Les lèvres rouges (1971)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Harry Kümel

Writers:

Pierre Drouot (scenario) &
Harry Kümel (scenario) ...
(more)

Release Date:

3 December 1971 (West Germany)

Genre:

Horror

Tagline:

An erotic nightmare of vampire lust [DVD]

Plot:

A newlywed couple are passing through a vacation resort. Their paths cross with a mysterious, strikingly beautiful countess and her aide.

Plot Keywords:

Newlywed | Sexual Violence | Male Frontal Nudity | Seduction | Zither

Cast

John Karlen	...	Stefan
Delphine Seyrig	...	Countess Bathory
Danielle Ouimet	...	Valerie
Andrea Rau	...	Ilona Harczy
Paul Esser	...	Hotel clerk
Georges Jamin	...	The Man
Joris Collet	...	Butler
Fons Rademakers	...	Mother

Directed by
Harry Kümel

Writing credits
Pierre Drouot		(scenario) &
Harry Kümel		(scenario)
Jean Ferry		(dialogue)
Manfred R. Köhler		(writer) uncredited

Produced by
Paul Collet	....	producer
Pierre Drouot	....	associate producer
Alain C. Guilleaume	....	associate producer
Henry Lange	....	producer
Luggi Waldleitner	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
François de Roubaix

Cinematography by
Eduard van der Enden

Film Editing by
Denis Bonan
Denise Bonan
August Verschueren		(as Gust Verschueren)
Hans Zeiler		(uncredited)

Art Direction by
Françoise Hardy

Costume Design by
Bernard Perris

Makeup Department
Pascale Kellen	....	makeup artist
Ulli Ullrich	....	key makeup artist

Production Management
Jean-Marie Bertrand	....	production manager
Paul Collet	....	unit production manager
Will Dellaert	....	assistant unit production manager (as Willy Dellaert)
Erwin Gitt	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Paul Arias	....	first assistant director
Jean-Marc Turine	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Henri Roesems	....	property master (as Henry Roesems)

Sound Department
Jacques Eippers	....	sound
Jack Jullian	....	sound mixer
Hans-Walter Kramski	....	foley artist (as Hans W. Krasmki)
Henri Morelle	....	boom operator

Special Effects by
Eugene Hendrickx	....	special effects

Stunts
Thierry Hallard	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Peter Anger	....	first assistant camera
Claude Decubber	....	electrician
Jacques Fondaire	....	second assistant camera
Virginia Leirens	....	still photographer
Bob Lessenne	....	grip
Jan Van Gastel	....	still photographer

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Marie-Paule Petignot	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Daniel Devalk	....	assistant editor
Edith Schuman	....	assistant editor (as Edith Shumann)

Other crew
Michèle Mehary	....	production secretary
Magda Reypens	....	script supervisor

Production Companies

• Showking Films
• Maya Films
• Ciné Vog Films
• Roxy Film

Distributors

• AIR Video (1987) (USA) (video)
• Ariel Video (1987) (USA) (VHS)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (1997) (USA) (VHS)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• Blue Underground (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2005) (Australia) (DVD)
• Blue Underground (2006) (USA) (DVD) (re-release)
• Cinépix Film Properties (CFP) (1971) (Canada) (theatrical) (English-track)
• Maron Films (1971) (USA) (theatrical) (English-track)
• Continental Video (1985) (USA) (VHS)

Also Known As:

Blood on the Lips
Blut an den Lippen
Children of the Night (video title)
Daughters of Darkness (USA)
Erzebeth
Le rouge aux Lèvres (Belgium: French title)
The Promise of Red Lips
The Red Lips
The Redness of the Lips

Runtime:

USA:100 min (uncut version) | USA:87 min

Country:

Belgium | France | West Germany

Language:

Dutch | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:13+ (Quebec) (re-rating) (2005) | Canada:18 (Nova Scotia) (2003) | Canada:18+ (Quebec) (original rating) | Iceland:16 | Australia:MA | West Germany:18 | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Brugge, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium

Company:

Showking Films

Trivia:

The dining room of Palais des Thermes (Ostend) with the coloured glass wall representing the sea with seagulls, where Valerie and Stefan are eating the first evening and where countess Bathory sees them for the first time, still exists but the trinkhall (300 meters from the hotel) with the seduction scene between countess Bathory and Valerie ("little Edelweis") is no longer there. The entrance hall is at Hotel Astoria (with the conversation with Pierre and where countess Bathory is knitting), but the rooms and windows are shot at the Grand Hotel des Thermes. If countess Bathory has been there 40 years ago, this is not probable because the hotel is build only in 1932 and the action takes place in 1970...

Quotes:

Countess Bathory: I feel it in my bones, the night is dying...

Movie Connections:

Featured in Shiver & Shudder Show (2002) (V)

Soundtrack:

Daughters of Darkness

The most beautiful vampire film ever made

Technically not a vampire movie, DAUGHTERS OF DARKNESS is really a blood drinkers' movie. But the acting is superb, the cinematography is so careful and precious, and the whole movie is so beautiful that the deceiving "vampire" theme won't stop you from loving it. Many people believe that Hammer's female vampires are the most beautiful in the business. Delphine Seyrig and her supporting actresses prove those people wrong.

This film reminds me of the equally classic MARY, MARY BLOODY MARY, another movie about vampires that aren't really vampires. The legendary Elisabeth Bathory was not a vampire, she simply drank and bathed in blood to remain eternally young. Vampires drink blood (and don't bath in it) to survive, so the women in this movie aren't vampires.

The sensuality of this film drips off the screen, it so strong and thick. While not full of sex scenes, the erotic overtones of lesbianism and sexual tension between the competing Elisabeth and Stefan feels so real. Even the presence of blood is done so tastefully it seems perversely sexy. No matter how you hate the sight of blood, in this movie, it doesn't turn you off, it turns you on...literally! Highly recommended, do not miss this movie!