The Kiss of the Vampire (Kiss of Evil) (1963)
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83% of critics liked it
(6 reviews) -
63% of users liked it
(1,120 ratings)
Producer Anthony Hinds used the alias John Elder to pen the screenplay of Kiss of the Vampire. Dr. Ravna (Noel Willman), an early 20th century Bavarian, entices a British honeymooning couple, Gerald and Marianne (Clifford Evans, Jennifer Daniel), to accept his hospitality. Once ensconced in… More Producer Anthony Hinds used the alias John Elder to pen the screenplay of Kiss of the Vampire. Dr. Ravna (Noel Willman), an early 20th century Bavarian, entices a British honeymooning couple, Gerald and Marianne (Clifford Evans, Jennifer Daniel), to accept his hospitality. Once ensconced in Ravna's chateau, the couple discovers with horror that Ravna, Bavaria's biggest fan of Count Dracula, is the leader of an enthusiastic vampire cult. Clifford Evans plays the Van Helsing counterpart, Professor Zimmer, a vampire expert who first tries to warn the couple out of the area and then saves Marianne. Not as horrific as the title suggests, Kiss of the Vampire concentrates on the seductive, sensual side of vampirism, especially in a surrealistic masked-ball sequence. Though it contains far less bloodletting than most Hammer productions, Kiss of the Vampire was severely cut for its American TV release (and retitled Kiss of Evil). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- Don Sharp, Freddie Francis
- Genres
- Drama, Horror, Classics
- In Theaters
- Sep 11, 1963 Wide
Critic Reviews
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Geoff Andrew, Time Out
A beautifully photographed film.
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Ian Berriman, SFX Magazine
A faint tang of the perverse is such an unusual flavour that it distracts you from the complete absence of Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing - and the bought-from-Woolworths plastic bats...
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Staci Layne Wilson, Horror.com
The Kiss of the Vampire is a palm-rubbing good time for fans of gothic vampire stories!
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, Film4
Director Don Sharp's first major feature was one of the studio's more subtle efforts and far more effective for that, with an intelligent script and striking use of colour.
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Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Some will doubtless argue the point, but Don Sharp's The Kiss of the Vampire (1963) may very well be the best of all the Hammer horror films.
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Cast
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Clifford Evans
as Prof. Zimmer
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Noel Willman
as Dr. Ravna
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Edward de Souza
as Gerald Harcourt
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Jennifer Daniel
as Marianne Harcourt
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Barry Warren
as Carl Ravna
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Jacqueline Wallis
as Sabena Ravna
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Isobel Black
as Tania
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Peter Madden
as Bruno
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Vera Cook
as Anna
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Brian Oulton
as 1st Disciple
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Noel Howlett
as Father Xavier
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John Harvey
as Police Sergeant
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Stan Simmons
as Servant
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Olga Dickie
as Woman at Graveyard
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Elizabeth Valentine
as 2nd Girl Disciple