Dance of the Vampires (1967)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Roman Polanski

Writers:

Gérard Brach (story) &
Roman Polanski (story)

Release Date:

February 1967 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy | Horror

Tagline:

Who says Vampires are no laughing matter?

Plot:

A noted professor and his dim-witted apprentice fall prey to their inquiring vampires, while on the trail of the ominous damsel in distress.

Plot Keywords:

Professor | Vampire | Castle | Bat | Ball

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Jack MacGowran	...	Professor Abronsius
Roman Polanski	...	Alfred, Abronsius' Assistant
Alfie Bass	...	Shagal, the Inn-Keeper
Jessie Robins	...	Rebecca Shagal
Sharon Tate	...	Sarah Shagal
Ferdy Mayne	...	Count von Krolock
Iain Quarrier	...	Herbert von Krolock
Terry Downes	...	Koukol, the Servant
Fiona Lewis	...	Magda, the Maid
Ronald Lacey	...	Village Idiot
Sydney Bromley	...	Sleigh Driver
Andreas Malandrinos	...	Woodcutter
Otto Diamant	...	Woodcutter
Matthew Walters	...	Woodcutter

Also Known As:

The Fearless Vampire Killers (USA)
The Fearless Vampire Killers or: Pardon Me, But Your Teeth Are in My Neck (USA) (DVD box title)
The Vampire Killers (USA) (working title)
Vampire Ball (Europe) (working title)

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

USA | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Netherlands:12 | Canada:G (Quebec) | Brazil:Livre | Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Norway:16 (1968) | Singapore:PG | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | UK:12 | USA:Unrated | West Germany:12 (w) | UK:A (original rating) | UK:15 (video rating)

Filming Locations:

Cortina d'Ampezzo, Belluno, Veneto, Italy

Company:

Cadre Films

Trivia:

Producer Martin Ransohoff discovered Sharon Tate on the set of "The Beverly Hillbillies" (1962), and insisted that director Roman Polanski use her instead of Jill St. John as Polanski had planned.

Goofs:

Continuity: When the Professor and Alfred attempt to enter the underground crypt of Count Von Krolock, footsteps in the snow appear and disappear.

Quotes:

Alfred, Abronsius' Assistant: Shouldn't we build a barricade?
Professor Abronsius: No, that would be bad tactics.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in A cena col vampiro (1988) (TV)

Hilarious spoof of Hammer horrors

While probably not everyone's cup of tea, Polanski's loving spoof/tribute to Hammer Films' vampire movies of the late fifties/early sixties (specifically BRIDES OF DRACULA) is often hilarious and superbly on-target.

Like most successful spoofs of the horror genre (YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, et al), FEARLESS VAMPIRE KILLERS maintains a high amount of reverence for its subject matter, treating it with a certain amount of respect amidst all the pratfalls and silliness. The jokes don't always succeed, and the film is more a series of brilliant set-pieces, but all in all a beautiful production.

By all means, if you can, catch it letterboxed to fully appreciate the sweeping, snow-bound landscapes and intricately detailed sets.