The Hammer Horror Collection: Vampire Circus [2 Discs] [Blu-ray/DVD]

Director: Robert William Young, Robert Young Robert William Young

Overview

Though not as widely known as Hammer's popular Dracula and Frankenstein series, this is one of the studio's more stylish and intelligent projects. The tale is set in 17th century Serbia in the tiny burg of Stettel, whose residents live in fear of an encroaching plague. The frightened villagers welcome the arrival of a colorful traveling troupe dubbed "Circus of Nights," unaware that the visiting entertainers pose a far more deadly threat: the entire company is composed of shape-shifting vampires capable of transforming themselves into animals to stalk their prey. The group's leader, the most powerful monster of the bunch, has returned to the village to exact revenge on those who murdered his cousin one hundred years earlier. Less a standard Hammer monster melodrama than a surreal journey through dark fantasy (reminiscent of Jean Rollin's erotic vampire series), with an unexpected (but not entirely inappropriate) surplus of nudity and bloodletting. The film's creepy highlights include the chilling extended prologue and scenes of vampire trapeze performers transforming into bats in mid-leap.

Product Details

Release Date:	12/14/2010
UPC:	0654930312292
Original Release:	1971
Rating:	NR
Source:	Synapse Films
Region Code:	1
Language:	English
Time:	1:27:00
Sales rank:	17,876

Special Features

The bloodiest show on earth: making Vampire Circus documentary; Gallery of grotesqueries: A Brief history of Circus Horrors featurette; Visiting the house of hammer: Britain's legendary horror magazine featurette ; Vampire Circus: Motion comic book; Still and poster gallery; Theatrical trailer

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Laurence Payne	Prof. Albert Mueller
Adrienne Corri	Gypsy Woman
Thorley Walters	Burgermeister
Lynne Frederick	Dora Mueller
Elizabeth Seal	Gerta Hauser
Anthony Corlan	Emil
Richard Owens	Dr. Kersh
Domini Blythe	Anna Mueller
Robin Hunter	Hauser
Robert Tayman	Count Mitterhouse
Mary Wimbush	Elvira
Lalla Ward	Helga
Robin Sachs	Heinrich
Roderick Shaw	Jon Hauser,Gustav Hauser
Christina Paul	Rosa
David Prowse	Strongman
Jane Darby	Jenny
Skip Martin	Michael
Milovan and Serena	The Webbers
John Brown	Schilt
Sibylla Kay	Mrs. Schilt
Dorothy Frere	Grandma Schilt
Jason James	Foreman
Arnold Locke	Old Villager
John Bown	Schilt
John Moulder-Brown	Anton Kersh
Serena	Female Dancer
Sean Hewitt	First Soldier
David Whitaker	Composer

Technical Credits

Jud Kinberg

Les Bowie	Special Effects
Wilbur Stark	Producer
Robert William Young	Director,Director
Jud Kinberg	Screenwriter

Scene Index

Disc #1 -- The Hammer Horror Collection: Vampire Circus
1. Doomed Child [12:58]
2. Opening Titles [9:25]
3. The Circus [11:03]
4. They Must Die [11:34]
5. Dora's Discovery [5:35]
6. Mirror of Life [6:10]
7. Striking Back [7:59]
8. Two Plagues [3:27]
9. Trapped! [8:57]
10. Destruction [4:28]
11. Resurrection [4:39]
12. End Titles [:57]

Menu

Disc #1 -- The Hammer Horror Collection: Vampire Circus
   Play
   Chapters
   Bonus
      The Bloodiest Show on Earth: Making Vampire Circus
      Gallery of Grotesqueries: A Brief History of Circus Horrors
      Visiting the House of Hammer: Britain's Legendary Horror Magazine
      Vampire Circus: Motion Comic Book
      Animated Still and Poster Gallery
      Original Theatrical Trailer
   Setup
      English 2.0 Original Mono Sountrack
      Isolated Music and Effects Track