Blood and Roses

ANNETTE STOYBERG billed as Annette Vadim in this beautiful tribute to womanhood glows under Vadim's Direction.

This IS a negected masperpiece, released by Paramount. It's an odd piece of technology - about 1/2" of tape [don't let this deter you], but the sound : hi-fi Dolby is tremendous! Image transfer bleeds [whoops, had to add that], yep, it bleeds slightly. PLEASE restore this to it's original widescreen concept, set the color, keep the sound as it is [enhance with surround?].

It's [dubbed?] in English - with sometimes a funny result - lines like : "How big is it?" [raising a chuckle or two], AND is the "f" word used? Maybe bad diction? No, it's not what you think - it's very clean! The lesbian overtones? Something by an overzealous mind - read the homoerotic overtones in "Interview" the Cruise/Pitt movie.

Elsa Martinelli, Annette Stoyberg/Vadim and Mel Ferrer are the beautiful people circa 1960. Without giving too much away, it's kind of a love triangle between the three - based on a story by Sheridan LeFanu. The composition reminds me Fellini's work, costumes and sets have never been better [or more elegant for that matter], interesting erotic tones for 1960.....also a teensy bit daring, oh yes, there are one or two boobies slipped in for good measure, but it's all very artictic [in the best sense] and tasteful!

The black and white dream sequence [sigh! intact!] still models as inspiration for the newcomers!

Beautiful score by by Jean Prodomides.

Now, about the two little kitchen girls - Martha and Marie - looks like they graduated direct from "The Shining" to this abbey!

If you own "Daughters of Darkness" and "The Hunger" this is the missing sister of the group - a MUST!


EROTIC VAMPIRE CLASSIC   June 20, 2002
ernie garcia (LONG BEACH, CA.)
9 out of 10 found this review helpful

ANNETTE VADIM REALLY CAPTUTRED MY INTEREST AND SO DID THE STORY. THERE'S NOTHING BORING ABOUT THIS FILM.THE LESBIAN SCENES ARE BEAUTIFULLY PHOTOGRAPHED IN GREAT TASTE. IT'S VERY MUCH A WORK OF ART FROM LA BELLE EPOQUE. I RECOMMEND IT TO THE OPEN MINDED MATURE PEOPLE WHO LOVE EROTICISM AND ARE NOT OFFENDED BY TWO PEOPLE OF THE SAME SEX MAKING LOVE IN A TASTEFUL MANNER.ROGER VADIM WAS AHEAD OF HIS TIME. YES, I WILL ADD IT TO MY COLLECTION, AS I WORE OUT THE COPY I TAPED FROM ''UP ALL NIGHT''.


A masterpiece   July 17, 2001
Thomas M. Sipos (Santa Monica, CA)
7 out of 8 found this review helpful

A beautifully photographed, horror-art film/vampire romance based on the Carmilla novella. Directed by Roger Vadim, who later directed the horror-art film Spirits Of The Dead (an anthology of Edgar Allan Poe tales).

A woman is possessed by her artistocratic/vampire ancestor, both of whom are in love with the same man (yet the film also has lesbian overtones).

Languid pace and little gore, as one would expect from European art cinema, but enjoyable on its own terms. The sudden switch to black & white (and blood red) film in the hospital sequence is surreal and unsettling.

Beautiful actresses, as befits a vampire romance.


Bloody great-looking stuff   February 8, 1999
5 out of 6 found this review helpful

Joseph Sheridan LeFanu's superb novella "Carmilla" becomes the basis for this visually sumptuous movie. Roger Vadim has played up the fantasy element of the original text, and relocated it to modern-day Rome. It's about a jealous girl who is possessed by the spirit of her vampire ancestress, and goes on to seduce her beloved cousin and his wife. The acting's a bit stiff, and the dubbing is poor, but the sets are stunning and the imagery (particularly in the dream sequence)memorable. See it, if only to catch Elsa Martinelli and Annette Stroyberg enjoy a rainsoaked kiss.


bella gente 1960   January 25, 2002
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

i first saw this film on tv a few years ago and could not forget the melancholy music score and the beauty of the 2 lead actresses. the film,itself, is a bit silly but i think i'm a fan!there's a lot of atmosphere but the dubbing of elsa martinelli's voice is a joke.she sounds like marilyn monroe?