Long before vampirism became a popular subject in literature, TV, and film, Roman Polanski made a satirical tale of the genre, The Fearless Vampire Killers, in which he and his future wife, Sharon Tate, also acted.
Grade: B
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Theatrical release poster
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A pair of bumbling vampire-hunters attempts to destroy an undead nobleman and his cronies and rescue a buxom maiden in playful update of the venerable vampire genre.
But the vampire obsessive Professor Abronsius (Jack MacGowran) barely survives his journey through the Alps into snowy Slovenia to continue his oft-maligned research into the undead.
Thawed out by his hapless assistant, Alfred (Polanski), and the local innkeeper, Shagal (Alfie Bass), Abronsius notices the overabundance of raw garlic as a decorating item in the inn.
Too ineffectual to save Shagal from having his blood sucked, the professor and Alfred miss the boat again when the mysterious Count Von Krolock (Ferdinand Mayne) kidnaps Shagal’s beautiful daughter, Sarah (Sharon Tate).
The vampire hunters must travel through the icy wilderness to Von Krolock’s abode and evade his manservant and his effete son Herbert (Iain Quarrier) before Sarah joins the ranks of the ghouls.
The action climaxes during a costume ball attended by a phalanx of blood-suckers.
The character of Professor Abronsius was re-dubbed to give him a goofy, cartoony voice that would suit the “kooky” tone of the film.
At one point, the title of the movie was Pardon Me, But Your Teeth Are in My Neck.
The Fearless Vampire Killers was Polanski’s first feature photographed in color using a widescreen 2.35:1 aspect ratio. The film is also features Polanski’s love of winter sports, particularly skiing.
The score was by Krzysztof Komeda, who also composed three other films for Polanski, Knife in the Water (1962), Cul-de-sac (1966) and Rosemary’s Baby (1968).
This feature shows some visual flair but it is not one of Polanski’s strongest films. It would be his next movie, Rosemary’s Baby, in 1968, that would estabish him as a major Hollywood-based international director.
End Note
About 16 minutes of unauthorized cuts have been restored in some video editions of The Fearless Vampire Hunters, and the animated credits sequence that replaced them is also retained.
The film marks the feature debut of Sharon Tate, who replaced Polanski’s original choice, Jill St. John, based on the advice of producer Martin Ransohoff.
Cast
Jack MacGowran as Professor Abronsius
Roman Polanski as Alfred, Abronsius’s assistant
Alfie Bass as Yoyneh Shagal, the innkeeper
Jessie Robins as Rebecca Shagal
Sharon Tate as Sarah Shagal
Ferdy Mayne as Count von Krolock
Iain Quarrier as Herbert von Krolock
Terry Downes as Koukol, Krolock’s servant
Fiona Lewis as Magda, Shagal’s maid
Ronald Lacey as village idiot
Sydney Bromley as sleigh driver
Andreas Malandrinos as woodcutter
Credits
Directed by Roman Polanski
Written by Gérard Brach, Polanski
Produced by Gene Gutowski
Cinematography Douglas Slocombe
Edited by Alastair McIntyre
Music by Christopher Komeda
Distributed by MGM
Release dates: Nov 13, 1967 (US); Dec 5, 1968 (UK)
Running time: 108 minutes
DVD: October 5, 2004
