Vampyros Lesbos

Plot synopsis:
Linda Westinghouse [Ewa Strömberg], a lawyer with the Istanbul firm of Simpson & Sons, is sent to Anatolia to handle the inheritance of Countess Nadine Carody, recipient of the entire estate of Count Dracula of Hungary. To Linda's surprise, Nadine [Soledad Miranda] is the strange woman who has been haunting her dreams for the past several weeks. Nadine is also a vampire and, after sharing a swim, a glass of wine, and some kisses, Nadine bites Linda's neck and drinks some of her blood. When Linda comes to and goes in search of Nadine, she finds her floating in the swimming pool, apparently dead. The next thing Linda knows, she is being treated at Dr Aldon Seward's clinic, bewildered as to how she got there and amnesic as to her name and address. Dr Seward [Dennis Price] puts a notice in the newspaper, which brings Linda's boyfriend Omar [Andrés Monales] looking for her. Linda remembers Omar but still remembers nothing that went on at Countess Carody's beachhouse. Her only memory is of the Countess lying dead in the swimming pool and then being alone at sea. She wonders if it was all a dream.However, Nadine is not dead. She is languishing on a couch, telling her renfield Morpho [José Martínez Blanco] how she became a vampire (Dracula saved her from being raped and initiated her into the secret of the vampires) and how she now hates men and is so infatuated with Linda that she must make Linda into a vampire, too. Hearing Nadine calling to her, Linda goes. Nadine drinks a bit more of Linda's blood. Later, Linda consults with Dr Seward who tells her that, if she wishes to extract herself from the spell of the vampire, she must either split the vampire's head with an axe or pierce it with a pole.Meanwhile, one of Dr Seward's patients, Agra [Heidrun Kussin], who has been alternately babbling about the Queen of the Night (Nadine) coming to see her and then abandoning her, now suddenly announces that the Queen is going to come to the sanitarium to meet Seward. Nadine shows up at the sanitarium, angry with Seward for trying to take Linda away from her. Seward admits that he only did it to get Nadine to come to him. He wants to become initiated into the world of the vampires. When Nadine refuses and Seward starts shouting Latin at her, Nadine gets Morpho to kill Seward while she pays a visit with Agra in order to tell her that she's going to leave her again.Meanwhile, Linda goes missing. Omar enlists the help of Linda's shrink, Dr Steiner [Paul Muller], in tracking down Nadine in hopes of finding Linda. Actually, Linda is being held by Memmet [Jesus Franco], the bellboy at her hotel. Turns out Memmet was Agra's husband before she became bewitched by Nadine. Memmet has fallen for Linda and wants to kill her, but Linda kills him first and then escapes. Steiner and Omar go to Nadine's house in Istanbul, but she and Morpho have returned to their beachhouse in Anatolia. Linda goes there, too. She finds Nadine lying in bed, dying. Nadine begs Linda for some blood, but Linda doesn't want to be under Nadine's power and stabs her through the eye. Nadine's body disappears. Morpho kills himself. Omar and Steiner arrive on a boat. Omar tries to convince Linda that it was all a dream, but Linda knows better. [Original Synopsis by bj_kuehl.]

Tags: pornographic, cult, atmospheric

Review:
In the night, she has erotic dreams in which appears a sexy vixen vampiress (the Spanish Soledad Miranda, her pseudonym, Susann Korda, was created by director Jesús Franco , and she was destined to become a legend) , and makes passionate love to her, from which she's unable to defend herself .
Soledad was destined to become a legend .Her biggest break came from legendary director Jess Franco, who cast Soledad in such cult classics as Count Dracula , Eugenie De Sade , Sex Charade , The Devil Came from Akasava and Vampyros Lesbos.
Shot in Istanbul , Turkey , posing as the fictitious city in which lives the Countess vampire Nadine Carody , gorgeous Soledad Miranda ,though she was was dubbed
The film has a lot of titles the German version is Vampyros Lesbos: Die Erbin des Drácula, the French version titled "Vampiros lesbos" was used, while the original German release title was spelled "Vampyros Lesbos" and Spanish versión titled ¨Las vampiras¨ .The motion picture was strange and regularly directed by Jess Frank , here using continous zooms, surprising close-ups , including blood drops , scorpions , butterfly , other insects and and kites .
Loaded with symbolic language, an almost dream-like atmosphere, unusual camera angles, a fantastic score and some Franco typical lesbian soft sex the Spanish director created an absolute masterpiece of Europe´s early 1970s sleazy cinema.
Vampires, gratuitous nudity (especially memorable from  the stunningly beautiful and ill fated Soledad Miranda), violence, pretentious symbolism, some aesthetically pleasing scenery and camera work, all bound together by one of the most unique genre-busting rock scores ever, chock full of fuzz guitars and electric sitar.The legendary Jess Franco has made more cult movies than the mind can conceive of, but this must surely stand out as one of the most artistically successful of his career.
After missing it a couple of times on TV (one of them in the guise of the shorter and 'clothed' Spanish version) and thinking about picking up the DVD in either region on several occasions, I finally managed to sit down and watch (via the now-OOP R1 DVD from Synapse) what is perhaps Jess Franco's best-known film.
Not having been particularly bowled over by either of the two Soledad Miranda films I had watched until now  EUGENIE DE SADE (1970; though this is one I need to watch again) and SHE KILLED IN ECSTASY (1970)  I was surprised by how much I actually enjoyed VAMPYROS LESBOS.
The reasons for this are many and varied and, all in all, I'd say it is without a doubt one of Franco's most enduring  and impressive  works.As most of you probably know already, the film is based on nothing less than that vampiric chestnut  Bram Stoker's 'Dracula'  which Franco had already filmed a year before and in which VAMPYROS' leading lady, Soledad Miranda, had also appeared!
Not having watched that particular adaptation, I cannot say which 'version' is the more successful  but, in the case of VAMPYROS LESBOS, Franco certainly imbues it with an overwhelming visual style (which goes hand in hand with a bizarre and intoxicating soundtrack) that almost encourages one to overlook its deficiencies which, being a Franco film, it could hardly fail to be without!From the very first shot, the film weaves a haunting and dream-like mood (which is, for the most part, effortlessly sustained throughout) that is as indescribable as it is hard to shake off.
Frankly, this is what Franco is all about to me: counting Luis Bunuel as my favorite film-maker, I cannot but admire the ingenuity (coupled sometimes with naivete) with which Franco pulls off this surreal 'trip' of a film memorable images abound in VAMPYROS LESBOS, many of them allegorical, elliptical, or just plain weird  that, in its own way, also manages to be a remarkably effective spin on Stoker's 'old' vampire tale.
Apart from this, not only is the vampire herself (like the nymphomaniac in SINNER [1972] driven through rape towards lesbianism) as much taken with her victim as one expects it to be the other way around, but also we have what passes for the traditional 'vampire hunter' (Dennis Price's Dr. Seward) actively wanting to go to 'the other side' (the confrontation scene between the two, which takes place in the lobby of his clinic, is masterfully handled  except for one embarrassingly amateurish moment when Price is made to slink down the stairs when he should be running for his life!), whereas the vampire's henchman (named Morpho, no less) is not the expected creepy-looking hulk  if still a mute  but rather a lanky thug in a suit, sporting cool shades and a pistol (not to mention being secretly enamored of his Mistress)!
And then there's Jess Franco himself, in a quite revealing bit, as a crazed sadist (foreshadowing perhaps his Vogel of EXORCISM [1974])Of course, the film would not have worked quite as well without the beguiling presence of Soledad Miranda who dominates every scene she's in, be it the various tantalizing night-club acts (surely among the finest set-pieces in a Franco film, and several of them feature this type of scene  though we are never told quite why she should be doing them, being a Countess and all!) that we see her perform or the utterly graceful and totally natural manner in which she lures our understandably confused heroine (Ewa Stroemberg) into her particular 'way of life', away from her boyfriend and the routine which governs her 'normal' existence.
As has been promised by the title, we get to see a lot of female nudity  a Franco trademark, if ever there was one  but since the plot deals with an obsessive relationship (not only Miranda and Stroemberg's but also Heidrun Kussin's Renfield-like 'infatuation' with the former), it does not feel over-emphasized here and, in any case, is really quite tame considering the director's standards of even a few years later.The film's basic plot is wafer-thin ('padded' by numerous repeated actions and images) which, coupled with its necessarily languid pace, induces a sense of drowsiness in the viewer; this, however, is not a detriment to the film at all, as this quality is also to be found in the work of even the major art-house film-makers (I felt entranced in much the same way, for example, while watching Robert Bresson's A MAN ESCAPED [1956] recently  a film possibly admired by Franco himself, seeing that it's referenced at the start of THE DIABOLICAL DOCTOR Z [1965]).For those of you who are interested, I would like to point you in the direction of an excellent analytical study of the film  which lies at the heart of a lengthy article about five Jess Franco movies from the 1970s  written by Maximilian Le Cain that was published in the 'Senses of Cinema' online journal.
Here's the relevant link:http://www.sensesofcinema.com/contents/03/27/jess_franco.htmlImmediately after watching the DVD, to my horror I discovered that both VAMPYROS LESBOS and SHE KILLED IN ECSTASY are to be re-issued next year (by a different company, Image) and that these will most probably use the reportedly superior transfers that were available for Second Sight's impossibly expensive (for my tastes, being blind purchases and all) R2 discs.
Linda Westinghouse(Ewa Stromberg)travels to a small island in Turkey to help Countess Nadine Carody(beautiful Soledad Miranda)complete an inheritance from Dracula's.The Countess turns out to be someone appearing in her dreams.But the Countess is a vampire and seduces Linda and drinks her blood."Las Vampiras"/"Vampyros Lesbos" is really a soft-core lesbian take on "Dracula".The film is filled with hallucinatory atmosphere and sensuality,so fans of violent exploitation may be disappointed.Jesus Franco plays a creepy hotel worker who likes to take women down into the basement.The soundtrack is pretty groovy-I liked it a lot.Overall,"Vampyros Lesbos" is a masterpiece and a must-see for fans of sleazy horror..
This eurohorror classic by Jess Franco stars Soledad Miranda as Countess Nadine Carody, a wealthy recluse who strips at a club in Istanbul.
A must-see for anyone into Soledad Miranda, Jess Franco, or vampire movies!.
Linda has to be very powerful to resist the spell of Countess Oskudar that has a crush on her and destroy the vampire."Vampiros Lesbos" is an erotic and cult version of Bram Stoker's Dracula by Jesus Franco.
The rest is pretty much convoluted nonsense about Linda trying to fight the vampire urge and eventually overcoming Nadine, and some other random nonsense - which is all just really an excuse to show as much tits and ass as possible - not that that is a bad thing...The acting in the film is OK I guess for this sort of thing, and the direction and camera-work range from very decent, to plain amateurish depending on the scene.
This seems an even greater achievement when you consider that the DVD is of a Spanish film dubbed into German with English subtitles.In "Vampyros Lesbos" he plays a Dr. Steward, psychologist and secret vampire enthusiast, the latter hobby suddenly being revealed out of nowhere once the plot requires it.
Whilst the direction elsewhere in the film can be called into question, Price manages to create a great atmosphere of tension in his encounter with Countess Nadine, pleading with her to give him the secret of vampirism.
There's more eye candy going on here than just the female human form.Ewa Stromberg stars as lawyer Linda Westinghouse, who has been having sexy dreams about a mystery lady (Soledad Miranda, Francos' muse until the time of her premature death).
Let's face it - watch any more euro-explo fl;icks and this just don't stand up - sure, there's some great nightclub scenes, but the film as a whole is almost too much like 'art' - it's turgid in places, and lacks the balls one would expect from a film called 'Vampyros Lesbos'.
Very nice legs.Otherwise, there are repetitive takes edited in for change of scenes only one of which has any relation to the story line.The organ theme is niceThe whole thing is low budget but the castle where some outdoor shots are done is pretty impressiveI like to see films that catch the era that are unusual.
But here you have this 'leading man' that looks like George Bush with fake moustaches and sideburns, dressed like some guy trying to look like he wants people to know he reads "Penthouse" which really detracts from the good looks of the VampiressThe other leading lady (The German Blue eyed Blond)looks like a Hammer Film refugee -i.e., too old to do leading ladies for Hammer Films but still thinking she's not too old to be a leading lady.It would be great for a 12 year boy old to see because I used to watch movies like this on late night TV before I was allowed to stay out late and was chagrined when local TV would censor the flesh shots.BTD.
VAMPYROS LESBOS (3 outta 5 stars) Yes, this movie is about exactly what the title would lead you to think it was about: lesbian vampires.
Being a very "arty", European film it is more likely to appeal to fans of softcore sex movies than fans of vampire flicks.
Whether is the story, the atmosphere, the camera, the scenery, the beautiful women or the famous psychedelic soundtrack,  Vampyros Lesbos is Jess Franco's masterpiece.
The imagery and foreshadowing are elements that he knew how to handle and adapt to his movie.As in other Franco films, the gorgeous Soledad Miranda enlightens the screen and delivers the best performance in her short career by portraying Countess Nadine Carody; Count Dracula's widow, a vampiress thirsty for female blood and full of anger against men.I recommend this film to fans of 70s Euro-Horror, its a gem that shouldn't be overlooked and that will live forever in the dark side..
What I like the most about Jess Franco's movies is that they are so "late-60s": the music, the clothing, the places, the lack of sexual inhibition..."Vampyros Lesbos" is probably the epitome of "bad sixties" low budget films, but although it lacks in material resources, it oozes imagination and kistch.
Vampyros Lesbos (1970) *** (out of 4) Jess Franco's cult classic has a real estate worker (Ewa Stromberg) going to visit a mysterious woman (Soledad Miranda) who just happens to be a vampire.
In fact, I had the soundtrack way before I had the movie, as it was re-released in the 1990's.Countess Nadine Carody (the sublime and sadly departed Soledad Miranda) lives on a remote island where she puts on a seductive burlesque act every night that entices unwary women.
It's probably of worth to note that the director of the film, Franco, plays the torturer.Then, Linda finds Nadine's home, the former residence of Count Dracula.
This vampire film from director Jesus Franco is an unarguable example of a cult movie if ever there was one.
Vampyros Lesbos exhibits these faults as well – it does have cheap sets and it does look like it has been made in a hurry – but this is one of the films from Franco that clearly shows that he had something really interesting to offer.
A West German/Spanish co-production set in Turkey starring a cast from all over Europe and directed by sleazy exploitation legend Jess Franco: it's no wonder that Vampyros Lesbos is a bit all over the place at times, with a disjointed narrative and the director's haphazard visual trademarks—rapid zooms, out of focus close-ups and random imagery—very much in evidence.But whereas Franco's 'distinctive' style has frequently had me struggling to stay awake in the past, in this instance it proves surprisingly beguiling—an irresistibly bizarre, hypnotic, exotic, erotic slice of 70s psychedelia, its zonked-out art-house ambiance heightened by an incredibly trippy score, a remarkably effective fusion of prog rock, sitar, jazz flute, organ and incomprehensible Satanic vocals.Of course, it doesn't hurt much either that the film's two female stars—Soledad Miranda and Ewa Strömberg—are absolutely ravishing and frequently disrobe to indulge in a spot of soft-core Sapphic love-making.
One of Jess Franco's most famous works, "Vampyros Lesbos" is also one of the most distinctive and fresh low-budget horror films that sprung in Europe during the early 70's.
"Vampyros Lesbos"/"Lesbian Vampires") of 1971 is probably the most famous film by Spanish exploitation-mastermind Jess Franco.
While "Vampiros Lesbos" is not one of his greatest films, it is certainly up there among his memorable ones, both for its cult-value as one of the essential Lesbian Vampire flicks of the 70s and for its surreal atmosphere.
This is not only Jess Franco's most widely known film, but also the most famous specimen of the Lesbian Vampire sub-genre.
Linda Westinghouse (Ewa Strömberg), a foxy blonde female lawyer, has recurring dreams of lesbian experiences with a mysterious beauty (Soledad Miranda)...
One night they are watching a show in a nightclub and there Linda meets the woman that made such frequent appearances in her dreams - she (Countess Nadine - played by Soledad Miranda) is on the stage, dancing and seducing.
Calling director Jesus Franco a pornographer after watching Vampiros Lesbos would be unfair, but not simply for the face that he's directed many, many films throughout a career of B to Z grade projects.
He was 40 at the time and made a film that, for better or worse, is a part of a legacy of sex-horror trash that must be mentioned in any conversation about sexy naked women and some blood and vampires and stuff.
actually kind of), is on a beach away from her man and meets a carefree woman, Soledad Miranda, who draws her into her world: she's the sole heiress of Count Dracula's fortune, and has also been indoctrinated into the "coven" of other vampires, and by a slip of the "wine" she brings Linda in as well.
It's loaded with "crazy" imagery, hallucinatory passages of subjective viewpoints from its female characters- perhaps all an allusion to lesbianism and it keeping women trapped who normally wouldn't be under different circumstances(?)- and even an annoying recurring symbol of a scorpion in a pool (yeah, we get it, scorpion, Peckinpah, move on!) The acting also isn't good at all by a couple of the supporting players, like that guy who plays Morpho with the same stone-faced look or even Dr. Seward.But at the same time, as a time capsule, it holds some pleasures of some minor guilty measure.
It is pure B sexploitation and of interest only to those who want to watch every vampire film, or every lesbian film, or every Euro trash film; in other words, a completion fanatic.Sure, Ewa Strömberg, Soledad Miranda, and Heidrun Kussin were worth looking at.
If you're hoping for vampirism and lesbian in equal doses, however, you're in for a disappointment as it quickly becomes clear what Jess Franco's intentions were with this movie...and they went to make a horror film.
"The Queen of the Night will bear you up on her dark wings."I guess you can look at "Vampyros lesbos" as director Jesús Franco's 70's modern variation on Bram Stoker's Dracula using Soledad Miranda as the seductive female lesbian vampire who took lessons from her master(..that being Count Dracula)in capturing victims through a form of hypnotic lust, invading women through their dreams.
The two principal women are Linda Westinghouse (Ewa Strömberg) and Countess Nadine Carody (Soledad Miranda).
Soledad Miranda as the vampire brings Linda (Ewa Stromberg) to the island she lives on to seduce her.
"Vampyros Lesbos" is a wonderful erotic film, but so-so vampire film.**SPOILERS**After witnessing a strip-tease act in a local nightclub, Linda Westinghouse, (Ewa Stromberg) becomes infatuated with Countess Nadine Carody, (Soledad Miranda) and goes to visit her on her island.
Learning that the Countess is a vampire and plans to include Linda among her followers, Dr. Seward races to save her from the cult.The Good News: A fine example of the erotic European Horror films coming out at the time, this is a great entry in the genre.