Dance of the Vampires (1967)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Roman Polanski

Writers:

Gérard Brach (story) &
Roman Polanski (story)

Release Date:

June 1967 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy | Horror

Tagline:

Who says Vampires are no laughing matter?

Plot:

A noted professor and his dim-witted apprentice fall prey to their inquiring vampires, while on the trail of the ominous damsel in distress.

Plot Keywords:

Professor | Vampire | Castle | Bat | Ball

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Jack MacGowran	...	Professor Abronsius
Roman Polanski	...	Alfred, Abronsius' Assistant
Alfie Bass	...	Shagal, the Inn-Keeper
Jessie Robins	...	Rebecca Shagal
Sharon Tate	...	Sarah Shagal
Ferdy Mayne	...	Count von Krolock
Iain Quarrier	...	Herbert von Krolock
Terry Downes	...	Koukol, the Servant
Fiona Lewis	...	Magda, the Maid
Ronald Lacey	...	Village Idiot
Sydney Bromley	...	Sleigh Driver
Andreas Malandrinos	...	Woodcutter
Otto Diamant	...	Woodcutter
Matthew Walters	...	Woodcutter
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Roy Evans	...	Vampire at ball (uncredited)

Directed by
Roman Polanski

Writing credits
Gérard Brach		(story and screenplay) &
Roman Polanski		(story and screenplay)

Produced by
Gene Gutowski	....	producer
Martin Ransohoff	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Krzysztof Komeda		(as Christopher Komeda)

Cinematography by
Douglas Slocombe

Film Editing by
Alastair McIntyre

Production Design by
Wilfred Shingleton		(as Wilfrid Shingleton)

Art Direction by
Fred Carter

Costume Design by
Sophie Devine

Makeup Department
Biddy Chrystal	....	hair stylist
Tom Smith	....	makeup artist

Production Management
David W. Orton	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Roy Stevens	....	assistant director

Art Department
Clément Hurel	....	poster artist (uncredited)

Sound Department
Lionel Selwyn	....	sound editor
Len Shilton	....	dubbing mixer
George Stephenson	....	sound recordist

Visual Effects by
Doug Ferris	....	matte supervisor (uncredited)
Peter Melrose	....	matte artist (uncredited)

Stunts
Hans Mollinger	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Chic Waterson	....	camera operator
Dennis Fraser	....	grip (uncredited)

Other crew
André François	....	title designer
Tutte Lemkow	....	choreographer
Gillian Sutro	....	translator
John Sutro	....	translator
Dr. Ludwig Von Krankheit	....	fangs
Helen Whitson	....	continuity

Production Companies

• Cadre Films
• Filmways Pictures

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1967) (UK) (theatrical)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1967) (USA) (theatrical)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1968) (France) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1972) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Filmipaja (1968) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Neue Visionen Filmverleih (????) (West Germany) (theatrical) (re-release)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1967) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Cinemagia (Brazil) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (199?) (USA) (VHS) (pan/scan)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (USA) (laserdisc)
• MGM/UA Home Video (1986) (UK) (VHS) (pan/scan)
• Warner Home Video (2000) (Germany) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (1995) (UK) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2004) (USA) (DVD)

Also Known As:

The Fearless Vampire Killers (USA)
The Fearless Vampire Killers or: Pardon Me, But Your Teeth Are in My Neck (USA) (DVD box title)
The Vampire Killers (USA) (working title)
Vampire Ball (Europe) (working title)

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

USA | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Netherlands:12 | Canada:G (Quebec) | Brazil:Livre | Germany:12 (DVD rating) | West Germany:16 (nf) (original rating) | Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Norway:16 (1968) | Singapore:PG | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | UK:12 | USA:Unrated | West Germany:12 (w) (f) (re-rating) | UK:A (original rating) | UK:15 (video rating)

Filming Locations:

Cortina d'Ampezzo, Belluno, Veneto, Italy

Company:

Cadre Films

Trivia:

The film's original release in the United States was so severely re-edited against Polanski's wishes that he disowned it entirely.

Goofs:

Continuity: Abronsius and Alfred attempt to enter Count Von Krolock's crypt through an entrance on the ground floor, the crypt itself being located in the cellar. However, when apprehended by Koukol the Hunchback, they decide to go for a window entrance instead. To do this they scale the castle wall and enter a top floor window, with the crypt itself magically relocated to the top floor.

Quotes:

Count Von Krolock: I am a night bird. I am not much good in the daytime.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in A cena col vampiro (1988) (TV)

Dim Alfred, the vampire killer's apprentice has to learn fast if he's going to save the beautiful daughter of the Innkeeper.

Brilliant movie - beautifully shot and with Polanski's eye for detail. Very funny/quirky and atmospheric. I loaned it to a work colleague who thought Polanski only made horror films like 'Rosemary's Baby', she was amazed when confronted with this one. She thought it was great. Everyone is always very impressed with the ballroom scene with all the mirrors and the vampires dancing. The colours are fabulous and the outside scenes remind one of s Christmas card. If it's ever on t.v. it's always on around midnight or after, so I had to buy the DVD. Definitely one to watch late at night when you're alone!! It took me years to find it on DVD. I think the one I eventually bought was an import.