(AKA "The Fearless Vampire Killers or: Pardon Me, But Your Teeth Are in My Neck," "Dance of the Vampires,"
"The Vampire Killers" and "Vampire Ball")
Decades before Buffy began Slaying them, this brilliant comedy turned the point of view away from the Vampire and onto someone devoted to doing away with them. But, this time, it was done for comedy. Any time you have a woman trying to fend off a vampire with a cross, but not knowing that this creature of the night is Jewish, and the Vampire says: "Oy vey, have you got the wrong vampire," here we have a gem.
Here's the plot: Professor Abronsius and his bumbling assistant Alfred come to a small remote village in hopes they'll prove their theory that vampires really exist. Alfred falls in love with the inn keeper's daughter, Sarah, who gets kidnapped by the vampire Count von Krolock. Professor and Alfred arrive at the castle and are received by the Count, who doesn't mention the ball next night, where blood drinking and vampire creation are on the bill.
They try the next day to find and kill Krolock, but don't. They lose their weapons and learn about the ball. The ball is the climax of the film, with surprises that last all the way to the end.
Here is the cast:
Jack MacGowran . . . Professor Abronsius
Roman Polanski . . . Alfred
Alfie Bass . . . Shagal, the Inn-Keeper
Jessie Robins . . . Rebecca Shagal
Sharon Tate . . . Sarah Shagal
Ferdy Mayne . . . Count von Krolock
Iain Quarrier . . . Herbert von Krolock
Terry Downes . . . Koukol, the Servant
Fiona Lewis . . . Magda, the Maid
This is a perfect film for people who don't take their vampires too seriously, but can enjoy the genre having a good time with itself.
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