bava

Film Editing by
Roberto Cinquini

Production Design by
Beni Montresor

Costume Design by
Beni Montresor

Makeup Department
Franco Freda	....	makeup artist
Ada Palombi	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Claudio Agostinelli	....	assistant production manager
Piero Donati	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Piero Regnoli	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Mario Messina	....	sound editor

Special Effects by
Mario Bava	....	special effects (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Corrado Bartoloni	....	camera operator

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Adriana Berselli	....	assistant costume designer

Music Department
Roman Vlad	....	conductor

Other crew
Fouad Said	....	English language version

Production Companies

• America
• Athena Cinematografica
• Titanus

Distributors

• Titanus Distribuzione (1957) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Releasing Corporation of Independent Producers (RCIP) (1963) (USA) (theatrical) (dubbed)
• Les Films Marbeuf (1957) (France) (theatrical)
• Dark Dreams Video (19??) (USA) (VHS)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Image Entertainment (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Something Weird Video (SWV) (19??) (USA) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Bausch & Lomb  camera rental
• Digitmovies Alternative Entertainment  soundtrack

Also Known As:

Evil's Commandment
Lust of the Vampire (USA)
The Devil's Commandment (USA)
The Vampires

Runtime:

85 min | UK:66 min

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Netherlands:16 | Spain:18 | West Germany:16 (nf)

Company:

America

Trivia:

Director Cameo: [Riccardo Freda]autopsy doctor

Youth Is Indeed Wasted on the Young

There is not a whole lot more that I can add to many of the very thought-provoking entries already listed. I will; however; reiterate. This film, for all purposes, is a Mario Bava film, and if you have seen any of that director's masterful direction then that will be self-evident. The Gothic feel. The fluttering drapes. The serialization killing. Pretty girls being killed/abducted. A castle. A duchess tired of the weary effects of aging enlists the help of some of her friends both willingly and some not so free with their time to help her with her distressing problems. The film opens with deaths being done by, what the newspapers call, a vampire. Bava then has a newsman follow the leads and what we get is one eerie, creative, beautiful film with all the aforementioned trademarks of what will be the very foundation of the Italian horror film of the next two decades. Ricardo Freda was the original director and his influence is evident as well, but Bava finished the film. The acting is all very solid, but the atmosphere is on center stage. the scene with the castle hallways, the dungeons, the laboratory, and the death scenes are all wonderfully shot. This is a must for the student of the horror genre and anyone interested in either Freda's work and more importantly that of Mario Bava.