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The Vampire Lovers

  • 19701970
  • RR
  • 1h 31m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
6.3K
YOUR RATING
The Vampire Lovers (1970)
Home Video Trailer from MGM
Play trailer2:15
1 Video
99+ Photos
  • Horror
Seductive vampire Carmilla Karnstein and her family target the beautiful and the rich in a remote area of late eighteenth-century Gemany.Seductive vampire Carmilla Karnstein and her family target the beautiful and the rich in a remote area of late eighteenth-century Gemany.Seductive vampire Carmilla Karnstein and her family target the beautiful and the rich in a remote area of late eighteenth-century Gemany.
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
6.3K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Roy Ward Baker
  • Writers
    • Sheridan Le Fanu(story "Carmilla")
    • Harry Fine(adapted by)
    • Tudor Gates(adapted by)
  • Stars
    • Ingrid Pitt
    • Pippa Steel
    • Madeline Smith
Top credits
  • Director
    • Roy Ward Baker
  • Writers
    • Sheridan Le Fanu(story "Carmilla")
    • Harry Fine(adapted by)
    • Tudor Gates(adapted by)
  • Stars
    • Ingrid Pitt
    • Pippa Steel
    • Madeline Smith
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 101User reviews
    • 96Critic reviews
    • 63Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    The Vampire Lovers
    Trailer 2:15
    The Vampire Lovers

    Photos181

    Ingrid Pitt and Madeline Smith in The Vampire Lovers (1970)
    Ingrid Pitt in The Vampire Lovers (1970)
    Ingrid Pitt at an event for The Vampire Lovers (1970)
    Peter Cushing, Dawn Addams, Kate O'Mara, George Cole, Ingrid Pitt, and Pippa Steel in The Vampire Lovers (1970)
    Peter Cushing in The Vampire Lovers (1970)
    Ingrid Pitt and Madeline Smith in The Vampire Lovers (1970)
    Peter Cushing, Ingrid Pitt, and Madeline Smith in The Vampire Lovers (1970)
    Ingrid Pitt in Countess Dracula (1971)
    Ingrid Pitt and Madeline Smith in The Vampire Lovers (1970)
    The Vampire Lovers (1970)
    Peter Cushing and George Cole in The Vampire Lovers (1970)
    Kate O'Mara in The Vampire Lovers (1970)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Ingrid Pitt
    Ingrid Pitt
    • Marcillaas Marcilla…
    Pippa Steel
    • Lauraas Laura
    • (as Pippa Steele)
    Madeline Smith
    Madeline Smith
    • Emma Mortonas Emma Morton
    Peter Cushing
    Peter Cushing
    • General von Spielsdorfas General von Spielsdorf
    George Cole
    George Cole
    • Roger Mortonas Roger Morton
    Dawn Addams
    Dawn Addams
    • The Countessas The Countess
    Kate O'Mara
    Kate O'Mara
    • The Governess (Mme. Perrodot)as The Governess (Mme. Perrodot)
    Douglas Wilmer
    Douglas Wilmer
    • Baron Joachim von Hartogas Baron Joachim von Hartog
    Jon Finch
    Jon Finch
    • Carl Ebhardtas Carl Ebhardt
    Ferdy Mayne
    Ferdy Mayne
    • Doctoras Doctor
    Kirsten Lindholm
    • First Vampireas First Vampire
    • (as Kirsten Betts)
    John Forbes-Robertson
    John Forbes-Robertson
    • Man in Blackas Man in Black
    Shelagh Wilcocks
    • Housekeeperas Housekeeper
    Harvey Hall
    Harvey Hall
    • Rentonas Renton
    Janet Key
    • Gretchinas Gretchin
    Charles Farrell
    Charles Farrell
    • Landlordas Landlord
    Graham James
    • First Young Manas First Young Man
    Tom Browne
    • Second Young Manas Second Young Man
    • Director
      • Roy Ward Baker
    • Writers
      • Sheridan Le Fanu(story "Carmilla")
      • Harry Fine(adapted by)
      • Tudor Gates(adapted by) (screenplay by)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Ingrid Pitt said in a 2009 column she wrote for Den of Geek that "When it came to the nude scenes, the director asked Madeline Smith and me if we wanted a closed set. It didn't bother me one way or the other because I've always been a bit of an exhibitionist so I had no problem letting people see me naked. Maddy Smith, being very British, was a little more nervous about prancing around in the nude. So we had a closed set. Producers Harry Fine and Michael Style were a bit peeved about this because they were barred from set too. They thought it was producer's perks to watch what was going on. Then one day I was walking to the set wearing just a dressing gown with nothing on underneath when I saw them coming in the opposite direction wearing a doleful look. As I went past them I open my dressing gown and said, Wheeeee! There was a spring in their step as they went on their way."
    • Goofs
      The story is set in the late 1700s, but at the General's ball the orchestra plays a couple of pieces by Johann Strauss Sr. (1804 - 1849) and Léo Delibes (1836-1891).
    • Quotes

      Marcilla: You must die! Everybody must die!

    • Alternate versions
      The UK cinema version was cut by the BBFC to reduce the opening decapitation and shots of Carmilla kissing Emma's breasts, and the same print was featured on video releases. The 2002 ILC DVD saw the cuts fully waived though the print used was an edited US one which missed a brief full frontal shot of Carmilla in a bathtub scene. The 2006 Optimum DVD featured the fully uncut and complete print.
    • Connections
      Edited into Bride of Monster Mania (2000)
    • Soundtracks
      Whistle Stop Polka
      (uncredited)

      Music by Johann Strauss

      Arranged by Harry Robertson

    User reviews101

    Review
    Top review
    a sapphic, graphic masterpiece
    I tend to like the classic horror films of Hammer, Universal, and American International, and "Vampire Lovers" is an esteemed favorite. There are many elements skillfully blended in this fine production, but the central appeal is Ingrid Pitt who breathes passionate, undead life into her role. Her impressive acting ability is matched by her smoldering screen presence and beauty. She is perfectly cast in this role. Wow, did the people who made this movie ever know what they were doing. The costumery, the lighting and photography, the staging, the acting and direction, all combine seamlessly for a stunning spectacle to be savored over and over again. This is the movie that single-handedly minted the "lesbian vampire" as a major cinematic motif, and set the standard for comparison that later entries in this genre would forever be judged by. I doubt we would ever have had such films as "Vampyres," "Vampyros Lesbos" or various Jean Rollin movies (not to mention Hammer's other Karnstein trilogy entries) without this film. And this movie could never have been as good without Ingrid Pitt. Her command of acting nuance is really something. Check out her facial expression when she's in the broken-down coach and Laura, all excited, tells her: "You're to stay with us!"
    helpful•22
    5
    • akersbp
    • Jun 2, 2002

    FAQ2

    • Is "The Vampire Lovers" based on a book?
    • Who were The Countess and The Man in Black?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 23, 1970 (Sweden)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Languages
      • English
      • German
    • Also known as
      • Gruft der Vampire
    • Filming locations
      • Wall Hall, Hertfordshire, England, UK
    • Production companies
      • Hammer Films
      • Fantale Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 31 minutes
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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