The Vampire Lovers [Blu-ray]

Director: Roy Ward Baker Roy Ward Baker

Overview

This sexy horror story from Britain's Hammer Films finds Ingrid Pitt playing three roles, the most notable being a lesbian vampire who will resort to biting a man only when it is absolutely necessary. A doctor and a manservant are victims, but only after she has exhausted all attempts to sink her fangs into the bosoms of young women. The General (Peter Cushing) finds his daughter Laura (Pippa Steel) is victimized by the bite of the vampiress. With the help of Baron Hartog (Douglas Wilmer), they try to end the horror brought by the blood-sucking beauty. Blood, gore and a few decapitations are depicted before the wooden stakes and crosses are brought out.

Product Details

Release Date:	12/21/2021
UPC:	0826663221084
Original Release:	1970
Source:	Shout Factory
Language:	English
Sales rank:	13,649

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Ingrid Pitt	Mircalla/Marcilla/Carmilla
Pippa Steele	Laura Spielsdorf
Peter Cushing	Gen. Spielsdorf
Madeleine Smith	Emma Morton
George Cole	Roger Morton
Dawn Addams	The Countess
Kate O'Mara	Mme. Perrodot
Douglas Wilmer	Baron Hartog
Jon Finch	Carl Ebbhardt
Kirsten Betts	1st Vampire
Harvey Hall	Renton
Janet Key	Gretchen
Charles Farrell	Landlord
Ferdy Mayne	Doctor,Doctor
John Robertson	Man in Black,Composer
Shelagh Wilcox	Housekeeper
Graham James	Young Man,Village Girl
Tom Browne	Young Man
Joanna Shelley	Woodman's Daughter
Carl Finch	Carl Ebbhardt
John Forbes-Robertson	Man in Black

Technical Credits

Harry Fine

Michael Style

Tudor Gates

Roy Ward Baker	Director
Harry Fine	Producer,Screenwriter
Michael Style	Producer,Screenwriter
Tudor Gates	Screenwriter
Roy Hyde	Sound/Sound Designer

Editorial Reviews

This Hammer Films production isn't their finest moment but its easy to understand why it has become an enduring cult favorite with horror fans: The Vampire Lovers pushes the "bloodshed & bosoms" formula of the Hammer hits to its limit, replaces the usual Christopher Lee-style masculine vampire with a curvy female vamp and plays up its source story's lesbian theme for an extra bit of prurient spice. It is neither as shocking or scary as it might have once been but the film still remains worth the time of horror fans for a few reasons. Director Roy Ward Baker creates a strong gothic atmosphere (especially in the vampire-hunt scenes that frame the narrative) and the combination of gorgeous period decor and Harry Robinson's blood-and-thunder musical score create a perfectly spooky backdrop for this tale. However, the key element of The Vampire Lovers is Ingrid Pitt's attention-grabbing performance as Carmilla: she delivers the erotic charge the role requires but also brings a tragic loneliness to the part that gives the film a welcome dramatic edge. Old-school horror fans will also be pleased by Peter Cushing's reliably strong work as the vengeful father of Carmilla's first victim. In the end, The Vampire Lovers is an entertaining, memorably sexy addition to the vampire mythos and well worth a look to fans of gothic chills.

All Movie Guide