Captain Kronos - Vampire Hunter (1974)

A master swordsman and former soldier and his hunchbacked assistant hunt vampires.

Director:

Brian Clemens

Writer:

Brian Clemens

Stars:

Horst Janson, John Carson, Shane Briant

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Horst Janson	...	Kronos
John Carson	...	Dr. Marcus
Shane Briant	...	Paul Durward
Caroline Munro	...	Carla
John Cater	...	Grost
Lois Daine	...	Sara Durward
Ian Hendry	...	Kerro
Wanda Ventham	...	Lady Durward
William Hobbs	...	Hagen
Brian Tully	...	George Sorell
Robert James	...	Pointer
Perry Soblosky	...	Barlow
Paul Greenwood	...	Giles
Lisa Collings	...	Vanda Sorell
John Hollis	...	Barman

Storyline

Vampire hunter and expert swordsman Kronos finds himself in a small village where several of the local young women have been found in an advanced state of age, their youth drained from them by a vampire's kiss. Kronos' search leads him to the Durward estate where he is met by the effete children of the apparently aged and sick Lady Durward.

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Plot Keywords:

chekhov's gun | skeleton | death of husband | scream | screaming woman | 

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Taglines:

Evil Ends Here.

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Genres:

Adventure | Horror | Mystery

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 June 1974 (USA)

Also Known As:

Kronos

Filming Locations:

Black Park, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

£160,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hammer Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Ingrid Pitt has said in interviews she refused the Wanda Ventham cameo role

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Goofs

Grost suggests that the vampire may be using 'mesmerism' or 'hypnotism' to subdue its victims, but neither term was in use until the early 19th century.

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Quotes

[an old folk rhyme about vampire detection]
Captain Kronos: If a vampire should bestrode / Close to the grave of a dead toad / Then the vampire life shall give / And suddenly, the toad shall live.

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Connections

Featured in The World of Hammer: Dracula & the Undead (1994)

User Reviews

Not Your Average Sanguineous Necksuckers!

Fans of the hit 1960s TV series "The Avengers" will not be surprised to learn of what a marvelous movie "Captain Kronos Vampire Hunter" turns out to be. Not, that is, after hearing that Brian Clemens, the producer and oftentimes writer for that cult TV favorite, was also the producer/writer/director of this film, and that Laurie Johnson, who wrote so many musical scores for "The Avengers," provided his great skills to this film, as well. But wait..."Kronos" has a lot more going for it than these two formidable talents. It concerns a swashbuckling swordsman, late of the Infantry Guard, who--with the help of a hunchbacked professor, an ex-Army doctor friend, and a gypsy girl that he meets on the highway (played by yummy cult actress Caroline Munro)--journeys around what looks to be late 18th century England, hunting and slaying vampires. But the vampires here are NOT your average sanguineous necksuckers; rather, they drain the very youth and spirit from their victims, leaving them withered husks. "Kronos" turns out to be another wonderful entertainment from the House of Hammer, with extremely handsome sets, lush outdoor photography, and one of the most interesting sword fights this side of "Scaramouche." It is remarkably imaginative throughout, and directed by Clemens with great style and panache. What a remarkable series this could have made! As an extra, the DVD features extensive commentary from Clemens and Munro that should be of great interest to all fans of films of this genre. This DVD is a real winner indeed!