Lèvres rouges, Les (1971)

Director:

Harry Kümel

Writers:

Pierre Drouot (writer)
Jean Ferry (writer)
(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:

Male Nudity | Impalement | Female Nudity | Surreal | Lesbian Scene

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 (in alphabetical order)
Pierre Drouot		writer
Jean Ferry		writer
Manfred R. Köhler		writer
Harry Kümel		writer

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
Hans Zeiler

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) (Canada) (dubbed)
• Continental Video (1985) (USA) (VHS)
• Gémini Films (USA) (dubbed)
• Maron Films (USA) (dubbed)

Also Known As:

Blood on the Lips
Blut an den Lippen
Children of the Night (video title)
Daughters of Darkness (USA)
Erzebeth
Rouge aux Lèvres, Le (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:

Iceland:16 | West Germany:18 | Canada:18 (Nova Scotia) (2003) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) (re-rating) (2005) | Australia:MA | Canada:18+ (Quebec) (original rating) | 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: It is since long that I have crossed the river Ocean!

Movie Connections:

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

Soundtrack:

Daughters of Darkness

A Landmark in Vampire Erotica

While I appreciate vampires as a staple of the horror genre, I have never been a big fan of vampire films. And while I will be the first to laud the merits of Bela Lugosi and Christopher Lee's contributions to the cape, they look rather timid next to Countess Elizabeth Bathory (the luminous and sensual Delphine Seyrig) in "Daughters of Darkness." While Harry Kumel's film is one of the most aesthetically beautiful vampire pictures ever lensed, dripping with subtle sexual tension, it also presses forth with a feminist/lesbian subtext that's as alluring as it is clever. The plot is relatively straightforward, and the film takes its time in establishing mood and atmosphere--Valerie (Danielle Ouiment) and Stefan (John Karlen) are newlyweds who are on the rocks only 3 hours into the marriage, and things are complicated further when Countess Bathory and her assistant, Ilona (Andrea Rau) check into the same deserted seaside hotel. While the atmosphere could be compared to the Universal and Hammer horrors, Kumel's artistry--with well-framed images, emphasis on wardrobe, and a very deliberate color scheme--exists in its own unique league. The topic of lesbianism--and even heterosexuality--is presented in a minimalist, unexploitative manner, yet maintains a pervasive eroticism throughout. Even the vampiric seduction is presented with a minimum of graphic bloodshed, which is all the more effective. "Daughters of Darkness" is the type of moody, character-driven piece that plays like a sensual sister to George Romero's similarly unique "Martin." As my comment title implies, this is an excellent film, required viewing for fans of horror and great art alike.