The Vampire Lovers
(1970) dir. Roy Ward Baker, Hammer Film Productions/American International
Pictures
The 1970’s were not a kind decade to Hammer. The
Frankenstein and Dracula series were both running on fumes, and Christopher
Lee’s increasing refusal to play another vampire kicked off a sense of
desperation that is almost palatable. Desperation can drive some people to do
many things, a film studio more so. Hammer decided to roll the dice on another
vampire picture, the difference being the idea came from outside the studio.
In 1794, the Baron Joachim von Hartog (Douglas Wilmer)
tracks and kills the vampire who murdered his sister. He then spends a great
deal of time digging up the cemetery around the vampire’s lair, staking any
corpse he can find.
Sadly not all vampires sleep in coffins, as some time later the
Countess Karnstein (Dawn Adams) is arriving at the home of General von
Spielsdorf (Peter Cushing). She arrives unannounced at a party the general is
throwing with her daughter Marcilla (Ingrid Pitt). The two are welcomed,
especially by the male partygoers. All save the general’s servant Carl (Jon Finch),
who only loves the general’s niece Laura (Pippa Steele). Marcilla seems to be
fond of Laura equally, spending almost all the time with her. When word reaches
the Countess that a relative has died and that her presence is urgently
required, the Countess asks if the general could keep Marcilla for a few days,
as the girl’s frail constitution would be in danger by the long trek back
through the mountains. The general would be delighted, as would Laura, but Carl
senses something off about the two women.
Almost at once Laura begins to take ill, wasting away and
claiming nightmares where something evil is attacking her. Soon Laura dies,
with two strange marks on her neck. Marcilla vanishes, but some time later, on
the estate of Roger Morton (George Cole), a carriage crashes. Inside are the
Countess and Marcilla, only now the Countess is passing her off as her niece
Camilla. The Countess claims to be in a hurry due to a family death and her
niece’s ill health having delayed her travel plans. Morton’s daughter Emma
(Madeline Smith) is rather taken with Camilla, however, and insists the
Countess’s niece stay with them until she can get her affairs in order. Soon
Emma begins to fall ill, claiming to being attacked in the night. The town
doctor (Ferdy Mayne) can’t help but notice the similarity in both cases and
soon the General is notified. He sends word to the baron, who is older now but
still ready to fight vampires. Sadly their search will force them to leave Emma
behind with two vampires on the prowl…
This was truly a marked departure for Hammer, in both good
and bad. The idea was actually the brainchild of Tudor Gates, Harry Fine, and
Michael Style, who took the idea to Hammer. For Hammer, sadly, the concept of
seeking outside their studio for ideas would prove to a fluke. For the rest of
the decade the higher-ups insisted on rehashing the old sets and actors, an
idea that would prove disastrous in the long run.
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