The Kiss of the Vampire (1963)

When car trouble strands a honeymooning couple in a small Southern European village, an aristocratic family in the area reaches out to help them with sinister consequences.

Director:

Don Sharp

Writer:

Anthony Hinds (screenplay)

Stars:

Clifford Evans, Edward de Souza, Noel Willman

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Clifford Evans	...	Professor Zimmer
Edward de Souza	...	Gerald Harcourt
Noel Willman	...	Dr. Ravna
Jennifer Daniel	...	Marianne Harcourt
Barry Warren	...	Carl Ravna
Brian Oulton	...	1st disciple
Noel Howlett	...	Father Xavier
Jacquie Wallis	...	Sabena Ravna
Peter Madden	...	Bruno
Isobel Black	...	Tania
Vera Cook	...	Anna
John Harvey	...	Police Sergeant
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Carl Esmond	...	Anton (US TV version)
Virginia Gregg	...	Rosa Stangher (US TV version)
Sheilah Wells	...	Theresa Stangher (US TV version)

Storyline

Gerald and Marianne Harcourt are traveling by car when the car breaks down and they have to spend a few days in a small, remote village. It doesn't take long before they are invited to Dr. Ravna's castle. Without their knowledge, Dr. Ravna is the leader of a vampire cult, and he has become astonished by Marianne's beauty...

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Plot Keywords:

castle | vampire cult | cult | vampire | music score features piano | 

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Taglines:

Giant devil Bats...summoned from the caves of Hell to destroy the lust of the Vampires!

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Genres:

Horror

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English Latin

Release Date:

11 September 1963 (USA)

Also Known As:

Kiss of the Vampire

Filming Locations:

Black Park, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal International Pictures (UI), Hammer Film Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The rubber bats used in the movie were bought from a local branch of Woolworths.

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Goofs

When the newlyweds arrive at the hotel, they get caught in a sudden downpour. Water can be seen on their shoulders and on their hats, as well as on the wooden porch as they ring the doorbell. They are however bone dry when they step into the reception, despite the innkeeper remarking that they are soaked through.

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Quotes

Servant: [to Gerald] You keep away from here, or we'll set the dogs on you!

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Connections

Referenced in Pale Blood (1990)

User Reviews

Ominous and entrancing

The basic plot: Gerald and Marianne Harcourt, a couple traveling through Europe for their honeymoon, break down in a small and secluded Eastern European village ,and one of the few places theyr'e welcomed is is the grand castle of the Count Ravna ,but when he turns out to be a bloodsucker and own a vampire cult and kidnap Marianne, Gerald must ally with reclusive vampire hunter Dr.Zimmer to defeat the vampires.

The praise:Ominous and entrancing. The scenes which are most effective are the ones when there is an air of unknowing and quiet terror, and a lot of creepy hypnotic feel. The masque scene is a masterpiece in structure, and Roman Polanski was definitely influenced by this in the making of his great suspenseful comedy "The fearless Vampire killers".The acting is solid , and the film is gorgeously ornate to look at, the Castle Ravna is being a place of complex architecture and decorative flourishes. The plot is pretty simple, but this small gem is all about mood.As well, the scene before Gerald and Marianne Harcourt come in is bloody good.

The flaws: The climax doesn't come together as well as the rest of the movie.