Lemora: A Child's Tale of the Supernatural (1973)

Director:

Richard Blackburn

Writers:

Richard Blackburn (screenplay)
Robert Fern (screenplay)

Release Date:

May 1975 (USA)

Genre:

Horror

Tagline:

Run, little girl! Innocence is in peril tonight!

Plot:

A young girl who returns to her hometown to see her dying father finds herself being drawn into a web of vampirism and witchcraft. |

Plot Keywords:

Lesbian Interest | Vampire | Dracula | Independent Film | Character Name In Title

Cast

Lesley Gilb	...	Lemora
Cheryl Smith	...	Lila Lee
William Whitton	...	Alvin Lee
Hy Pyke	...	The Bus Driver
Maxine Ballantyne	...	The Old Woman
Steve Johnson	...	The Ticket Seller
Parker West	...	The Young Man
Charla Hall
Jack Fisher
Buck Buchanan
Richard Blackburn	...	The Reverend

Also Known As:

Lady Dracula
Lemora, the Lady Dracula (USA) (TV title)
The Legendary Curse of Lemora
The Rape of the Vampires (USA) (reissue title)

Runtime:

80 min | USA:113 min (uncut version) | USA:85 min (DVD version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:18 | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Pomona, California, USA

Company:

Blackfern

Quotes:

Lemora: The girl is around here somewhere. If you let her escape, or allow them to get to her before you do, I'll make you wish you *could* die.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Confessions of Lemora (1994) (V)

Soundtrack:

Rock of Ages

Creepy, different vampire tale

The film is set in Georgia of the 1920s. Sweet innocent 13 year old Lila Lee (Cheryl Smith) goes to visit her sick father. Unknown to her it's a trap all set up by Lemora (Lesley Gilb) a woman vampire with distinct lesbian tendencies. Will Lila Lee fall into her clutches or escape?

I caught this originally on late night TV many years ago. The print was faded, in terrible condition and (slightly) edited--but I knew I was seeing something different. I didn't see the whole thing--I was exhausted (it started at 1 am) and I couldn't stay awake...but it never left me. Now it's finally available in a truly stunning transfer by Synapse. The picture and sound are crystal clear and the colors very vivid.

The film is very creepy--there are a LOT of sexual innuendos thrown at Lila at the beginning (but it IS needed for the story). The lesbian touches are there but not explicit--this movie is very PG (no blood, gore, nudity or swearing). Still they come through and actually help the movie. The low budget this film was made on shows often but it works in the films favor. There's atmospheric lighting, eerie sounds, creepy settings and a nonstop feeling of dread. Also Gilb is VERY imposing as Lemora. Despite the rating this is an adult movie--as others have said--a fairy tale for adults.

There are plenty of things wrong with this however. The script wanders all over the place (but then fairy tales do too), the ending drags a bit and the acting is terrible all around (Smith is bland and Gilb's acting is SO bad I was giggling at times). Still, despite all that it works. A one of a kind vampire movie. Not for everybody. I give it a 9.