Directed by:
Roman PolańskiCinematography:
Douglas SlocombeComposer:
Krzysztof KomedaCast:
Jack MacGowran, Roman Polański, Alfie Bass, Jessie Robins, Sharon Tate, Ferdy Mayne, Iain Quarrier, Fiona Lewis, Ronald Lacey, Sydney Bromley, Roy Evans (more)Plots(1)
Professor Ambronsius (Jack MacGowran), an eccentric old academic specializing in the study of bats, and his bumbling but well-meaning assistant, Alfred (played by Polanski himself), travel to a small village in snowbound Transylvania (actually, filming took place in the Italian Alps) that has been plagued by a clan of local vampires. After innkeeper Shagal's comely daughter, Sarah (Sharon Tate), is abducted by Count Von Krolock (Ferdy Mayne), Ambronsius and Alfred venture out to the count's castle to rid the area of its bloodsucking parasites once and for all--a dangerous undertaking indeed, especially since it soon becomes apparent that traditional weapons against the undead are not quite as effective as folklore would have one believe and that attractive young maidens are not the only ones in danger of becoming victims of a vampire' uninvited advances. (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Reviews (2)
The Fearless Vampire Killers is considered a celebrated film classic, but I must admit that when I saw it, I was somewhat disappointed. The individual ingredients are intriguing, and one could write at length about the beautiful sets, all the horror clichés and elements that Roman Polański incorporated and parodied in the film. However, as a whole, the film didn't quite work for me. I'll even admit with a blush that The Vampire Wedding by Jaroslav Soukup, though understandably of significantly lower cinematic quality, provided me with more entertainment value. Polanski is indeed an above-average director but a below-average actor. I'm not sure if that's the reason why I feel somewhat distant from The Fearless Vampire Killers. Overall impression: 50% with consideration for the director's persona.
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There's no dumber vampire movie out there than this. Even the Tate-Polanski phenomenon does not change that. That’s saying something, given that I was able to enjoy some of the Hammer stuff. It's bad enough that 30 years later Polanski himself returned to the theme and in 1997 the Austrian musical "Dance of the Vampires" was born. In its original staging it was performed for three years at the Raimundtheater in Vienna. Today it is a modern classic.
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Gallery (159)
Photo © Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
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