Elusive vampiress carmilla also known as mircalla and marcilla and played by the luscious ingrid pitt escapes death at the hands of an austrian vampire hunter. Travelling the countryside searching for victims, carmilla. There are nowhere near as many direct film incarnations of carmilla as there are of dracula, vampire lovers is a fairly direct adaptation of the novella the midnight movies double feature disc countess dracula vampire lovers has a special feature with actress ingrid pitt reading from carmilla, the carmilla character has a big part in blood. She has no idea where carmilla is and is quite concerned.
Published around 1872 and about 25 years before bram stokers dracula. True to form, and as theyd done previously with dracula and frankenstein, hammer rushed sequels into production, creating what became known as the karnstein trilogy. Lust for a vampire 1971, featured danish actress yutte stensgaard as mircalla. Ingrid pitt carmilla excerpts the vampire lovers youtube. Often preferring to keep distant from others, it is rare for her to make friends with people. Carmilla and her mother arrange for their carriage to break down and carmilla feigns illness. Carmilla was the basis for the famous karnstein trilogy the lesbian vampire films the vampire lovers, twins of evil and lust for a vampire made by hammer in the 1970s.
Carmilla was first published in 1872 some twentysix years before the publication of dracula by bram stoker. The lack of dominance of one lover in this relationship despite carmilla being a vampire is presented as an alternative to heterosexual connections in this novella, charting a growth of affection into passion. The character of laura in carmilla from litcharts the. The image measures 563 723 pixels and was added on 12 february lefanus carmilla, the vampire lovers, hammer studios. Carmilla, published in 1872, was one of the first vampire novels and is certainly among the most sensuous with its strong lesbian overtones. The vampire lovers 1970 hd720p remastered ultimate classics hd. First published in 1872, it tells the story of a young womans susceptibility to the attentions of a female vampire named carmilla. Of all versions, this one portrays carmilla with the most sympathy, as a tragic monster. Neither film however, follows lefanus book carmilla as closely as the vampire lovers, nor do they have ingrid pitt rowrrowr. First published as a serial in the dark blue 187172, the story is narrated by a young woman preyed upon by a female vampire named carmilla, later revealed to be mircalla, countess karnstein carmilla is an anagram of mircalla. Finding refuge in a queer vampire novella literary hub. However, carmilla was published in 1872, twentyfive years before dracula appeared in. Weitere bedeutungen sind unter carmilla begriffsklarung aufgefuhrt.
However, georgia is engaged to be married to carmillas cousin. Within it, she finds the beast vampire kane viscardi. Seductive vampire carmilla karnstein and her family target the beautiful and the rich in a remote area of late eighteenthcentury gemany. Laura begins the novel leading a largely sheltered life, protected from the harsh realities of the world. Carmilla is not hurt by sunlight, although even going for a short walk will exhaust her physically. Carmilla is easily one of the best vampire stories ever written and has survived the test of time by being in publication for 140 years.
This is yet one more of the vampire s powers, and perhaps one of her more powerful ones. An adaptation of shaftesburys awardwinning, groundbreaking queer vampire web series of the same name, carmilla mixes the camp of buffy the vampire slayer, the snark of veronica mars, and the mysterious atmosphere of welcome to nightvale. Into this lonely life comes the mysterious house guest, carmilla. While some earlier films do include overt queer themes, everything went underground beginning with the hays code, and continuing even long after. Carmilla predates bram stokers dracula by twenty five years and has been adapted many times for. The character is a prototypical example of the lesbian vampire, expressing romantic desires toward the protagonist, and is depicted as a trait of ant. Jan 29, 2009 carmilla is easily one of the best vampire stories ever written and has survived the test of time by being in publication for 140 years. Audible originals brings you a brand new audiobook adaptation of j. Vampire literature covers the spectrum of literary work concerned principally with the subject of vampires. Jan 18, 20 carmilla predates bram stokers dracula by 25 years, and has been adapted many times for cinema.
The film was based on the famous 1872 novella carmilla by j. Carmilla as a character is evocative of female sexuality, but her vampire bite has a broader meaning, as it brings about a loss of innocence, and the transformation from girl to woman. Also, carmilla can assume the shape of a black cat. She learns later about the legend of the vampire, and comes to realize it is what haunted her. Sep 10, 2011 the most famous of these would probably be the vampire lovers from hammer studios and blood and roses, directed by roger vadim. In this first book of the virgin blood series, college student juliet finds herself in the questionable situation of breaking into the frightening mansion near campus. A nobleman who originally vanquished the vampire in the village near the karnstein estate by cutting off its head.
Carmilla, a tale of a female vampire who preys on young women, centers on the anxieties associated with female sexuality. Eventually, laura discovers that carmilla is a vampire when the latter makes the mistake of leaving blood in a milk carton, and carmilla admits her status as a vampire. This film is actually titled the vampire carmilla and is just another gothic vampire soap opera that owes more to dark shadows than j. Sheridan le fanu mircallas name is an anagram of carmilla. Carmilla in the house of horror, part 2 diabolique magazine. The lesbian vampire, first introduced in the 19th century gothic novella carmilla, led to an explosion of lesbian vampire movies in the 1970s. There are two seminal works for the vampire fiction genre. Inspired designs on tshirts, posters, stickers, home decor, and more by independent artists and designers from around the world. This edition includes a studentoriented introduction, tracing the major critical responses to carmilla, and four interdisciplinary essays by leading scholars who analyze the story from a variety of theoretical perspectives. This quote suggests that lauras potential for resistance or awareness is dulled by carmilla s bewitching words and embraces, and that rather than simply being stupid or besotted, laura is mentally unable to fully grasp what is wrong about carmilla. The disguised vampire carmilla s longing for laura is primarily sexual, and her craving for the blood of young women suggests that female sexual. Aug 25, 2019 based on the book carmilla by sheridan le fanu a vampire with lesbian tendencies is dropped off at the chateau and captures the lord of the manors daughter.
This cameo role was offered to ingrid pitt who so notably portrayed carmilla in the first entry in this series, 1970s vampire lovers, but she refused it, which is a shame, as i believe that she would have given it a gravitas that actress katya wyeth does not seem able to impart to the role, brief though it is. Carmilla herself is mentioned several times as a former until her death at the hands of vampire hunters friend of the books vampire heroine genevieve. Although carmilla is a lesser known and far shorter gothic vampire story than the generallyconsidered master work of that genre, dracula, the latter is heavily influenced by le fanus short story. If dracula was a victorian melodrama using blood and swooning to represent sex, and bodily fluids, in mainly heterosexual attractions carmilla is a victorian gothic lesbian tale. She had a lover and her early death plunged him into inconsolable grief.
How does the 2014 stage play by david macdowell blue handle the source materials issues. The vampire lovers by j sheridan le fanu book cover, description, publication history. Mircalla, or carmilla millarca, is there, rosy and warm as if she were alive. Carmilla is a gothic novella by joseph sheridan le fanu. The literary vampire first appeared in 18thcentury poetry, before becoming one of the stock figures of gothic fiction with the publication of polidoris the vampyre 1819, which was inspired by the life and legend of lord byron. Carmilla also discovers that laura is having nightmares, these of which are beacons to the other students that will be seized by the vampires. Carmilla themes from litcharts the creators of sparknotes. Oct 09, 2015 in roger vadims film, carmilla is obsessively in love with her best friend, georgia. Anyhoo, after an explosion disturbs the grave of carmillas ancestor, she is essential possessed and goes on a bloody, vampiric rampage. I think hammer did make a trilogy in the 70s loosely based on the story. Mar 12, 2014 jim ivers takes a look at films inspired by j. With ingrid pitt, pippa steel, madeline smith, peter cushing. The vampire lovers by j sheridan le fanu fantastic fiction.
Possessing a sarcastic disposition, carmilla is strong willed and melancholic. She became laura hollis roommate after lauras previous roommate, betty, went missing under mysterious circumstances. One of these, the vampire lovers 1970 is a loose adaptation of carmilla. Editor alan ryan includes a wide range of talents here, from bram stoker to robert bloch. First book publication appears to be in the authors collection of short stories in a glass darkly the same year. Ebhardt, the butler, catches on to what is happening. Carmilla characters from litcharts the creators of. Le fanu was one of the first writers to depict a female vampire, and he consistently associates vampirism with eroticism. Carmilla s mother wears black velvet in the chariot scene, carmilla is described by laura as having black eyes and dark hair with something golden. The british hammer film productions also produced a fairly faithful adaptation of carmilla titled the vampire lovers 1970 with ingrid pitt in the lead role, madeline smith as her victim lover, and hammers regular peter cushing. As with most mainstream lesbian porn, however, these movies have less to do with the women involved than with the titillation of straight. The best vampire adaptations to watch right now book riot.
She is taken in by the mortons where she befriends his daughter emma. He is the ancestor of the baron vordenburg, and a lover of the countess mircalla carmilla read full character analysis. May 16, 2014 carmilla is often cited as the prototype of the subgenre of lesbian vampire tales, found chiefly in exploitation films of the 1970s. It is a classic gothic novella set deep in the enchanted forests of styria, a land still haunted by superstition and of course vampires. A more obscure version, produced by polish television in the 1980s, can be seen during the virtual blog tour of a new book about le fanus story. As a child, laura lives a lonely and sheltered life with her father and governesses in a castle in styria, austria. Sheridan le fanu carmilla is a gothic novella by joseph sheridan le fanu and one of the early works of vampire fiction, predating bram stokers dracula 1897 by 26 years. May 15, 20 a thrilling gothic tale, carmilla tells the story of a young woman lured by the charms of a female vampire. This is definitively a great book and a must for the lovers of horror tales. The vampire novella carmilla set in austria is one of le fanus best tales and greatly influenced bram stocker, who published dracula 25 years later. Carmilla karnstein ingrid pitt is the main villainess in the 1970 british hammer horror film, the vampire lovers. Mircalla was then haunted by a demon who turned her into a vampire after her death. Carmilla karnstein the vampire lovers the female villains. Carmilla and lauras relationship is a tale of equal interest fuelled by ardour and affinity.
May 07, 2019 this list of the best vampire adaptations is sponsored by carmilla by kim turrisi from kcp loft. The vampire lovers is the only one that draws from this book. Sheridan le fanu novella carmilla and is part of the. The vampire lovers is a 1970 british gothic horror film directed by roy ward baker and starring ingrid pitt, peter cushing, george cole, kate omara, madeline smith, dawn addams and jon finch. Some short stories set in the anno dracula series universe have also included carmilla. The book is definitely for cats and vampire lovers, with many rich illustrations of fully clothed cats against elaborate gothic and victorian backgrounds the book has a disclaimer that all illustrations were done using models that were then digitally combined with photographs of cats and that no cats were harmed in any way, a very thoughtful. Also included is a 20minute interview with madeline smith, where she discusses her career and the filming of the vampire lovers. Laura is the book s protagonist and narrator, who retells as an adult her adolescent experiences with the vampire carmilla. Ghost stories and mysteries ghost and horror stories green tea and other ghost stones carmilla and other classic tales of mystery. Carmilla first appears as marcilla, a girl who is left by her mother in the care of general spielsdorf peter cushing and his family in styria, now part of austria. The vampire lovers 1970, starred polishborn ingrid pitt as lesbian vampire mircalla karnstein. The vampire lovers and other stories ghost stories and mysteries the hours after midnight j. We are meeting to discuss carmilla by joseph sheridan le fanu on 3 february.
Nov 01, 2017 in the vampire lovers, laura lies still, disturbingly dolllike, as carmilla kisses her. The next day, her father, the general, and men of the law and medicine gather at mircallas tomb and open it. Carmilla by joseph sheridan le fanu this is an old book,a classic. The history behind carmilla, the story of a 19th century. Lucky for her, kane is a little different from other vampires. Living in the mid1800s in a victorian manor, elle fell in love with the girl her family had taken in, carmilla karnstein.
This abysmal 1999 effort should not be confused with the 1999 carmilla starring maria pechukas as the title character. The book starts getting into the movie from about the fifth chapter. Carmilla is an 1872 gothic novella by irish author joseph sheridan le fanu and one of the early works of vampire fiction, predating bram stokers dracula by 26 years. Later influential works include the penny dreadful varney. Jul 21, 2010 the vampire lovers 1970 is the first of hammer studiosa socalled karnstein trilogy, and despite the often garish choices when it comes to blood, fangs and nudity actually manages notable faithfulness. Made right at the height of the womens movement, these lesbian vampire sisters are doing it for themselves. Carmilla karnstein is a 340 year old, former vampire and student at silas university. I recognised dialog and descriptions in the plots of both. Carmilla by sheridan le fanu and dracula by bram stoker. Carmilla read by ingrid pitt written by colinbond following on from yesterdays post which covered some of the notable film adaptations of carmilla, we have ingrid pitt, who portrayed carmilla in hammer films the vampire lovers, reading an excerpt from le fanus novel. The vampire lovers 1970 hammer films loved carmilla so much that they created an entire trilogy of films influenced by the story.
Oct 19, 20 one of the most hugely influential vampire stories of all time, le fanus carmilla was written before bram stokers dracula. Sheridan le fanu novella carmilla and is part of the socalled karnstein trilogy of films, the other films being lust for a vampire 1971 and twins of evil 1972. Twentyfive years before bram stokers dracula, irish writer joseph sheridan le fanu published carmilla 1872, a gothic vampire novella. The british hammer film productions also produced a fairly faithful adaptation of carmilla titled the vampire lovers 1970 with ingrid pitt in the lead role, madeline smith as her victimlover, and hammers regular peter cushing.
The vampire lovers was a success for hammer at a time when the company was badly in need of some good news. First published as a serial in the dark blue, the story is narrated by a young woman preyed upon by a female vampire named carmilla, later revealed to be mircalla, countess karnstein. You will think me cruel, very selfish, but love is always selfish. The countess is called away to tend a sick friend and imposes on the general to accept her daughter marcilla as a houseguest. It tells the story of a young womans susceptibility to the attentions of a female vampire named. After carmilla s mother who is revealed to be lilita morgan in the web series reveals to elle that carmilla is a vampire, elle becomes horrified and tricks carmilla into revealing her true self to her. Ingrid pitt as carmillamarcala in the vampire lovers, roy ward baker, posts about sexy horror written by rincewind and izaakmak ingrid pitt in countess dracula. Sheridan le fanus classic gothic novella, carmilla starring rose leslie game of thrones and downton abbey, david tennant doctor who and broadchurch and phoebe fox life in squares and the woman in black 2. Lesbian vampire films inspired by carmilla spooky isles. I first became acquainted with carmilla from the hammer studios karstein trilogy of the vampire lovers, lust for a vampire, and twins of evil. Carmilla is such a wonderful beautiful girl and at the same time a fiendish vampire. She is actually mircalla, the countess karnstein, who died many years ago. This young woman, whose name will later be revealed as laura, describes her picturesque childhood living in a manor in styria, austria with her widowed father and her governesses, madame perrodon. But carmilla and its film adaptations enter more persuasively, and with a playful, dark humour that le fanu would have relished, into the emotional universe of the vampire, into her drives and the hallucinatory drives of her victims.
Carmilla is often cited as the prototype of the subgenre of lesbian vampire tales, found chiefly in exploitation films of the 1970s. It is the first installment of the karnstein trilogy. Sheridan le fanus 1872 carmilla requires alteration to become palatable to a modern audience. Best known as hammer films most seductive female vampire of the early 1970s, the polishborn pitt possessed dark, alluring. This is definitively a great book and a must for the lovers. There are nowhere near as many direct film incarnations of carmilla as there are of dracula, vampire lovers is a fairly direct adaptation of the novella the midnight movies double feature disc countess draculavampire lovers has a special feature with actress ingrid pitt reading from carmilla, the carmilla character has a big part in blood spattered bride and also carmilla makes a brief appearance in twins of evil. However, carmilla was published in 1872, twentyfive years before dracula appeared in print, and in my opinion is far superior to it. Carmilla opens by informing the reader that the events of the story recollections from a young woman about her experiences with a vampire will be presented from the casebook of doctor hesselius. There is little indication le fanu thought of carmilla as legions of lgbtq readers later would. The three films were somewhat daring for the time in explicitly depicting lesbian vampire themes. The penguin book of vampire stories is the definitive collection of short tales of those deadly bloodsuckers.
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