Mark of the Vampire (1935)

When a nobleman is murdered, a professor of the occult blames vampires; but not all is what it seems.

Director:

Tod Browning

Writers:

Guy Endore (screen play), Bernard Schubert (screen play)

Stars:

Lionel Barrymore, Elizabeth Allan, Bela Lugosi

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Lionel Barrymore	...	Professor Zelin
Elizabeth Allan	...	Irena Borotyn
Bela Lugosi	...	Count Mora
Lionel Atwill	...	Inspector Neumann
Jean Hersholt	...	Baron Otto
Henry Wadsworth	...	Fedor Vincente
Donald Meek	...	Dr. Doskil
Jessie Ralph	...	Midwife
Ivan F. Simpson	...	Jan (as Ivan Simpson)
Franklyn Ardell	...	Chauffeur
Leila Bennett	...	Maria
June Gittelson	...	Annie
Carroll Borland	...	Luna (as Carol Borland)
Holmes Herbert	...	Sir Karell Borotyn
Michael Visaroff	...	Innkeeper

Storyline

After Sir Karell Borotin is found dead in his study, drained of his blood, the local doctor determines that he was killed by a vampire. The coroner and police Inspector Neumann dismiss the suggestion but a year later, Sir Karell's daughter is attacked and bite marks are found on her throat. Neumann calls in the eminent Professor Zelin who thinks the story of vampires is true. The locals are convinced that Count Mora and his daughter Luna are the perpetrators of the crime, creatures of the night that can turn themselves into bats. There may be another solution however and the Professor sets a trap.

---

Plot Keywords:

vampire | police inspector | doctor | trap | superstition | 

---

Taglines:

Undead...yet living on the Kisses of Youth!

---

Genres:

Horror | Mystery

---

Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Czech

Release Date:

26 April 1935 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Vampires of Prague

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$305,177 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Edward Ward scored the trailer

---

Goofs

When the professor first tries to hypnotize Baron Otto, there is a reflection of the candle he is holding which cannot be explained.

---

Quotes

[first lines]
Innkeeper: I'm sorry gentleman and lady, but it will be best for you to stay here tonight.
Ronnie - Englishman at Inn: Come now, my good man. You can't frighten us. We've been over your foul roads before.
Innkeeper: Please, you do not understand. It is not the road. It is the darkness. Here, our doors are protected with bat thorns.
Ronnie's Wife: What is with all this bat thorn business?
Innkeeper: It keeps them out. They're afraid of it, the demons of the castle.

---

Connections

Referenced in She's Alive! Creating the Bride of Frankenstein (1999)

---

Soundtracks

Beseda
(uncredited)
Traditional
Arranged by Jack Virgil

User Reviews

Worth a look on TV, a minor classic

Luckily, I saw this on cable instead of buying the tape. Among the interesting effects on the soundtrack, I liked the "moaning" voices -- sort of like a small church choir after eating too many hash brownies. I can understand why the ending bothered some people, but the brief closing scene shows that Lugosi had a sense of humor. I bet he was quite the charmer as a younger actor in European films.