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Uncle Was a Vampire
Uncle Was a Vampire
	Italian theatrical release poster
Directed by	Steno
Screenplay by	Edoardo Anton; Marcello Fondato; Sandro Continenza; Dino Verde; Steno; Renato Rascel;
Story by	Edoardo Anton; Marcello Fondato; Sandro Continenza; Dino Verde; Steno; Renato Rascel;
Based on	an idea; by Mario Cecchi Gori
Produced by	Mario Cecchi Gori
Starring	Renato Rascel; Christopher Lee; Sylva Koscina; Lia Zoppelli;
Cinematography	Marco Scarpelli
Edited by	Eraldo Da Roma
Music by	Armando Trovajoli; Renato Rascel;
Production; companies	Maxima Film; Montflour Film;
Distributed by	C.E.I.-Incom
Release date	October 28, 1959 (Italy);
Running time	90 minutes
Country	Italy
Box office	₤ 385 million

Uncle Was a Vampire (Italian: Tempi duri per i vampiri, lit. 'Hard Times for Vampires'^[3]) is a 1959 Italian comedy horror film, directed by Steno.^[2] A novelty song by Bruno Martino, Dracula Cha Cha Cha, written for this film, later became a widely covered hit.

Plot

Baron Osvaldo Lambertenghi is forced to sell his ancestral castle to pay his debts. The manor is ingloriously transformed into a frivolous hotel, and Osvaldo is allowed to continue to live there working as a bellhop.

One day Osvaldo receives a visit from his uncle, Baron Roderico da Frankurten, who turns out to be a real vampire. Osvaldo tries to warn the various guests of the hotel, with the only result being that he is taken for a madman.

Bitten by his uncle, Osvaldo will also turn into a vampire, but his beloved, Lellina, will also be able to free him from the curse.

Cast

Renato Rascel as Baron Osvaldo Lambertenghi
Christopher Lee as Baron Roderico da Frankurten
Sylva Koscina as Carla
Kai Fischer as Lellina
Lia Zoppelli as Letizia
Franco Scandurra as Professor Stricker
Carl Wery as Director
Antje Geerk
Rik Van Nutter as Carla's fiancé
Susanne Loret as Susan
Mario Cecchi Gori as Civil law notary
Franco Giacobini

Production

Uncle Was a Vampire was Christopher Lee's first appearance in an Italian film production.^[4]

Release

Uncle Was a Vampire was released in Italy on October 28, 1959 where it was distributed by C.E.I.-Incom. It grossed a total of 385 million lire in Italy.

The film was released in the United States in 1964 on television through Embassy Pictures.^[1]

Reception

In his book Italian Horror Film Directors, Louis Paul described the film as "obviously modeled on the slapstick efforts of the comedies featuring the character Totò".^[5]

Notes

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Curti 2015, p. 31.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Curti 2015, p. 30.
^ Paul 2005, p. 338.
^ Curti 2015, p. 32.
^ Paul 2005, pp. 13–4.

References

Curti, Roberto (2015). Italian Gothic Horror Films, 1957-1969. McFarland. ISBN 978-1476619897.
Paul, Louis (2005). Italian Horror Film Directors. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-8749-3.