Lust for a Vampire (1971)

In 1830, forty years to the day since the last manifestation of their dreaded vampirism, the Karnstein heirs use the blood of an innocent to bring forth the evil that is the beautiful ... See full summary »

Director:

Jimmy Sangster

Writers:

Tudor Gates (screenplay), Sheridan Le Fanu (based on characters created by)

Stars:

Ralph Bates, Barbara Jefford, Suzanna Leigh

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ralph Bates	...	Giles Barton
Barbara Jefford	...	Countess Herritzen
Suzanna Leigh	...	Janet Playfair
Michael Johnson	...	Richard Lestrange
Yutte Stensgaard	...	Mircalla / Carmilla Karnstein
Helen Christie	...	Miss Simpson
Pippa Steel	...	Susan Pelley
David Healy	...	Raymond Pelley
Harvey Hall	...	Inspector Heinrich
Mike Raven	...	Count Karnstein
Michael Brennan	...	Landlord
Jack Melford	...	Bishop
Christopher Cunningham	...	Coachman
Judy Matheson	...	Amanda
Christopher Neame	...	Hans

Storyline

In 1830, forty years to the day since the last manifestation of their dreaded vampirism, the Karnstein heirs use the blood of an innocent to bring forth the evil that is the beautiful Mircalla - or as she was in 1710, Carmilla. The nearby Finishing School offers rich pickings not only in in the blood of nubile young ladies but also with the headmaster who is desperate to become Mircalla's disciple, and the equally besotted and even more foolish author Richard Lestrange.

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Plot Keywords:

castle | human sacrifice | obsession | family curse | resurrection | 

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Taglines:

A vampire's lust knows no boundaries...

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Genres:

Horror

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 September 1971 (USA)

Also Known As:

Love for a Vampire

Filming Locations:

Elstree Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hammer Film Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Ingrid Pitt turned down the lead because she thought the script was terrible.

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Goofs

Erik Chitty's first name is misspell Eric in the end credits.

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Connections

Referenced in Bride of Monster Mania (2000)

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Soundtracks

"Strange Love"
Music by Harry Robertson
Lyrics by Frank Godwin
Performed by Tracy

User Reviews

a sweet, seemingly innocent European schoolgirl turns out to be a deadly vampire

Just when the Hammer Christopher Lee Dracula franchise began to run out of steam in the late sixties, the company revved up its product by turning to Sheridan Le Fanu's Carmilla (written before Bram Stoker penned Dracula, by the way, and a big influence on that better known book) and filming several versions of the novel. The other most interesting one is Vampire Lovers, which keeps far closer to the plot of the book and has a more sustained sense of mood and atmosphere, but ultimately is undone by an actress who is far too old to be believable as the Lolita with fangs that Le Fanu imagined long before anyone had ever heard of Vladimir Nabokov. Lust is admittedly shaky in terms of script, and the ambiance is on again off again (but wow is it terrific when it's on). What makes this click with so many horror buffs, in particularly those who love lesbian vampire films, is the one-time star Yvette Stensgard, a gorgeous Scandanavian child-woman who looks absolutely innocent (particularly when her eyes fetchingly cross), even the moment before she rips open the neck of her next victim. Lots of nudity, with nothing but blood covering her nubile body. Carmilla Karnstein is bisexual, seducing both her lovely young roommates at the all girl's academy and her teacher, a Byronic British romantic who combines elements of Shelley, Byron, and Le Fanu. A genuine cult following has formed around this film because of Stensgard's devastating charisma, which would never be properly employed again, by Hammer or any other company. (Hammer discarded its female star creations as quickly as it stuck with its male stars, Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing.) Many jerks complain about a dumb song called "Strange Love" that's indifferently imposed on one sequence. Morons: turn down the volume and enjoy the two gorgeous nymphettes as they swim in the moonlight, adoringly cuddle one another, and then . . . the kiss of death.