Le Vampire de Düsseldorf

The movie is loosely based upon life of Peter Kurten, the psychotic serial killer from Dusseldorf, Germany. Apparently looks and says like it, but this movie is not closely accurate. The true story of serial murderer Peter Kurten is far darker, sinister, disturbing and scary than this film. And I understand that Robert Hossein maybe did not want to make a film with such elements. And kind of, I feel sorry for it, because I expect a story to follow real events. If you are making a movie based on true story, then make sure to put more facts than fiction. And of course, put some usual, fictitious movie drama while at it. However, the movie is not all that bad and I think that Hossein excelled as both director and actor. As a director, he gave us a great screen shoots (for example), good lightning and great night atmosphere. As actor he was even better. His Kurten was, well, yes, far more different than the real one. Hossein's Kurten had this uncomfortable stare, socially awkward looks, and unusual walking, with his head focused on victim. He is somewhat reminiscent of Bela Lugosi (in that good old vampire sense). Also, he fell in love with a singer at the night café, named Anna, played by Marie France – Pisier. Marie was good in her role, as beautiful, voluptuous, yet innocent-looking, but brash and young. The element of these two falling in love was quite fitting, as Kurten sees her not as a potential victim, but rather as someone who could, perhaps calm the evil within him. The movie offers quite, reasonable amount of tension, interesting music score, though I expected to be more musical scores for each scene. Camera work, editing, make up, costumes and other actors are good. The thing that makes this movie slow and uninteresting is that we have a subplot about Nazi Germans rise to power and the big depression. Yes, I understand that those things happened back then. However, I think it would be better to keep it low. At the beginning of the movie, we have exposition about everything that happened about Nazis, depression and Kurten, so Hossein basically, tells us about the stuff that happens in the film, before we even see it. I think that big depression and Nazi Germany fits well in that exposition, while he leaves Kurten and his crimes to the rest of the film. So, I do recommend this film, it's pretty good. Kudos to Robert Hossein.

A subject which was already treated by Lang and Siodmak.It's difficult for a French to create a German atmosphere...In spite of Marie-France Pisier's laudable efforts -her song "la Belle De Nuit" is really spellbinding ,Pia Colombo providing the vocal-but the nightclub looks like an American one,which the final fire reinforces.

Hossein was interested in films noirs ("Toi Le Venin" "Le Jeu de La Verite") and he tried to mix suspense with a political context : the crisis, with the unemployment the demonstrations,and the serpent's egg ,to quote Ingmar Bergman .The problem with the hero is that we know too few things about him (just compare with Mario Adorf's part in Siodmak's movie): once he was sadistically punished ,when he was a child,they buried him to the neck in the sand under a blistering sun,and that's it.

Good scenes: Hosssein and Annie Andersson in the park,just like a romantic couple,till Hossein sees the girl's legs.The caretaker,asking the criminal to knock on his door when he comes back at night;she feels safe when he is at home .The scene in the field when Hossein is scared by a pair of lovers.

Like this?try these,these are essential viewing: "M" Fritz Lang ,1933 "Nachts ,wenn der Teufel kam" Robert Siodmak, 1957

A major discovery, for me, this one, written, directed and starring, Robert Hossein. Evidently a highly esteemed French actor who played many a romantic lead with the likes of Bardot and Loren, he also played less frivolous parts including thrillers such as Riffifi. Not as prolific at directing, he nevertheless seems to have made several interesting sounding titles that I shall have to look out for. His leading lady here is Marie France Pisier, who also was a very popular artiste in France and amongst other things was in Celine and Julie Go boating and a couple of Bunuel's. Here she plays a very cool and attractive cabaret singer, complete with top hat and whip. Her scenes in the nightclub are most effective as is the whole film. Based on a true story of a Dusseldorf serial killer, the sleazy back streets here are actually Madrid and the b/w cinematography throughout is a joy. Extremely well performed by all concerned and very competently directed, this is a highly recommended film.

Skilled direction by the star, Robert Hossein, although the story was full of unsurprises. Hossein's portrayal of real life Weimar-era serial killer Peter Kurten was a little too detached, almost bored. Superb camera work and lighting, although the music grated at times. This movie was unknown to me until I found it online. It appears to have been released the same year as The Night of the Generals, a movie set in Nazi occupied Poland a decade later. With both films featuring Teutonic serial killers, I guess one of them had to step aside. Here there were no subtitles, but the dialogue spoken so clearly and free of argot I missed only a little. The people probably spoke non-colloquial French because they were supposed to be Germans, and everyone knows Germans in the 1930's spoke without argot. Marie-France Pisier was good as the chanteuse of a subterranean boite called El Dorado.

In the late 20´s, Germany has high inflation rates and unemployment and the rise of the Nazi Party. In this scenario, in Dusseldorf, the worker Peter Kuerten (Robert Hossein), also known as The Vampire of Dusseldorf, commits nine murders.

The weirdo Peter Kuerten is obsessed in the cabaret singer Anna (Marie-France Pisier) and they have a love affair. Meanwhile he kills young women on the desert streets of Dusseldorf. One day, a man escorts Anna to her home and is followed by Peter. When he leaves her, the jealous Peter Kuerten kills him on the street. The Chief of Police Momberg (Roger Dutoit) is pressed by Berlin to hunt down the serial-killer since the victim was an industrialist.

"Le vampire de Düsseldorf" is a little gem by Robert Hossein with the true story of the notorious serial-killer of Dusseldorf. The screenplay is believable and the cinematography in black-and-white is magnificent. The performances are top-notch and the actresses are very beautiful. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "O Vampiro de Düsseldorf" ("The Vampire of Düsseldorf")