Lust for a Vampire

Date: 1971
Director: Jimmy Sangster
Production Company: Hammer Films

Stars: Ralph Bates, Barbara Jefford, Suzanna Leigh, Michael Johnson, Yutte Stensgaard
Location(s): Carinthia (Austria), Hertfordshire

Region(s): ,

Storyline:

In their castle, a Count and Countess conduct a satanic ceremony to resurrect the body of their daughter.

Additional Information:

Screen captures by Phil Wilkinson

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The titles start to appear as the camera zooms in on Karnstein Castle in Styria, in a story based on "Carmilla" by Sheridan Le Fanu. Manuel Gurtner explains that "In fact we see Burg Hochosterwitz, considered one of Austria's most impressive medieval castles, situated on a 172-metre high dolomite rock east of Sankt Veit an der Glan in Carinthia. By the way, the 620-metre long pathway up to the castle is guarded by 14 fortified gates."

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A Young Girl from the nearby village starts screaming as she is carried away in a carriage after accepting a lift.

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At the castle, the Young Girl's blood is used by Count Karnstein to resurrect his daughter Mircalla. Manuel Gurtner points out that this very similar shot of Hochosterwitz Castle can also be seen in 'Twins of Evil' which, together with 'The Vampire Lovers', forms Hammer's Karnstein trilogy. The castle church, dedicated to Saint John of Nepomuk, can be reached from the 13th gate (church gate) via a narrow path."

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Following a visit to Karnstein Castle, author Richard LeStrange is taken to Miss Simpson's finishing school by headmaster Giles Barton. Hunton Park on Essex Lane in Kings Langley, Hertfordshire.

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Susan Pelley (Pippa Steel), Amanda McBride (Judy Matheson) and Isabel Courtney (Caryl Little) run to join the other Girls at the fashionable school. The gardens of Hunton Park.

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Giles Barton (Ralph Bates) accompanies Richard LeStrange (Michael Johnson) towards the building as gym mistress Janet Playfair (Suzanna Leigh) watches the Girls takes up their places for class. Facing the gardens of Hunton Park in Hertfordshire.

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Advised that a coach is approaching, Miss Simpson (Helen Christie) goes to the front door to meet Countess Herritzen and her niece Mircalla. The entrance to Hunton Park. The large country house also features in 'Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban', 'The Executioner' and 'The Raging Moon'.

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Miss Simpson invites Countess Herritzen (Barbara Jefford) and Mircalla (Yutte Stensgaard) into the school. Hunton Park is currently known by the catchy title Mercure London North Watford Hunton Park Hotel.

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That evening, the Pupils talk about Barton and LeStrange as they settle down to sleep. Between 1939 and 1971 Hunton Park went through various uses, often standing empty, until part of the estate was taken over by the Ministry of Defence which later became the Rolls-Royce aircraft factory,

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Waiting for Mircalla, Susan Pelley disrobes before jumping into the river for a moonlight swim. For another production, Greg Chapman identified this as the small jetty of Tank 2 at the EMI-MGM studios in Borehamwood. The jetty was built in 1966 and it and the tank were lost when a large section of the studio site was sold for redevelopment.

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LeStrange follows Miss Simpson through the grounds after he indicates that he would like to become a resident at the school. In the 1990s, Hunton Park became Leavesden Film Studios.

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Miss Simpson shows the writer the accommodation that he will share with Giles Barton. The building stands in the grounds of Hunton Park.

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Susan returns to the river where she meets an unseen figure. The 'shore' of Tank 2 at EMI-MGM studios in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire.

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With Raymond Pelley (David Healy) and Professor Herz (Erik Chitty) standing over the grave, Susan Pelley's body is exhumed.