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BITE ME: Vampires on Film
I have no problem admitting that I love vampires. There has always been something alluring and just a little sexy about the idea of a nister, ever-youthful blood drinker stalking the shadows. The stories and legends of the vampire in its various and sundry forms have haunted our dreams and nightmares for literal millennia; it seems that nearly every civilization has had some form of this creature embedded in their myth and lore. So of course, once the advent of film was upon us, vampires were quick to take center stage. From the earliest shadowy motion pictures to today’s modern gorefests, vampires have been an enduring part of cinema. What I’d like to do here is take a look at some of the standout examples of vampires on film, to try and get a better understanding of what it is about them that seems to draw us all in.
Given a film history lasting over a century, this will be broken into a series several articles, dependent on interest:
1. Vampires on Film 1900-1950’s
2. Vampires on Film of the 60’s and 70’s
3. Vampires on Film of the 1980’s & 1990’s
4. Vampires on Film in the New Millenium
5. Vampires Everywhere: TV, Video Games & Other Media
So without much further ado... here goes!
LOST FILM: Vampire of the Coast (1909) Often noted as the first vampire film ever made, Vampire of the Coast is, sadly, one of many films lost to the ages. Though some brief summaries exist, it is unknown as to exactly what the film was about. Given the era, it would have been a lent film.
The Vampire (1913)
A rare gem, this film is still said to be in existence, though I have had trouble locating a copy. What makes it seem especially interesting is that as one of the earliest known vampire films, the creature in question is female, played by Alice Hollister who, in a interesting twist of fate, had just a year previously played Mary Magdalene in a religious themed lent film. With a female vampire as a lead and apparently featuring a ‘vampire dance’, it could stand to reason that this film is one of the first (if not THE first) to portray vampirism in a sensual, sexual manner. However, once again, it is unclear as to whether this is a true vampire film, or just a titular metaphor. If anyone has a line on where this film can be found, I’d really love to see it.
Nosferatu (1922)
http://images.greencine.com/images/article/vampires-lugo.jpg)
“Children of the night... what muc they make.”
The 1931 screen adaptation of Bram Stoker’s novel set the standard for what most imagine a vampire - Count Dracula himself in particular - to be. Go to any store around Halloween and grab a prepackaged vampire costume off the shelf; nine times out of ten, it will feature the long dark cape, dapper white shirt and jacket that Bela Lugo made famous in this film. Lugo created an icon; his Dracula is more copied than any other. This film also marks the inexplicable rearranging of Stoker’s novel. In this, and in many films to follow, the character of Mina is rewritten as the daughter of Dr. Seward. There seems little reason for such a change, but further changes in the storyline seem to bring the reasoning more to light. While in the novel, Mina not only serves as secretary to the group of men gathered to hunt and kill the Count but also develops a psychic link to the vampire that allows them to track him, this veron of Mina - the first in what would become a long line - is instead rather helpless and completely underneath the evil Count’s thrall. The implications are startling: women in film, it would seem, are not made to fight monsters.
The film would go on to spawn several films commonly accepted as sequels, including Dracula’s Daughter in 1936 and Son of Dracula in 1943, though the role of Dracula himself is played occaonally by John Carradine rather than Lego.
Mark of the Vampire (1935)
Bela Lugo once again takes up his cape and portrays a vampire in this remake of a lost 1927 lent film, London After Midnight. Lugo stars as Count Mora who, with his daughter Luna, is a suspected vampire, sought in the death of a local nobleman. In contrast to many of Lugo’s horror films, the supernatural aspect here is played down in favorite of a mystery/intrigue feel. Rumors perst, more than 80 years nce the film’s release, that much of the film had to be cut out due to incestuous overtones between the Count and his daughter.
El Vampiro
(1957)
This Spanish-language film is most notable for the long-lasting effect it has upon vampire portrayal in later films. Where Nosferatu’s Orlok bore pointed incisors and Lugo’s Dracula never showed any pointed teeth at all, El Vampiro’s Count Lavud is the first to appear on screen with long, pointed canine fangs. Apart from that, the film is another retelling of the same bac tale, this time with the evil Count arriving in a small Mexican town.
Dracula (1958)
Christopher Lee takes up the black cape in this Hammer produced adaptation of the Stoker novel, sometimes titled as Horror of Dracula. Again, the original novel is cut to bits and rearranged for the film, this time leading to Jonathan Harker being turned and staked early on in the film and the rest of the plot centering around Arthur Holmwood and his wife Mina. Christopher Lee would go on to make several more Dracula films and, like Lugo before him, is often viewed as iconic in the role.
Up through the 1950’s, many of these films were retooled verons of the Dracula story, or newly written sequels to the same. Though there were some new stories - such as 1959’s Curse of the Undead, which brings vampires to the American Old West - most followed the bac formula that had been plotted out by Stoker. With strict laws regarding obscenity on the screen, the gore and intense sexuality often found in more modern vampire films had not yet reached the public. In my next article, I’ll look at the changes brought to the genre with the advent of the somewhat less strict 1960’s and the explotation films of the 1970’s. Till then, keep your crucifix handy and your water good and holy; night is falling and there's something lurking in the shadows...
What early vampire films are YOUR favorites?
Given a film history lasting over a century, this will be broken into a series several articles, dependent on interest:
1. Vampires on Film 1900-1950’s
2. Vampires on Film of the 60’s and 70’s
3. Vampires on Film of the 1980’s & 1990’s
4. Vampires on Film in the New Millenium
5. Vampires Everywhere: TV, Video Games & Other Media
So without much further ado... here goes!
LOST FILM: Vampire of the Coast (1909) Often noted as the first vampire film ever made, Vampire of the Coast is, sadly, one of many films lost to the ages. Though some brief summaries exist, it is unknown as to exactly what the film was about. Given the era, it would have been a lent film.
The Vampire (1913)
A rare gem, this film is still said to be in existence, though I have had trouble locating a copy. What makes it seem especially interesting is that as one of the earliest known vampire films, the creature in question is female, played by Alice Hollister who, in a interesting twist of fate, had just a year previously played Mary Magdalene in a religious themed lent film. With a female vampire as a lead and apparently featuring a ‘vampire dance’, it could stand to reason that this film is one of the first (if not THE first) to portray vampirism in a sensual, sexual manner. However, once again, it is unclear as to whether this is a true vampire film, or just a titular metaphor. If anyone has a line on where this film can be found, I’d really love to see it.Nosferatu (1922)
“Children of the night... what muc they make.”
The 1931 screen adaptation of Bram Stoker’s novel set the standard for what most imagine a vampire - Count Dracula himself in particular - to be. Go to any store around Halloween and grab a prepackaged vampire costume off the shelf; nine times out of ten, it will feature the long dark cape, dapper white shirt and jacket that Bela Lugo made famous in this film. Lugo created an icon; his Dracula is more copied than any other. This film also marks the inexplicable rearranging of Stoker’s novel. In this, and in many films to follow, the character of Mina is rewritten as the daughter of Dr. Seward. There seems little reason for such a change, but further changes in the storyline seem to bring the reasoning more to light. While in the novel, Mina not only serves as secretary to the group of men gathered to hunt and kill the Count but also develops a psychic link to the vampire that allows them to track him, this veron of Mina - the first in what would become a long line - is instead rather helpless and completely underneath the evil Count’s thrall. The implications are startling: women in film, it would seem, are not made to fight monsters.
The film would go on to spawn several films commonly accepted as sequels, including Dracula’s Daughter in 1936 and Son of Dracula in 1943, though the role of Dracula himself is played occaonally by John Carradine rather than Lego.Mark of the Vampire (1935)
Bela Lugo once again takes up his cape and portrays a vampire in this remake of a lost 1927 lent film, London After Midnight. Lugo stars as Count Mora who, with his daughter Luna, is a suspected vampire, sought in the death of a local nobleman. In contrast to many of Lugo’s horror films, the supernatural aspect here is played down in favorite of a mystery/intrigue feel. Rumors perst, more than 80 years nce the film’s release, that much of the film had to be cut out due to incestuous overtones between the Count and his daughter.El Vampiro
(1957)
This Spanish-language film is most notable for the long-lasting effect it has upon vampire portrayal in later films. Where Nosferatu’s Orlok bore pointed incisors and Lugo’s Dracula never showed any pointed teeth at all, El Vampiro’s Count Lavud is the first to appear on screen with long, pointed canine fangs. Apart from that, the film is another retelling of the same bac tale, this time with the evil Count arriving in a small Mexican town.Dracula (1958)
Christopher Lee takes up the black cape in this Hammer produced adaptation of the Stoker novel, sometimes titled as Horror of Dracula. Again, the original novel is cut to bits and rearranged for the film, this time leading to Jonathan Harker being turned and staked early on in the film and the rest of the plot centering around Arthur Holmwood and his wife Mina. Christopher Lee would go on to make several more Dracula films and, like Lugo before him, is often viewed as iconic in the role.Up through the 1950’s, many of these films were retooled verons of the Dracula story, or newly written sequels to the same. Though there were some new stories - such as 1959’s Curse of the Undead, which brings vampires to the American Old West - most followed the bac formula that had been plotted out by Stoker. With strict laws regarding obscenity on the screen, the gore and intense sexuality often found in more modern vampire films had not yet reached the public. In my next article, I’ll look at the changes brought to the genre with the advent of the somewhat less strict 1960’s and the explotation films of the 1970’s. Till then, keep your crucifix handy and your water good and holy; night is falling and there's something lurking in the shadows...
What early vampire films are YOUR favorites?
dew
Wednesday 8/10/2011 at 12:09 AM | 80343
GREAT Article Dew!! Really, really good stuff!!
Nosferatu has always creeped me the fuck out. Say what you will but this is THE BEST vampire flick ever!!!
Nosferatu has always creeped me the fuck out. Say what you will but this is THE BEST vampire flick ever!!!
Anonymous
Wednesday 8/10/2011 at 02:23 AM | 80352
Fantastic article!!!! Two major thumbs up and I hope to read more from you in the future!
Shakelford, J. Rusty
Wednesday 8/10/2011 at 03:15 AM | 80361
I have been wanting to watch Nosferatu ever nce I saw a reference in Spongebob (sad but I do want to see it). And obviously Dracula.
Ryze
Wednesday 8/10/2011 at 04:31 AM | 80368
The only Vampire films I liked was the first Blade movie, and From Dusk till Dawn..
So I guess those were my favorite!
Every other vampire film I've ever seen was sort of... Well, really gay...
Every other vampire film I've ever seen was sort of... Well, really gay...
ubersteigen
Wednesday 8/10/2011 at 08:06 AM | 80373
Great article! I can't wait to read the other parts!
Michael Aspinwall
Wednesday 8/17/2011 at 06:15 PM | 80904
Awesome!
KB24
Thursday 8/18/2011 at 11:15 PM | 81056
