Blood and Roses
| Blood and Roses | |
|---|---|
 French film poster for Blood and Roses | |
| Directed by | Roger Vadim |
| Produced by | Raymond Eger |
| Written by |
Sheridan Le Fanu (story Carmilla) Claude Brulé Claude Martin (writer) Roger Vailland |
| Starring |
Mel Ferrer Elsa Martinelli Annette Stroyberg René-Jean Chauffard |
| Music by | Jean Prodromidès |
| Cinematography | Claude Renoir |
| Edited by |
Maurizio Lucidi Victoria Mercanton |
Production company |
Documento Film, Films EGE |
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures (USA, 1961) |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 87 minutes |
| Country |
France Italy |
| Language | French |
| Box office | 1,205,106 admissions (France)[1] |
Blood and Roses (1960) — French title Et mourir de plaisir (Le sang et la rose); literally, And die of pleasure (The blood and the rose) — is a French vampire film directed by Roger Vadim.
It is loosely based on the novella Carmilla (1872) by Irish writer Joseph Sheridan le Fanu, shifting the book's setting in 19th-century Styria to the film's 20th-century Italy.
Plot summary
Set in the modern day at a European estate, Carmilla is torn emotionally by the engagement of her friend Georgia to her cousin Leopoldo. It is hard to tell for whom she has the strongest unrequited emotions. During the masquerade ball celebrating the upcoming marriage, a fireworks display accidentally explodes some munitions lost at the site in World War II, disturbing an ancestral catacomb. Carmilla wearing the dress of her legendary vampire ancestor wanders into the ruins, where the tomb of the ancestor opens slowly. Carmilla returns to Leopoldo's estate as the last guests depart. Over next few days she proceeds to act as though possessed by the spirit of the vampire and a series of vampiric killings terrorize the estate.
Difference in versions
The original French version is 87 minutes long and is introduced by a discussion of Carmilla's case by a doctor who starts to tell of her story, leaving to the viewer to decide if Carmilla was really possessed or just delusional. The most common English language version is 74 minutes long and, among other deletions, drops the doctor's introduction and the discussions of vampire legends by the servants' children. The added English voice-over narration by the vampire ancestor removes any ambiguity.
Cast
- Mel Ferrer as Leopoldo De Karnstein
- Elsa Martinelli as Georgia Monteverdi
- Annette Vadim as Carmilla
- René-Jean Chauffard as Dr. Verari
- Marc Allégret as Judge Monteverdi
- Alberto Bonucci as Carlo Ruggieri
- Serge Marquand as Giuseppe
- Gabriella Farinon as Lisa
- Renato Speziali as Guido Naldi
- Edith Peters as The Cook
- Giovanni Di Benedetto as Police Marshal
- Carmilla Stroyberg as Martha
- Nathalie LeForet as Marie
Soundtrack - Discography
The core of the original soundtrack composed by Jean Prodromidès for Blood and Roses was first released on an EP offering 12 minutes of music. In 2010, this content was finally reissued on CD by Canadian label Disques Cinemusique, as part of a compilation devoted to the composer and which features his music for Danton. The CD is now out of print but both these soundtracks are available for downloading and stream. More information here.
See also
References
- ↑ Box office information for Roger Vadim films at Box Office Story