Fearless Vampire Killers (known in some markets as Dance Of The Vampires) is a film full of suspense, great scenery and enthusiastic performers (but beware of edited versions).
It’s also a hilarious horror comedy poised on the knife edge of Hammer nightmare and Carry On farce.
To the heart of Transylvania comes the fearless – but hapless – vampire killer Professor Abronsius (Jack MacGowran) who, together with his assistant and faithful disciple Alfred (Roman Polanski), is hoping to prove beyond doubt that vampires do exist.
Taking a room at a rural inn (run by Alfie Bass), they soon sense the fear of the villagers and discover a mysterious castle in the vicinity – the home of the sinister Count von Krolock (Ferdy Mayne) and his bloodsucking brood.
The movie features one of the few film roles by the beautiful Sharon Tate (director Polanski’s wife-to-be), who was tragically murdered by the Manson ‘family’. Her scene in the bathtub with the old Hassidic vampire is a scream.
The scene in which Count Von Krolock’s son, Herbert (Iain Quarrier), tries to seduce Alfred with his vampire ways is one of the funniest in the film. Herbert ends up chasing Alfred like a spurned lover all through the castle in one of the film’s more uproarious scenes.
From the Jewish jokes – such as when the vampirised innkeeper reacts to a character brandishing a cross by saying, “Oy, have you got the wrong vampire!” – to the beautiful music score by Krzysztof Komeda (who would later score Rosemary’s Baby) to the magnificent ballroom scene inspired by Hammer’s The Kiss of the Vampire, The Fearless Vampire Killers is a fever dream of Gothic sensuality, florid and nightmarish imagery, and it contains perhaps the most perfectly realised dark humor in any comedy-horror film.
Professor Abronsius
Jack MacGowran Alfred
Roman Polanski Yoine Shagal, Innkeeper
Alfie Bass Mrs Shagal
Jessie Robins Sarah Shagal
Sharon Tate Count von Krolock
Ferdy Mayne Herbert von Krolock
Iain Quarrier Koukol
Terry Downes Maid
Fiona Lewis Idiot
Ronald Lacey Driver
Sydney Bromley Woodcutters
Andreas Malandrinos
Otto Di Amant
Matthew Walters
Director
Roman Polanski
Video
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Taking a room at a rural inn (run by Alfie Bass), they soon sense the fear of the villagers and discover a mysterious castle in the vicinity – the home of the sinister Count von Krolock (Ferdy Mayne) and his bloodsucking brood.
