Review of The Vampire and the Ballerina

Strange Moments The peasant Brigitta is attacked by a vampire, but her employer, Professor (Pier Ugo Gragnani), and the local doctor believe it is superstition from the locals and she died of anemia. In the Professor's mansion, a troupe of female dancers are training a play. When the young Luca (Isarco Ravaioli) returns, he meets his girlfriend Francesca (Tina Gloriani) dancing and proposes the group to go to a picnic on the next day. They go to a waterfall and Luca asks Francesca in marriage. She calls her best friend Luisa (Hélène Rémy), who is the fiancée of Giorgio (Gino Turini), to tell the news. However, the weather changes and Luca seek them out in the woods while Giorgio returns to the mansion with the other dancers. When the rain starts, they seek protection and stumble upon a nearby derelict castle. However, they are invited to stay by a mysterious Countess Alda (Maria Luisa Rolando) that explains that she lives there, and her servant Herman (Walter Brandi) brings tea for the guests. When Countess Alda needs to pull out of the room, Luisa leaves Luca and Francesca to snoop around and is attacked by an old vampire. Then the trio leaves the castle and returns to the mansion and soon Francesca notes that Luisa changed her behavior, but nobody pays attention on her.

"L'amante del vampire", a.k.a. "The Vampire and the Ballerina", is a vampire movie from the 60's with strange moments. The ballerinas actually are dancers, and there are boring dancing moments along the plot. The relationship of Herman and Alda is very weird. Francesca is afraid of the castle, but returns alone looking for Luisa. Luca has just asked Francesca in marriage, but leaves her to meet the Countess. But anyway the cinematography in black-and-white is beautiful and the vampires follow the traditional legend, fearing crosses and the sunlight. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "O Vampiro e a Bailarina" ("The Vampire and the Ballerina")