Leofwine_draca Excellent production values highlight this slow-moving Gothic horror yarn from Hammer in which all of the action is confined to the beginning and end of the movie. The middle part consists of lots of atmosphere building sequences which can feel laboured and do drag a little life from the film. It's the slow-paced nature of the tale which stops it from being a total Hammer classic, although it's still very good. It reminds me of Hammer's Dracula, which is also a slow moving tale as both films dwell on victims gradually falling weaker as they're preyed on by the vampire menace.On the plus side, the film contains lots of the same ethereal atmosphere (with scenes of nightdress-clad beauties wandering through mist-enshrouded countryside at night) as the films of French auteur Jean Rollin, and is very suspenseful and thrilling when it needs to be. It's just a shame that so much time is taken up with non-action as most of the leading men leave the film for the middle duration and the resulting women seduce and are victimised by each other. What we're left with are numerous scenes of Ingrid Pitt and Madeline Smith being naked which do get a little repetitive despite the premise.The film benefits from an extremely strong cast of British character actors. George Cole (taking a break from his usual comedy genre) stars as Roger Morton, whose beautiful daughter Emma (played by Madeline Smith, a regular young British beauty from the period) is seduced and preyed upon by the voluptuous Carmilla. Ingrid Pitt takes the lead in her first Hammer Horror appearance and makes for an unforgettably sexy vampiress, although she's romantic rather than scary. Kate O'Mara has a supporting role as a French governess although her role is limited and extraneous.Genre fans will be pleased to hear that Peter Cushing also has a small role in the film, and it is he who gets to confront Ingrid Pitt in explicitly gory scenes at the end of the film which make up for the non-action preceding those scenes. Despite playing a much different character, you can't help but see a flash of Van Helsing as Cushing does his duty. Cushing's authoritative performance is a highlight of the film. Supporting actors include Ferdy Mayne as the unfortunate family doctor, Douglas Wilmer as Baron von Hartog, an expert vampire killer who beheads his own sister in a gruesome opening scene, Dawn Addams as the briefly-seen Countess (her character unexplained and mysterious) and a very young-looking Jon Finch as the handsome young male lead. The familiar faces of Pippa Steele (who, despite dying, returns in the sequel) and John Forbes-Robertson (as the sinister "Man in Black" he is no less laughable here than his camped-up turn as Dracula in LEGEND OF THE 7 GOLDEN VAMPIRES) appear in minor roles, while Harvey Hall puts in an excellent turn as the loyal manservant Renton.The film's strength is in playing it all totally seriously, even the so-called "erotic sequences", with none of the tacky cheesiness which overwhelmed the sequel, LUST FOR A VAMPIRE. The film concentrates on the sex rather than the horror aspects with plenty of lesbian tension and Pitt wandering around in a low-cut dress for the entire course of the film. The violence, on the other hand, is limited to a couple of decapitations and some splashes of blood - admittedly colourful. The music is lyrical yet understated, the costumes immaculate and the ladies quite simply gorgeous. THE VAMPIRE LOVERS is a watchable Hammer film which is a must-see for fans, yet by not including any of the trademark excitement or style that another director would have brought to the movie it just misses 'total classic' status. I'm surprised to admit it, but Roy Ward Baker's journeyman direction is merely perfunctory.

Prichards12345 I haven't read the original story from the pen of J. Sheridan Le Fanu, but I believe this is a pretty faithful adaption of his 1872 vampire tale. Made by Hammer Films in 1970, there are two things to be considered when addressing this movie.Firstly, Hammer's resident genius in chief Anthony Hinds retired several months before the film went into production, and they decided to allow outside producers into the stable. Michael Style and Harry Fine had formed a company called Fantale, and it was they who proposed adapting Carmilla to Hammer.And on 1st January 1970, The British Board of Film Censors bowed to common sense and changed the certification system for movies. In came the "AA" certificate which allowed people in if they were 14 years of age or older and the "X" viewing age was changed from 16 to 18 years and over, allowing for more graphic content to be seen.And so Hammer got boobs! The film itself is a pretty good movie, though it has some limitations. Telling the story of Mircalla Karnestein, a beautiful vampire who mingles in Austrian society, we get plenty of mild sexy stuff as Ingrid Pitt cavorts topless with some English Totty! The nudity is always pretty tasteful, and Hammer (who produced the film with AIP) were merely dipping a toe into the new permissive society.After about 25 minutes it gets bogged down for a while, playing like an expanded version of Lucy Westernra's seduction by the Count in Dracula. This goes on too long, as it's the sort of film where the audience is way ahead of the characters as to what is actually going on. However things pick up considerably after the hour mark, and the final third of the film is engaging and highly watchable.The cast? Well, Peter Cushing appears, though not in a major role, and it's Ingrid Pitt who has to carry most of the film. She's a bit old for the part, and occasionally over the top. But her rather sad-eyed vampire is quite affecting. And with Jon Finch, Ferdy Maine and Arthur Daley himself George Cole on hand it's always decently acted. Okay there are some shots of tennis courts on show at the beginning of the film, but it doesn't look as cheap as say Scars of Dracula, and is effectively shot by director Roy Ward Baker.The Vampire Lovers is the first part of a loose trilogy Hammer made on the Karnsteins: it was followed by the hopeless Lust For A Vampire and the extremely good Twins Of Evil. And they both have boobs in 'em too!

Claudio Carvalho In Styria, Austria, General von Spielsdorf (Peter Cushing) gives a party and a countess explains to him that she needs to travel immediately to visit a relative that is ill. She leaves her daughter Marcilla (Ingrid Pitt) under the care of the General. Marcilla befriends his daughter Laura (Pippa Steele) and then the teenager has nightmares, where she is attacked by a dreadful creature. The doctor finds that Laura is anemic and soon she dies.Marcilla leaves the house and the countess fakes a carriage accident to leave Marcilla, now known as Carmilla, with the wealthy Mr. Roger Morton (George Cole). Camilla befriends Emma Morton (Madeline Smith) and soon she starts having nightmares. Her governess Madame Perrodot (Kate O'Mara) is seduced by Carmilla and helps her to be close to Emma. Mr. Morton travels and the butler Renton (Harvey Hall) and the doctor suspect that Madame Perrodot might be a vampire but they do not suspect of Carmilla. Will Emma be saved from Carmilla?"The Vampire Lovers" is a bold and sexy vampire movie by Hammer with the right dose of eroticism. In 1970, lesbianism was not a usual theme and a lesbian vampire was a novelty. This is the first time that I see a vampire associated to a shroud. The plot explores the sensuality of Ingrid Pitt and her female victims but is never sexploitation. My vote is seven.Title (Brazil): "Carmilla, A Vampira de Karnstein" ("Carmilla, The Karnstein's Vampire")Note: Last time I had seen this movie was on 07 December 2002.

Uriah43 "General von Spielsdorf" is hosting a party when an attractive "Countess" (played by Dawn Addams) shows up and happens to bring another attractive woman named, "Marcilla" (Ingrid Pitt) with her. Not long afterward the Countess receives news that a relative is dying and she asks the General if he can accommodate Marcilla until she returns about a week or two later. Being chivalrous he agrees to the delight of his young niece "Laura" (Pippa Steele). In no time Marcilla and Laura become good friends. Unfortunately, during this same time Laura becomes extremely tired and anemic. She also experiences nightmares of a large gray cat attacking her in her bed. Within a week or so Laura is dead and Marcilla cannot be found. When the doctor examines her he notices two bite marks on her breast. A day or two later a gentleman named "Roger Morton" is riding his horse with his daughter, "Emma" (Madeline Smith) when they come across a coach with two women inside. The first woman explains that her companion is sick and asks Roger if perhaps she can stay a night or two with them. Roger agrees to take in "Carmilla" who happens to be "Marcilla". Soon Emma and Carmilla become good friends. Likewise, Emma begins to have nightmares and becomes both tired and anemic. Anyway, rather than detail the entire movie I will just say that this was a pretty good vampire film. It does, however, deviate a bit from the standard vampire traditions. For example, in this film vampires don't like the sun but apparently they are able to function during the day. Likwise, they are apparently able to disappear in a vapor and have a new vulnerability in which they need to retain their death shrouds. Quite frankly, I didn't care for these nuances. Additionally, it features a ghoulish person on a horse but never quite explains his purpose or significance. On the plus side is the fact that there are several lovely women (most notably Ingrid Pitt) and they are used in a highly erotic fashion. Along with that there is good suspense and the acting was also pretty good all around. All things considered then, I rate this movie as slightly above average.