Vampire Circus is a UK VHS release by The Video Collection on 9th February 1987, and then it got re-released by The Video Collection and Cinema Club on 3rd April 1995.
Description[]
HORROR AT ITS MOST DEPRAVEED!
Set in a small Eastern European town in the early 19th century, this chilling tale concerns the terrible vengeance of a gypsy woman attached to a travelling circus. All who cross her path perish horribly as she fulfills the dying curse of a vampire count.
This production set new standards in horror that many feel have yet to be equalled.
ROLL UP! ROLL UP! FOR THE VAMPIRE CIRCUS. FROM THE HAMMER HOUSE OF HORROR!
Cast[]
- Adrienne Corri as Gypsy Woman
- Laurence Payne as Professor Albert Müller
- Thorley Walters as Peter, the Mayor of Stitl
- Lynne Frederick as Dora Müller
- John Moulder-Brown as Anton Kersh
- Elizabeth Seal as Gerta Hauser
- Anthony Higgins (billed as Anthony Corlan) as Emil
- Richard Owens as Dr. Kersh
- Domini Blythe as Anna Müller
- Robin Hunter as Mr Hauser
- Robert Tayman as Count Mitterhaus
- Robin Sachs as Heinrich (twin brother of Helga)
- Lalla Ward as Helga (twin sister of Heinrich)
- Skip Martin as Michael the dwarf
- David Prowse as the Strongman
- Mary Wimbush as Elvira
- Christina Paul as Rosa
- Roderick Shaw as Jon Hauser
- Barnaby Shaw as Gustav Hauser
- John Bown as Mr Schilt
- Sibylla Kay as Mrs. Schilt
- Jane Darby as Jenny Schilt
- Dorothy Frere as Granma Schilt
- Milovan Vesnitch as the erotic male dancer
- Serena as the erotic tiger-woman dancer
- Sean Hewitt as First Soldier
- David de Keyser as the voice of Mitterhaus's curse (uncredited)
Three of the cast—Laurence Payne, Adrienne Corri and Lalla Ward—would be reunited in the 1980 season of the British sci-fi/fantasy series Doctor Who in the serial The Leisure Hive. The film also heralded the screen debut of Lynne Frederick, who would later marry comic Peter Sellers. David Prowse, who later played Darth Vader in the first Star Wars trilogy, appears in a silent role as the circus strongman. Robin Sachs would later appear later in his career as a recurring villainous character Ethan Rayne in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and as the space conqueror Sarris in the science-fiction comedy Galaxy Quest. In Stanley Kubrick's 1971 film of "A Clockwork Orange", Corri had played the wife of writer F. Alexander, being ravaged by Alex and his droogs who left her husband crippled, to be shown later relying on the care of bodybuilder "Julius", portrayed by Prowse.
Credits[]
Produced by Wilbur Stark
Directed by Robert Young
Opening (Original 1987 Release)[]
- The Video Collection Warning Screen (1986-1995)
- The Video Collection "New Catalogue" Promo From 1986 with clips of "It's a Wonderful Life, "Rebecca", "High Noon", "Ring of Bright Water", "Duel in the Sun", "The Quiet Man", "Rio Grande", "Sands of Iwo Jima", "Dark Command", "Wake of the Red Witch", "Flying Tigers", "The Touch of Mink", "Indiscreet", "Operation Petticoat", "Father Goose", "Bringing Up Baby", "The Green is Greener", "Flying Down to Rio", "The Gay Divorcee", "Silver Hawks", "Care Bears", "The Get Along Gang", "GoBots", "M.A.S.K.", "ThunderCats", "A Star for Jeremy", "George & the Star", "The Coneheads", "Heathcliff & the Catillac Cats", "Grimm's Fairy Tales", "The Flintstones", "The Smurfs", "Top Cat", "He-Man & the Masters of the Universe", "Mr. T", "The Perils of Penelope Pitstop", "Scooby-Doo", "Yogi Bear", "SuperTed", "Thomas The Tank Engine & Friends", "Moschops", "Dastardly & Muttley in Their Flying Machines", "The Video Gallery", "The Wind in the Willows", "Duran", "Queen", "Sport Aid" and "Jane Fonda's Workout". [announced by Ray Brooks]
- The Rank Organisation logo
- Start of Vampire Circus (1972)
Closing (Original 1987 Release)[]
- End of Vampire Circus (1972)
- Closing Credits Film
- The Video Collection logo (1986-1995)
Opening (Rare 1987 release)[]
- The Video Collection Warning Screen (1986-1995)
- Video Collection International "A Galaxy of Entertainment" promo from 1987
- The Rank Organisation logo
- Start of Vampire Circus (1972)
Closing (Rare 1987 release)[]
- End of Vampire Circus (1972)
- Closing Credits Film
- The Video Collection logo (1986-1995)
Opening (1995 Re-release) (with no trailer)[]
- Tracking control screen (1994-1995) (Normal)
- Warning screen (1986-1995)
- The Video Collection logo (1986-1995)
- The Rank Organisation logo
- Start of Vampire Circus (1972)
Closing (1995 Re-release) (with no trailer)[]
- End of Vampire Circus (1972)
- Closing Credits Film
- The Video Collection logo (1986-1995)
Trailers and info[]
Despite being released in 1987, Early prints of this VHS has the 1986 promo.
The Video Collection "New Catalogue" advert from 1986 which is narrated by Ray Brooks featuring 'Movie Greats' video tiles including...
- a clip of the 1946 Christmas fantasy comedy-drama film "It's a Wonderful Life"
- a clip of Laurence Olivier in the 1940 psychological drama film "Rebecca" along with Joan Fontaine.
- a clip of the 1952 Western film "High Noon" starring Gary Cooper and Grace Kelly
- A still for other movie greats that are available which are "Ring of Brightwater", "Duel in the Sun" and many more to which Ray Brooks announces.
- clips for John Wayne films on video such as the chatting and kissing scene from "The Quiet Man" (1952), brief clips of other movies with John Wayne such as "Rio Grande" (1950), "Sands of Iwo Jima" (1950), "Dark Command" (1940), the punching scene from "Wake of the Red Witch" (1948) and a clip from "Flying Tigers" (1942).
- clips for films starring Cary Grant including a clip of himself with Doris Day in "The Touch of Mink" (1952), a clip of himself with Ingrid Bergman in "Indiscreet" (1958), "Operation Petticoat", "Father Goose", "Bringing Up Baby", "The Green is Greener", and many more...,
- Musicals - Flying Down to Rio, The Gay Divorcee, Young at Heart and many more...,
- Children's Entertainment - Care Bears, The Get Along Gang, ThunderCats, Mask, Thomas The Tank Engine and Friends, Yogi Bear, The Wind in the Willows and many children's videos.
- The Video Music Collection - Duran and many musical videos. and Sports - Sport Aid, Run the World, Jane Fonda's Workout and many sports videos
1987 Print
It starts with a view of the video collection catalogue with a sky background and videos anywhere, one of which is the Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends Coal and Other Stories VHS, easily identified by the orange background on the cover. The announcer says "Welcome to The Video Collection. Our brand new catalogue is packed with great films."
it is followed by a montage of clips of the following and in order:
- Ring of Bright Water
- Richard lll
- Mr. Blandings Builds his Dream House
- She Wore a Yellow Ribbon
- Escape to Victory
- The Way Ahead
- Tommy Cooper
- Benny Hill and Friends
- Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends
- Tin Tin (The Animated Series)
- Dennis
- Thundercats
- Button Moon
- Teddy Ruxpin
- Music Videos of Phil Collins, Queen and Hot Chocolate under the Gold Rushes range (Possibly a successor to The Video Music Collection range)
- Finally, there are the front cover of two videos, one about making the most of your house and the other Jane fonda's Prime Time Workout
Gallery[]
Video clips[]
Opening to Vampire Circus UK VHS (1987, V2)