The Fearless Vampire Killers

When I think about R.Polanski the first thing coming to my mind is - "the master of fear and horror", and I knew it that "Fearless vampire Killers" is rare example of comedy by this great director. Yeah, I was worried before seeing this movie, not as much about "geting it", but more so about simple thing - could this movie be entertaining for "21st Century Boy".

First thing that striked me was beautiful music by Komeda. I was in total awe. The music was scary, but at the same time so light and funny - just like for a good fair story. And then the beautiful winter scenery that was so fake - almost cartooning. Few minutes into the movie, and I could say "that's what I call movie poetry".

The story is so simple. The old bat researcher, professor Abronsius and his assistant, Alfred, go to a remote Transylvanian village looking for vampires. They stay in house where no one speaks about vampires, but the garlic is hanging everywhere. Simplistic story is so right for this movie, because acting, scenery, music, cinematography are all in top shape here. For composition I think this is one of the best movie done by Polanski, next to "Tenant" for sure.

And this movie is also a rare occasion to see Polanski in comedic role. He and Brach make unforgettable duo. I was totally entertain when in came to comedy in this movie, but the thing that surprise me the most was the action factor. There is one scene that is great example of that - when Polanski character is looking through keyhole and is so scared of what he see that his face is screaming "terror". It's sure funny, but in a way mad-scary too. And when I think about this movie - this scene sums it up for me.

Its very funny, but little outdated movie. For me one a few really cinematic fairy tales, that keeps magic all the way to the end. Its up there with Repulsion, Tenant, and Tess when in comes to greatest work of this director.

And just think about brilliant ending, so funny, so mad. It's a shame Polanski hasn't made another comedy. Don't get me started with Pirates - the most unfunny movie in history. But "Fearless Vampire Killers " is movie magic - pure and simple.

The movie centers upon an old man (Jack McGowran) and a young (Roman Polanski) who go to track down a vampire count (Ferdy Mayne) who has abducted a countrywoman (Sharon Tate) and he hides her into his castle.

The film mingles terror , tongue-in-cheek , rip-roaring , humor , action and a lot of amusement . The runtime motion picture is overlong about two hours and some but isn't boring , but entertaining . Actors interpretation is good , Jack McGowran (being deceased after his playing in ¨The Exorcist¨) is riveting as double of Einstein and Roman Polanski as shy and botcher young is cool . Sharon Tate (marriage to Polanski in real life until Charles Manson massacre) is beautiful and wonderful . Producer Martin Ransohoff discovered Sharon Tate and insisted that director Roman Polanski use her instead of Jill St. John who withdrew shortly before shooting as Polanski had planned .

Originally Roman Polanski wanted to shoot his film on location in and around a castle in Switzerland which he saw during a vacation , but as this was impossible, other locations in the Alps were found, along with studio shoots in England . While on location, Polanski employed dozens of local artisans to make the large numbers of coffins needed in the film . Polanski direction is first-class , Christopher Komeda music (being dead at 31 years after he composed ¨Rosemary's baby¨ music) is fascinating . Douglas Slocombe cinematography is atmospheric and colorful with a Hammer-alike photography . Flick will appeal to Polanski buffs and horror/humor enthusiasts. Rating 7/10 . Above average , well worth watching .

Dance of the Vampires isn't a very typical offering from Roman Polanski. This is his first colour feature film and up until this point his films were decidedly left-field and arty. This one is a considerably more commercial offering. It's effectively a parody of the British Hammer horror films that had been very popular up to this point. So its cultural references were fairly mainstream in the 60's. Set in the 19th century, it's about a professor and his assistant who travel to Eastern Europe seeking vampires. Before long they find themselves at the castle of the mysterious Count von Krolock.

The problem I have with this film is fairly straightforward – I don't find it very funny. The humour is very broad and present throughout. It ranges from the clever (a Jewish vampire who is unafraid of a crucifix) to the low-brow (lots of slapstick). It's occasionally amusing but rarely properly funny. So this is a bit of a problem in a film that is first and foremost a comedy. On the plus side it does look pretty, with nice snowbound landscapes and a Gothic castle to look at. The vampire's ball is also very good. But, for me, the single best aspect of Dance of the Vampires is easily Sharon Tate. She is achingly beautiful and provides a very welcome sensuality to proceedings. Her horrible murder two years later at the hands of the Manson Family clearly robbed the film world of someone quite considerable.

"The Fearless Vampire Killers" (aka "Dance of the Vampires") is a silly but enjoyable parody of vampire films, especially the contemporaneous Hammer series, with which it shares visual style. Director Polanski co-stars as Alfred, the bumbling assistant to dotty vampire-hunter Professor Abronsius (Jack MacGowran), as they infiltrate the decaying castle of dreaded Count von Krolock to rescue a beautiful village girl (played by Sharon Tate) with whom Alfred has become smitten (fiction presaging fact, as Tate later married Polanski). The comedy is generally broad and physical (including some sped up sequences), humorously contrasting with Polanski's and MacGowran's dead-pan delivery of a script that could be straight out of a 'real' horror film. The direction and cinematography is top-notch, especially the classic ball-room scene (itself parodied in 2014's "What We Do in the Shadows" mockumentary). I recently rewatched "The Fearless Vampire Killers" on TCM and, having seen the film as a kid, was surprised when it did not open with a cartoon. The reason for this is discussed elsewhere (e.g. Wikipedia; you can see the incredibly dated animated opening on You-tube). All in all, a goofy but fun film from a talented director that relentlessly spoofs a sometimes pretentious horror genre.

This film by Roman Polanski is a comedy, but it is not a broad comedy, like Mel Brooks' "Young Frankenstein". The characters don't speak in funny voices or camp it up. The action is played fairly straight and the comedy arises from its physical elements and the antics of the two main characters: Professor Abronsius (Jack MacGowran) and his assistant Alfred (Roman Polanski).

Abronsius is an expert on vampires, though he is roundly derided by his colleagues for his theories. He and Alfred arrive at a Transylvania inn, hoping to locate the castle of Count von Krolock (Ferdy Mayne). The locals try to hide the truth from the duo, but the Count reveals his presence and the two are taken to his sanctum.

Watch for Sharon Tate as Sarah Shagal.

It is Polanski, himself, who proves to be the best part of this film, playing an innocent, fearful assistant who falls for the comely Sarah.

The production values are very high. And they more than compensate for the sections of the film that move rather slowly. Polanski's skills as a director are undeniable. He would follow this film with "Rosemary's Baby".