As Polanski's fourth feature film and the first color film, it was also a film before his early masterpiece Rosemary's baby. Naturally, the domestic attention is not very high, which is understandable. In memory, Polanski is almost on the verge of becoming an icon of suffering in the director's world. And the film is surprisingly sweet, almost as delicious as Wes Anderson's Grand Budapest Hotel, which was released earlier this year. A film produced in 1967, released 45 years later, is still full of laughter and cute, which shows that it has enough capital to become a classic.
The French name of the film is La Bal des Vampires, and there are two English names, The Fearless Vampire Killer and Pardon me, But your teeth are in my neck, which are The Vampire Ball, The Timid Vampire Hunter and Sorry, You fangs on my neck. Obviously, the translation that is most incompatible with the film itself is still domestic. There is actually a translation titled "The Heavenly Master Catches the Demon". I accidentally misunderstood it and thought it was a Hong Kong-made zombie film in the 1980s. It would be a great pity if I missed a good film because of the wonderful translation.
Since the novel "Dracula" written by Irish writer Stoker in 1897, the vampire theme has almost become a theme throughout the history of film for a hundred years. After the novel was brought to the big screen by German director Paul Askonas in 1920, there will be a wave of vampire movies almost every few years. In recent years, the vampire-themed film and television works can be described as particularly choppy, but compared with the heyday of the 90s, when many high-quality films were produced, and various types of films were compatible with wandering, they have now embarked on the "Qiong Yao Road" of no return. In the decades of film history changes, the protagonists of B-level films or film noirs, probably only Godzilla and King Kong, have achieved the same status as vampires and "climbed", from bad guys or killers to cute things. However, vampires are obviously better in appearance changes, from the earliest dark circles, fangs, and shriveled silhouettes, to the evil earl, Tom's glimpse, or the bravery of the blade, the cruelty of the legend of the night. However, as the old saying goes, extremes turn against each other, and now they are reduced to beef Wufang that can emit diamond light under the sun.
In 1922, German director F.W. Munnau was adapting and filming the novel "Dracula". Because he failed to obtain the copyright, he could only change the character's name. Drakula was changed to Count Orlok, which is the origin of the name of Duke Von Krolock in this film. The opening scene of the carriage is also a tribute to the famous carriage road scene in Nosferatu's film by F.W. Murnau. There is also Polanski's dress in the film also borrowed from the film's Thomas Hutter corner (even the hat style is the same). The tavern scene in this film is roughly based on Nosferatu and Dracula directed by Bela Lugosi in 1931. The latter's Dracula's shape is also the prototype of Duke Von Krolock in this film.
Polanski plays a kind-hearted, timid but loyal assistant whose teacher is a very confused vampire researcher obsessed with science and strange things. So, an old professor led a small apprentice, or a small apprentice helped the old professor's adventure experience in the movie. The relationship between the teacher and the apprentice highlighted in the film is reminiscent of the relationship between Mr. Gustave and Zero in the Grand Budapest Hotel. There is also the snow chase scene in the film. In terms of the similarity between the two, I wonder if Anderson stole a teacher from Polanski? But, learn from some, probably have it.
Sharon Tate plays opposite Polanski in the movie. Although she plays the role of a vase who can only take a bath, she is really beautiful and thrilling, and makes people have firm reasons to believe--a beautiful red hair She should (deserved) be taken away by Duke Von Krolock as Lady Yazhai. It was this movie that made Sharon Tate and Polanski fall in love and become his second wife. Later, unfortunately, everyone knows that Tate died tragically in the Manson family bloody murder in 1969.
In terms of supporting roles, the film is also very good, the Chagall couple in the tavern, the wretched and funny, the "bronchitis" Mr. Chagall and the fat woman Mrs. Chagall. Even after Mr. Chagall took the risk to save the girl and turned into a vampire by sucking all her blood, she still had no change in her lust, and she would come back to molest the maid when she was a ghost. There is also a love chase scene between the duke's son and the elementary apprentice, which is also quite funny. As a film that was produced in 1967, it has actually become a pioneer in the forty-five years later, and the importance of basic love scenes can be described as very "forward-looking". Also, the film also contributed to the funniest classical dance in film history.
Like most Polanski movies, it doesn't give a safe happy ending. Therefore, even a novelty comedy like this film is reasonable at the end, unexpectedly playing a dark humor.
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