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"The Kiss of the Vampire" is a Hammer Studios film from 1963 that should manage to surprise and impress even the most jaded horror fans. In it, British honeymooning couple Gerald and Marianne Harcourt run out of petrol near "Kronenbourg," Germany in the year 1910 or so (judging from their vintage automobile), and are soon befriended by the area's most prominent citizens: the family of castle-dwelling Dr. Ravna, a debonair host who just happens to head a clan of blood-loving vampires! Interestingly, these vampires differ somewhat from the type we've all come to know and love, in that they have a fondness for ordinary food and wine, and can walk about during daylight hours...as long as it's fairly cloudy outside. Still, they remain averse to garlic and definitely suffer from, uh, crucifixaphobia. But this film offers us much more than just a group of atypical neck noshers. "Kiss" has been beautifully photographed, boasts some truly striking sets (an "ornate coffin," Ravna calls his sumptuous home), and features a literate script and fine acting from its relatively no-name cast. There are also several impressive sequences: Ravna's son, Karl, playing his eerily dreamy piano composition; a flaming-hand cauterization following a vampire's "kiss"; a vampire masquerade ball; and perhaps the best pentagram/conjuration scene ever shown on film...at least, until "The Devil Rides Out" came along in 1968. And, without giving anything away, let me just say that the vampires are undone in this film in a manner I have never seen before. From its deliciously morbid vampire-funeral opening to its (perhaps too) abrupt conclusion, this concise little picture is still another winner from the great House of Hammer.

In the beginning of the Twentieth Century, the just-married couple Gerald Harcourt (Edward de Souza) and Marianne Harcourt (Jennifer Daniel) run out of gas while driving in Germany in a honeymoon trip. They have to stop for the night at a bed and breakfast and they are invited to dinner at the castle of the prominent Dr. Ravna (Noel Willman), where they are introduced to his family. They are invited to go to a party in the castle in the weekend and they accept the invitation. Gerard and Marianne go to the party and Marianne vanishes. Gerard asks for help to the local Professor Zimmer (Clifford Evans) and learns that Dr. Ravna is the leader of a vampire cult that had abducted his wife. What will they do?

"The Kiss of the Vampire" is a different but attractive vampire movie where there is no reference to Dracula. The vampires fear the cross and garlic as usual, but they can walk during the cloudy day and can eat and drink wine. Indeed they are a cult led by the notorious Dr. Ravna. The sets and costumes are very beautiful and the vintage car is a piece of art. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "O Beijo do Vampiro" ("The Kiss of the Vampire)

Don Sharp directed this entertaining vampire tale(not connected with the Dracula series) that sees honeymooning Gerald and Marianne Harcourt(played by Edward De Souza & Jennifer Daniel) develop car trouble on their driving trip in Europe, but are aided by a Count Ravna(played by Noel Willman) who invites them to his castle for a costume party after they check into a local inn. The party takes a dark turn after Gerald is drugged, and told that he has no wife! Confused and outraged, he seeks the help of Professor Zimmer(played by Clifford Evans) who is also staying at the inn, and informs him that Ravna leads a vampire cult that turned his own daughter, and now wants Marianne... Another atmospheric horror from Hammer with a fine score and direction. A pity it couldn't have brought back Peter Cushing as Van Helsing, but performances are still good, and leads to an exciting finale.

The basic plot: Gerald and Marianne Harcourt, a couple traveling through Europe for their honeymoon, break down in a small and secluded Eastern European village ,and one of the few places theyr'e welcomed is is the grand castle of the Count Ravna ,but when he turns out to be a bloodsucker and own a vampire cult and kidnap Marianne, Gerald must ally with reclusive vampire hunter Dr.Zimmer to defeat the vampires.

The praise:Ominous and entrancing. The scenes which are most effective are the ones when there is an air of unknowing and quiet terror, and a lot of creepy hypnotic feel. The masque scene is a masterpiece in structure, and Roman Polanski was definitely influenced by this in the making of his great suspenseful comedy "The fearless Vampire killers".The acting is solid , and the film is gorgeously ornate to look at, the Castle Ravna is being a place of complex architecture and decorative flourishes. The plot is pretty simple, but this small gem is all about mood.As well, the scene before Gerald and Marianne Harcourt come in is bloody good.

The flaws: The climax doesn't come together as well as the rest of the movie.

This entertaining horror film sees a bright young couple break down in a sinister Eastern European Village during their honeymoon, a nasty surprise awaits as they discover it's more than just the local claret that's full of bite.

I can't say it's the best offering from the legendary Hammer, but it's a very good offering nonetheless. The most striking thing initially, is just how good it looks, I picked up the blu ray, and wasn't expecting a huge deal, however it looks incredible, it's bright and sharp.

The story is the usual affair, think of the attractive blond at the mercy of the local, shadowy figure, however there is a lot more going on than just that.

The acting is really nice also, Edward de Souza is very good, and cuts a dashing figure.

If you're expecting a caped Dracula, you may just be disappointed, however there's enough here to keep you entertained.

Special effects are what you'd expect and perhaps hope for, the pink paint blood and Halloween store bats, it all adds to the magic though.

The ending is still pretty impactful, overall it's a must for fans of classic horror, 7/10.

"The Kiss of the Vampire" has one hell of an opening scene, but after that, the viewer must endure about thirty minutes of Dullsville as a newlywed couple arrives in a creepy European town and interacts with the strange, subdued locals. Note that the entire village seems to consist of only three people: Professor Zimmer, the innkeeper, and the innkeeper's wife. There's the Hammer casting budget for you!

Thankfully, the action picks up during the creepy masquerade ball. I also enjoy watching our hapless hero (played by the somehow likable Edward DeSouza) get humiliated by the vampires when he attempts to rescue his wife.

The sets are cool and Gothic, if obviously studio-bound; this is the kind of movie that many would call cheap, but tolerant and loving horror fans would probably describe it as quite lavish.

I have some plot-related problems. Professor Zimmer's transformation from tottering drunkard to know-it-all savior is too abrupt and unconvincing. I can't understand why he doesn't stop the Harcourts from visiting Ravna, since he's so sure that the latter is a vampire. All he does is issue cryptic warnings - who's that going to put off? I also don't understand why the vampires try to convince de Souza that he never had a wife. Do they really think that trick's going to work? Of COURSE he knows he had a wife! They really should just kill or convert him; setting him loose to make trouble is an unconscionably stupid decision. Anyway, they drop this little lie so quickly that one wonders why they bothered in the first place.

Other problems include a scene involving whiny, panicking vampires (hardly the most terrifying villains), and the strange lack of music in the climatic scene. As usual for a horror film, certain casual asides in the dialogue are more interesting than the story itself; Zimmer describes his daughter's conversion into a vampire in the most fascinating terms, and even suggests that vampires can be redeemed through faith in God. All of which amounts to nothing, of course, since Hammer films can never be too deep. What we get is the usual fight over a pretty girl, the staple of vampire movies for way too many years.

Groaning aside, all Hammer films do have a certain charm, including the slow ones. A worthwhile attempt is made to make the vampires seem elegant and mysterious, and their eerie piano song does add to the atmosphere. I just wish the movie held up a little better; with a rewrite and some nips and tucks, this could've been one of the greats. Alas, as it stands, it's merely mediocre.

As I lay watching this film, I was reminded all over again why Horror is my favorite cinematic genre: despite the absence in the cast of any major stars from the Hammer stable, this well-directed shocker is arguably one of their best efforts. The film is bracketed by two bravura sequences: the opening scene at the graveyard where an obviously drunk and distraught Professor Zimmer (the Van Helsing figure here vividly essayed by Clifford Evans as a boorish and cynical man) unceremoniously plunges a spade into the wooden coffin of his dead daughter thus releasing her soul from the curse of the undead; and the startling climactic destruction of the vampiric cult at the hands of (irony of ironies) some admittedly fake-looking vampire bats! As usual with this type of film, the young leads (Edward De Souza and Jennifer Daniel) are merely adequate but the film benefits immensely from a deliciously villainous turn by Noel Willman as Dr. Ravna, a worthy Dracula stand-in, whose soothing, calm composure and tonality starkly contrast with the more energetic antics of a Christopher Lee, but exude just as much evil. Although judging from the IMDb synopsis, the added-for-TV scenes (for an alternate version of the film entitled KISS OF EVIL) are nothing to write home about, I would still like to have seen them included as a supplement to the DVD - although apparently that would have been too much to expect from Universal...

Exquisite-looking vampire outing from Hammer Films, quite beautifully photographed by Alan Hume and scored by James Bernard, was the studio's attempt to keep the genre going without the services of their star, Christopher Lee. Plot concerns newlywed couple in early 1900s Bavaria lost on the roadway and running out of petrol near the castle of one Dr. Ravna (Noel Willman). He invites them to dinner, where he checks out the Mrs. A few days later, the couple is invited to a masquerade ball, where the husband is drugged and the wife taken away into the clutches of Ravna, the vampire prince among a throng of devoted bloodsuckers. Marvelous tale comes complete with its very own Van Helsing in the guise of Clifford Evans' Professor Zimmer, who has been waiting to exterminate Ravna for many moons. Director Don Sharp doesn't rush through this narrative; he takes his time to set the stage, though buffs may find his pacing a bit slow. Sharp certainly doesn't skimp on the bloodletting, particularly at the rousing finish. Good show! *** from ****

Kiss of the Vampire (AKA: Kiss of Evil in a truncated TV version) is directed by Don Sharp and written by John Elder. it stars Clifford Evans, Noel Willman, Edward de Souza, Jennifer Daniel, Barry Warren, Brian Oulton and Jacquie Wallis. Out of Hammer Film Productions in Eastmancolour, cinematography is by Alan Hume and music by James Bernard.

Honeymooners Gerald (de Souza) and Marianne Harcourt (Daniel) stop over in a remote Bavarian village and fall prey to a suspicious family headed by Dr. Ravna (Willman).

Planned as a Dracula sequel by Hammer Films, Kiss of the Vampire eventually followed in the vein of Brides of Dracula by bringing vampires into a social situation without the famous Count as the figurehead. With no Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing, Terence Fisher or Freddie Francis involved, it does on the outside seem it should be a lesser Hammer Horror picture. Thankfully that isn't the case at all.

There's some wooden acting, less than great effects work in the finale and a lack of blood for the gore hounds, but this is still a wonderful Hammer picture. Ripe with atmosphere, beaming with glorious Gothic set design and beautifully photographed, it's a film begging to be discovered by the vampire faithful.

Essentially a reworking of Edward G. Ulmer's The Black Cat (1934), the narrative follows the familiar vampiric formula so beloved by horror film makers, especially the house of Hammer, which is no bad thing really since they do it so well. In fact it should be noted that the finale to this one is a departure from the norm and is rather exciting, if just a little abrupt in the context of plotting.

A bevy of beauties adorn the frames while suave aristocrat type gentlemen glide around the Ravna abode, this is very much a film rich in that Hammer style. Ignore claims of it being slow, for this is considerate to setting up the characters, and ignore the butchered American TV version, for Kiss of the Vampire is a treat for like minded Hammerphiles. 7.5/10

Stylish Hammer production involving a honeymooning couple lost in the Bavarian woods and their encounter with a (literally) hypnotic doctor who lives in a castle, which is a front for a cult of vampires. The couple are invited to attend a masquerade party there and (big mistake) they accept.

Originally intended by the studio as a Dracula film, the count's name is never mentioned in this film. The young couple (Edward De Souza, Jennifer Daniel) have much of the screen time and are both pretty bland as performers. De Souza's character is a bit of a dope (at least to experienced horror fans who can well see ahead in the story as to what is about to happen to them) while Daniel adequately serves her role's requirements by being young and attractive. Let's face it, folks, the cult of vampires don't want her attendance at the party because of her conversational ability.

The two most noteworthy cast contributions to the film are provided by Noel Willman, as the aristocratic Dr. Ravna, the cultured castle owner and head of the cult (watch out for those teeth when he gets up close and personal) and Clifford Evans as an alcoholic professor, the Van Helsing rep here, so to speak, who previously lost his daughter to the cult but knows the black arts and how to summon demonic forces in order to destroy the cult.

James Bernard supplies a big, booming musical score bringing impact to the visuals and handsome sets, in much the same manner as he had a few years before with Horror of Dracula. The climax, originally intended for that of Brides of Dracula, has special effects that seem barely adequate by today's standards but still remain fun to view even if you can't take them too seriously.

While Kiss of the Vampire is not quite in the same league as a blood chilling horror entertainment as the studio's Horror of Dracula or Brides of Dracula, fans of the genre should still be satisfied with the end results. It certainly plays much better than some of those later films in the Dracula series with Christopher Lee.

Probably the most important aspect of Hammer Horror, for me, is the colour scheme. At their best, Hammer films are painted like no other, and it gives the films a very distinct style. The Kiss of the Vampire has the best colours of all Hammer films - it's astounding how great this film looks. The sets are lavishly designed, the costumes are magnificent and on the whole - the film looks exactly how you want Hammer Horror to look. This sort of style really deserves an equally great story to go with it...but in a missed opportunity of epic proportions, Hammer haven't been able to script as well as they've proved with earlier and later films that they can; and the result is a visually dazzling film, with a severely underwhelming story. That's not to say that the story is bad, essentially; just not very good. We follow a honeymooning couple, who take a wrong turn and end up in a strange little village. This soon attracts the attention of the most important man in the village, and the pair are soon invited to dine with him. However, he's also the leader of a vampire cult, and he wants more than just to have them for dinner...

The main problem where the plot is concerned isn't necessarily the story - as that's classic vampire stuff - but rather in the way that it's handled. It just goes too slow, and while this gives you time admire the scenery; I want a little more stimulation than that. It takes ages to get going, and it isn't really until the last half hour that it picks up properly. It's nice when it does, but really it's too little too late. The ending is very nice, however, and the effects are typical Hammer, and therefore very much enjoyed by me. The Kiss of the Vampire doesn't feature any of Hammer's big stars. This shouldn't really harm it, but it does. Part of what makes many Hammer films work is the fact that there's a centrepiece actor that you can admire even when the plot isn't too good. This film doesn't have that, and while the cast of lesser-known actors do their collective best to keep the film interesting; there isn't one unique enough to really take the reins. There's still a lot to like here, however, and despite the low points with the plot, The Kiss of the Vampire never actually becomes boring. Just make sure you see the likes of The Vampire Lovers and Twins of Evil first.

Edward de Souza and Jennifer Daniel play the Harcourts, a honeymooning couple who strand themselves in the Southern European wilderness. They graciously accept the hospitality of a castle dwelling local family called the Ravnas, led by a pleasant patriarch (Noel Willman). Unbeknownst to Gerald Harcourt, this aristocratic family has sinister plans for his wife, so he must call upon a vampire expert named Professor Zimmer (Clifford Evans).

A little more mystery may have added to the overall impact; as it is, we're all pretty sure of where this is headed. But that doesn't mean that this isn't good, under rated Hammer. It looks positively gorgeous (especially on Blu-ray), just like the majority of Hammer product, and is intoxicatingly atmospheric during its uneasiest moments. One does feel that they are in the presence of true Evil. James Bernard is again an essential element to this formula, adding another eerie score to his resume. The costume ball that plays into the story allows for one good twist. The film is directed by Australian born Don Sharp, definitely an under rated genre director during this era (he deserves to be just as well known as frequent Hammer director Terence Fisher). Screenwriter Anthony Hinds updates the action a bit; this takes place in a slightly more "modern" period than many Hammer stories, since the Harcourts are getting around in a car. His resolution offers another interesting twist that this viewer hasn't seen in any vampire film before.

The cast is excellent. Evans is no Peter Cushing, but he's a reasonably engaging vampire hunter. Daniel and de Souza are very likable. Willman is an effective villain, and Barry Warren is likewise solid as his son. Peter Madden and Vera Cook are appealing as the innkeepers, and John Harvey impresses in his brief turn as a police sergeant. The young ladies present are often sumptuously lovely.

"The Kiss of the Vampire" entertains in deliberately paced, ominous fashion; it's a Hammer film that deserves to be better known.

Seven out of 10.

On a dirt road overlooking an old castle somewhere in Central Europe, an old-style automobile runs out of gas and has to be towed into a small village. Needing a place to stay "Gerald Harcourt" (Edward de Souza) and his recently married wife "Marriane" (Jennifer Daniel) check into the local hotel unaware that they have been observed from afar. Not long afterward a letter is sent to their hotel room from a man named "Dr. Ravna" (Noel Willman) inviting the couple to his castle for dinner. They gladly accept and a coach arrives later that evening to take them. When they get there they are greeted by the doctor along with his son "Carl" (Barry Warren) and daughter "Sabena" (Jacquie Wallis) who also live in the castle. Unfortunately, what they don't realize is that all three of these people belong to a vampire cult and that they have been invited for more than just dinner. At any rate, rather than reveal any more I will just say that this was an interesting vampire film which deviates a little from the traditional rules associated with this particular genre-especially at the end of the movie. But other than that it was entertaining enough and I have rated it accordingly. Slightly above average.

This has got to be the most boring and unscary vampire film I have ever seen. The only scene worth watching is the opening scene which lasts maybe 5 minutes after that it is all down hill. Nothing happens after the opening scene except one part where a man is bitten by a vampire and then the ending. The movie is 88 minutes long and out of that only 10 minutes of it is worth watching - if that long. I'm all for subtle horror but this movie really does not have it - it's just a bunch of dressed up people standing around talking about nothing throughout most of the film. I was bored to tears with this movie.

The ONLY thing this movie has going for it is the theme music - and that is it! The music is the only reason to rate this film besides the fact that it is a Hammer and Universal film.

Update: I've rewatched this one again, and I will raise my rating up 2 points. It's a little better the second time around but I'm still finding I'm bored with it generally speaking. I really want to like this film but I'm still finding it just *meh*.

4/10

Noel Willman proves a formidable unholy from the undead underground in this masterpiece from Britain's Hammer Films. A superior script, first-rate performances and the haunting melody of James Bernard's "Vampire Rhapsody" are as immortal as the studio that gave us Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing. Lavish set design, rich color photography, a climax unlike anything that had ever been tried before it make KOTV a towering, unfogettable achievement. Required viewing for all horror aficionados and those who love vampires in particular. Barry Warren is also especially wonderful as Carl, the cold, handsome son of Willman's Dr. Ravna.

This is a slow going Universal/Hammer vampire production, that could had worked out if it had some more and a better style written over it. Instead now the movie feels like a real lackluster.

The movie is atmospheric but definitely not tense or exciting. This movie is quite different from the regular Hammer horror production from the '60's. For some this approach will work, while for others it certainly simply won't appeal much. The last is for me the case, even though I always normally enjoy watching an Hammer production.

Noel Willman looks like Christopher Lee and sounds like Bela Lugosi, so in other words he is a good count Dracula, even though his character has a different name in this movie but of course it's still the same character. It's still of course a big shame that Christopher Lee himself doesn't star in this movie, like he had done in so many other Hammer film productions. Same goes for Peter Cushing. There is a Van Helsing type of character in this movie, which in this case is being played by Clifford Evans.

It isn't until very well halve way through that the movie and its story finally start to take on a good form and pace, when the true horror and mystery of the movie starts to kick in. The movie does get better after that point but it really doesn't make this a very consistent movie though. Not everything within this movie blends in very well with each other.

I liked the musical score from James Bernard, who throughout his career almost entirely solely worked for the Hammer studios. He worked on some of the best known productions such as the 1958 movie "Dracula", "The Hound of the Baskervilles", "The Quatermass Xperiment", "The Plague of the Zombies" and some many more Frankenstein and Dracula movies from the Hammer studios. He was a great genre composer who provided the movies with an unique and suiting sound.

A different but not necessarily better vampire movie from the Universal and Hammer studios. Still watchable though.

5/10

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A likable, attractive couple on their honeymoon become stranded in the middle of nowhere when their car breaks down. They do find an inn...and are mysteriously invited to a nearby castle where Dr. Ravna lives with his children. Seems Ravna and his children are the heads of a cult of vampires...and want the couple to join them.

Strange, moody but intelligent horror film dealing with a vampire cult. Despite the subject matter there isn't much blood--just a very bloody opening and an all out attack at the end--that's all I'll say--I don't want to spoil it for anyone:) It's beautifully filmed in rich color--the recent DVD release is exceptional. The acting is all good and there's a eerie masked ball sequence that is a highlight. My only complaint is the storyline starts to falter at the end and some things don't make sense. Abrupt ending too. Still this is easily the most beautiful vampire film ever made--it should be seen just for the sets, costumes and color.

Avoid (at all costs) the edited TV print which is retitled "Kiss of Evil". It's just dreadful.

Newlywed couple Gerald (Edward de Souza) and Marianne Harcourt (Jennifer Daniel) find themselves stranded in a remote little village in eastern Europe , Bavaria , Germany , when their car runs out of petrol . Forced to stay near a weird fortress and in a semi-derelict inn where they are greeted with suspicion, they are subsequently invited in by its charmingly evil owner Dr. Ravna (Noel Willman) and his two grown children. Later on , he head of the local aristocratic family offers his assistance with dire and unexpected consequences . Fortunately , hubby runs afoul of Dr Ravan, managing to escape , being helped by the mysterious knowledgeable Professor Zimmer (Clifford Evans) . Giant devil Bats...summoned from the caves of Hell to destroy the lust of the Vampires!Shocking! - Horrifying! - Macabre!

The vivid plot is the usual in the vampire movies , a honeymooning marriage stranded near a strange villa while receiving a surprise invitation to diner at the nearby castle where live vampires undergoing the ordinary bites on the necks . A properly creepy terror movie fully of thrills , chills , suspense and frightening happenings , particularly when takes place the impressive unleashing horde of bats to rout the bloodsuckers , though developed in mediocre special effects . This is a Hammer Productions movie though not part of Dracula series , this is also one of their most interesting of the period . The Hammer pictures were decried at the time for being too bloody , but compared to the terror films of the 2000s , they are practically G-rated. Well produced by Anthony Hinds who used the pseudonym John Elder fot his screenplay . Gorgeous and brillant cinematography by Alan Hume, providing some skillfully colour camerawork . Thrilling and terrifying musical score by James Bernard , Hammer's regular .

The motion picture was compellingly directed by Don Sharp who makes of it pretty eerie and chilly . He became a director in the mid-1950s and turned out some low- and medium-budget musicals , such as the Tommy Steele vehicle It's All Happening (1963) . In the mid-1960s he was hired by horror specialist Hammer Films and turned out some well-received horror movies , including this Kiss of the vampire (1963), his first for Hammer . He worked on a few films as second-unit director , before returning to directing again, and turned out a string of thrillers (39 steps , Hennessy , Our Man in Marrakesh , Callan , Brides of Fumanchu , Return of Fumanchu) and made all kinds of genres , such as Adventures (Four Feathers , Devil-ship pirates, Jules Verne's Rocket to the moon), terror (What Waits Below , Psychomania ,Taste of Excitement , Rasputin, Dark Places, Return of the fly) , Wartime (Bear Island) and comedies (Two guys abroad , It's All Happening ) . Towards the end of his career he worked in television on mini-series or popular TV series (Act of Will , Hammer House of Horror , Avengers , Tusitala , QED) . Rating : 6.5/10 . Better than average .

A hackneyed story line with a slight twist. Some clever camera work and interesting sets and scenery are all captured in luxurious Hammer color.You know where the blood is blood red and fangs almost outnumber cleavage. The only thing from making this a genuine classic is the lack of more familiar stars. A couple(Edward de Souza and Jennifer Daniel)on a desolate road runs out of gas and ends up in the inner sanctum of a white wearing vampire and his sect eagerly looking for new members in their secret society. Also in the cast are: Clifford Evans, Isobel Black, Vera Cook and Barry Warren. Just being a Hammer film makes this watchable. Beware of a couple of thrills.