Les lèvres rouges (1971)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

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:

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 (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) (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: It is since long that I have crossed the river Ocean!

Movie Connections:

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

Soundtrack:

Daughters of Darkness

Mesmerizing Lesbian Vampire Classic

Lesbian Vampire films had their heyday in the early 70s, and Belgian cult director Harry Kümmel's "Les Lèvres Rouges" aka. "Daughters Of Darkness" of 1971 is the most artistically made, mesmerizing and atmospheric film this particular sub-genre has put forth. The film maintains an exceptionally eerie and surreal atmosphere throughout its 100 minutes, the score is one of the most beautiful and ingenious horror film soundtracks I've ever heard, and Delphine Seyring is wonderfully eerie and seductive at the same time in the role of Countess Bathory. The film, of course, has nothing to do with the real Elisabeth Bathory, who terrorized medieval Hungary by murdering countless innocent girls. The real, terrible story of this sadistic countess, who is often referred to as the "Bloody Lady", however, is an immensely popular topic in Horror literature and film, and the Erzsébet Bathory story also provided a basis (as well as a villain) for this particular film.

Newlyweds Stefan (John Karlen) and Valerie (Danielle Ouimet) are staying at a Belgian hotel in the middle of nowhere, when two more guests arrive - A mysterious and tempting countess (Delphine Seyring) who is accompanied by a pretty young girl (Andrea Rau)...

"Les Lèvres Rouges" is a film as beautiful as it is eerie, mysterious and surreal. The greatest performance is delivered by Delphine Seyring, who is brilliant as the countess. Sexy Danielle Ourimet and Andrea Rau deliver enough female eye-candy to make this a classic of the erotic Horror film. I couldn't say I liked John Karlen's performance particularly, but he sure isn't bad either. Great supporting performances are delivered by Paul Esser as a hotel clerk and Georges Jamin as a retired police officer. The greatest quality of the movie, however is the mesmerizing atmosphere which is even fortified by the beautiful and hypnotic score.

All said, "Les Lèvres Rouges" is an excellent, immensely eerie, beautiful and atmospheric Horror film, and THE classic of the Lesbian Vampire sub-genre that Horror lovers can not afford to miss! 9/10