''Uncle Was a Vampire'' ( it, Tempi duri per i vampiri, lit=Hard Times for Vampires) is a 1959 Italian film directed by Steno.

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 A bellhop (North America), or hotel porter (carrier), porter (international), is a hotel employee who helps patrons with their luggage while check-in, checking in or out. Bellhops often wear a uniform (see bell-boy hat), like certain other Page (a ...

. 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

Production

''Uncle Was a Vampire'' was

Christopher Lee Sir Christopher Frank Carandini Lee (27 May 1922 – 7 June 2015) was an English actor and singer. In a long career spanning more than 60 years, Lee often portrayed villains, and appeared as Count Dracula in seven Hammer Horror films, ultim ...

's first appearance in an Italian film production.

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 Embassy Pictures Corporation (also and later known as Avco Embassy Pictures as well as Embassy Films Associates) was an American independent film production and distribution studio responsible for such films as '' The Graduate'', '' The Prod ...

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 Antonio Griffo Focas Flavio Angelo Ducas Comneno Porfirogenito Gagliardi de Curtis di Bisanzio (15 February 1898 – 15 April 1967), best known by his stage name Totò (), or simply as Antonio de Curtis, and nicknamed ''il Principe della risata ...

Notes

References

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External links

* 1959 films 1959 horror films 1950s comedy horror films Italian comedy horror films Films directed by Stefano Vanzina Films scored by Armando Trovajoli Vampire comedy films 1959 comedy films 1950s Italian films {{comedy-horror-film-stub