Customer Reviews

The Vampire Lovers [VHS]

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I can't remember the author of that quote, but it fits this film well. A classic of latter-day Hammer Horror, The Vampire Lovers is a very good adaption of LeFanu's pre-Dracula vampire story, Carmilla (1870s). The aristocratic and drop-dead hot Ingrid Pitt plays the tortured vampire who not only lusts for blood, but for the love of young women--both forbidden to her, of course.

Peter Cushing adds his usual stoic, stiff-upper-class persona to the proceedings as he marshalls the fathers and male suitors of the victims against the power of the lovely undead. The wide-eyed innocent that falls under Carmilla's sway is played by Madeleine Smith--Mmmmm. Hammer gets the seduction scenes just right, mingling horror and eros with unexpected skill and taste. The sexual tension is high, and the scenes of bosomy women in bodices bearing huge fangs has always been a Hammer staple. I love it, myself.

The Vampire Lovers is competently acted, with a nice turn by Pitt especially, showing how unhappy she is and how she what she wants--love--will always elude her; what she needs--blood--will always cause death. Not that the movie gets too heavy into Anne Rice territory, but Pitt definitely brings some shading to her character. The atmosphere and sets are top-notch, and the story moves along at a leisurely pace, obviously holding to the original story.

I recommend this film highly to fans of softcore erotica, vampire films, and of course the tiny subgenre of lesbian vampires. You really could spend an hour-and-a-half watching far worse films. For $12, this is a real treat. Ingrid Pitt, Ingrid Pitt, where art thou?

This edition of the movie contains two scenes that have been previously deleted from other releases. The first scene is in the prologue with the decapitation of the vampire woman. The second scene is at the climax with several cuts reinstated between Peter Cushing and the demise of Carmilla. With these scenes finally added and a reproduction at standard play, this video is a must for any serious Hammer horror film fan.

"The Vampire Lovers," directed by Roy Ward Baker in 1970, is the first in the Karnstein trilogy of Hammer films, all based quite loosely on Joseph Sheridan LeFanu's story "Carmilla." The Karnsteins are a clan of vampires, represented in this version by a bunch of scantily clad women. Ingrid Pitt stars as Carmilla, who also goes under the anagram names of Mircalla and Marcilla at various points in the story (yes, there is a story). The last of her clan, Carmilla is trying to rebuild, turning first to Laura (Pippa Steele), the daughter of General Spielsdorf (Peter Cushing) and then Emma (Madeleine Smith), the daughter of Roger Morton (George Cole). Along the way she turns Mademoiselle Perrodon (Kate O'Mara) into a sexual slave. In the great tradition of Dracula and most other vampire films, Laura dies before anyone recognizes the marks of the vampire and then the goal is to save poor Emma from the same fate.

There is a lot in "The Vampire Lovers" that never makes much sense. Who is the countess (Dawn Addams) who travels with Mircalla? What is up with the black-clad vampire (John Forbes Robertson) who keeps hanging around? Supposedly Mircalla is the last of her clan, but maybe not. Mircalla keeps saying she loves her victims, but they all end up dead, which certainly does not help out her clan much. In the end it is clear that Hammer, aided and abetted by American International in this instance, was making a flat-out lesbian vampire film. As such, I can honestly say that you are not going to find a better one out there. Ironically, "The Vampire Lovers" ends up being more erotic than the vast majority of films featuring heterosexual relationships between the undead and their victims.

Ingrid Pitt gives a fragile performance as Carmilla the lesbian Vampire in this 1970 movie by Hammer films.

The film suffered waves of contreversy on it's original release, because of the films lesbian content, but, seen today, one wonders what all the fuss was about.

There is not much neck biting, up untill the last ten minutes of the film, but, never the less, the whole movie is truely engrossing as we see Carmilla seduce, then feed from, her victims.

Ingrid Pitts seductive performance and Roy Ward bakers inventive, and at times, exploitive, direction, makes, "The Vampire Lovers" a truely memorable film.

A must see for any Hammer fan and for any one who loves to see a memorable performance, which is what they recieve from Ingrid Pitt.

An erotic and chilling adaptation of J. Sheridan Le Fanu's "Carmilla". Ingrid Pitt is utterly fantastic as the voluptuous but deadly vampiress. Peter Cushing, the Great Granddaddy of British Horror, as always, is simply marvelous. Grandiose and bubbling with sexual tension, definitely a modern chiller. Essential for those who've devoured the Hammer classics like "Horror of Dracula" or "Curse of Frankenstein" but haven't explored Hammer's other lesser-known masterpieces like "Vampire Circus", "To The Devil A Daughter" and "Frankenstein Created Woman".

This film is based on Sheridan LeFanu's "Carmilla", which had noticeable sapphic and surrealist elements. The lesbian theme is here reproduced, going as far as a PG (I presume it was released with that rating) would allow in 1970. It is in that and other aspects fairly typical Hammer: enjoyable, slightly exagerated,with some sense of atmosphere and fairly busty females. The interiors are colourful verging on lushness, with some of exteriors obvious sets. Peter Cushing gives his usual professional performance. Hammer films were derided by purists when they appeared in the 50s and 60s, but had a certain standard now appreciable.

The Vampire Lovers

'The Vampire Lovers' is the first of the Karnstein Trilogy, and in my opinion the best. The film captures love, unhappiness and evil, which makes the film brilliant.

'The Vampire Lovers' is based on Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu's Brilliant Vampire story 'Carmilla'. The Novel, and the film, is set in the Austrian Province of Styria.

The 'Evil' of this story comes in the form of Ingrid Pitt, who plays Mircalla Karnstein, a centuries old Vampire. Mircalla travels around Styria looking for 'fresh meat' (e.g Beautiful young females!) under Pseudonyms
of her real name, Marcilla and Carmilla.

She seems very lonely in the film. She wants Emma to be with her, I am not saying she isn't evil but there is a certain sadness about her character. I think Ingrid Pitt played the part well, some people say she was just good in 'nude' scenes but I think she is a good actress and especially good at facial expressions and showing emotions.

The cast of this film include Peter Cushing as General Spielsdorf, Madelyne Smith as Emma Morton, Pippa Steele as Laura Spielsdorf, George Cole as Mr Morton, Douglas Wilmar as Baron Hartog and a virtually mute John Forbes-Robertson as The Man in Black aka Count Karnstein.

'The Vampire Lovers' is a surprisingly close adaptation of Le Fanu's 'Carmilla and a ground breaking film for Hammer, as it was the first Hammer film to have nudity and first to get an X rating. After this film Vampire Films were very erotic and female Vampires made appearances in more and more films, including films by Jess Franco and other 'Euro-trash' film directors. This film did very well in the theatres and even spawned two sequels.

This film has a lot to offer the main character, as stated before, is very interesting. Though Mircalla is clearly 'Evil', you (the viewer) do sympathise with her. I love the funeral scene it is very effective and once again, as I have commented on before of times Ms Pitt uses her facial talents to good effect. I also liked the Bath scene (not just for the nudity) because there is a great chemistry between Carmilla and Emma, and until the end of that scene, Carmilla seems just like an ordinary girl.

Peter Cushing acts brilliantly, as usual, his General Spielsdorf is a very interesting character. Cushing portrays a devastated man very well.

There isn't a lot of gore but, in my opinion, too much gore would ruin the plot. Fans of Vampire films will not be disappointed.

Thank you for reading my review, I hope you find it helpful.

I had never seen this film before and when I heard MGM was putting out the restored version, I decided to skip getting an old copy of Orion's version and wait for this one. The film looks very sharp and includes the original trailer. The film focuses on Carmilla Karnstein, who is a vampire with lesbian tendencies. The story is supposed to be somewhat eroctic, but actually the characters just seem to meander around with very little feeling or action. Carmilla finds one victim then flees to a nearby residence where she switches around the letters in her name and tries to prey on two women at once. The opening is good, but then the film slows down and I found myself wanting some kind of pursuit to take place. Like many of Hammer's films from the 1970's, most of the cast is dubbed. The cast is overall decent, Peter Cushing does as well as he can in a very limited role that offers him not much more to do then stand around and look grim. When they found Carmilla in her coffin, I really expected more of a fight, but she just layed there and took it. A stronger ending may have made this a four star film. This is a part of the Karnstein trilogy, it is considerably better than the confused Lust for a vampire, but not as good as the straight forward Twins of Evil. I really tend to prefer vampire action films like Captain Kronos and Vampire Circus over films like this and Lust for a vampire. Still, this film has high production values (for Hammer), decent acting and some interesting scenes. It is certainly worth owning if you are a vampire or Hammer fan, but just do not expect as much action as some others of the time.

I saw this movie back in the days of my wild reckless youth and it must have been on TV at some ungodly hour like 3.00am which is when they used to show most Horror movies back them. I sure am glad I stayed up to watch it. The movie concerns a bloodsucking lesbian vmapire played by Ingrid Pitt who appears in various stages of undress throughout this movie which got my Teenage Hormones racing and even today I still get a thrill watching this movie.It is only with he passage of time that people have discovred just how good the Horror movies coming from Hammer Studios really were . I am glad that they are finally getting the credit that they so deserve.

This is one of my favorite all-time vampire flicks! No one does better vampire movies than Hammer films used to. Hammer films were very gothic and had a little blood, but not all-out gore delights. Ingrid Pitt was one of Hammer's best known actresses and she makes Carmilla come to life! Also, the legendary Peter Cushing is in the flick also. A fine performance as always. This was the first of a three part trilogy from Hammer Films. The next two were LUST FOR A VAMPIRE (which is being released by Anchor Bay video later this year) and TWINS OF EVIL (I wish someone would please get on the ball and re-release this classic)! I have the video of VAMPIRE LOVERS and hope MGM releases it on DVD soon!