Malenka

Malenka, the Vampires Niece also referred to as Malenka, Malenka La Nipote del Vampiro, Malenka la Sobrina del Vampiro, The Vampire Girl, and Fangs of the Living Dead is a 1969 SpanishItalian horror film that was written and directed by Spanish director Amando de Ossorio, and his first horror film. The movie had its world premiere on July 23, 1969 in Italy and was released in Spain in August of the same year. The film was inspired by similarly themed Italian and British vampire films that were releasing during the same time period such as Dance of the Vampires, and is one of the first vampire films to originate in Spain. It has been credited as being the 1969 picture that hammered the final nail into the cinematic coffin of the bombshelterera bombshell Anita Ekberg, as well as being one of the most original gothic examples of Spanish horror. Boris Karloff was initially approached to star in the film, but he eventually turned down the role following contractual wrangles. Boris wound up dying before the film was completed anyway. There are two alternative endings for the film, a rationaletype ending in which the vampire turns out to be a hoax, and a supernatural ending which was added only to the English version of the film. The musical score by Carlo Savina was later reused in the 1971 lowbudget horror La notte dei dannati. Julian Ugarte played the vampire uncle, fresh from his appearance as the vampire in Paul Naschys classic La Marca del Hombre Lobo 1968.

The beautiful and virginal Sylvia Anita Ekberg is delighted to discover that shes inherited not only the noble title of Countess, but she has also inherited a castle located in the country. She excitedly calls her fiance Piero Gianni Medici to tell him that shes going to travel to view the castle. Once there she stops at a local inn for a drink, where she announces her destination and relation to the castles inhabitants which horrifies the townspeople. Unswayed by the townspeoples reactions, Sylvia arrives at the castle and meets her uncle, the Count Walbrooke Julian Ugarte, and beds down for the night. She is later awakened by the maidservant Blinka Adriana Ambesi, who warns her that Walbrooke is a centuryold vampire that means her harm. Blinkas attempts to draw Sylvia out of bed and out of the castle are interrupted by Walbrooke, who takes her into another room and whips her. Sylvia pleads with him to stop, only for Walbrooke to reveal that Blinka herself is also a vampire.The next morning Sylvia attempts to leave but is persuaded to stay after Walbrooke tells her about her aunt Malenka, who was burned at the stake for being a witch. He convinces Sylvia that the family is cursed and because of her strong resemblance to Malenka, paired with her ties to the family, that Sylvia is also cursed. Furthermore, Sylvia must remain at the castle and stay unmarried, otherwise the curse will worsen and affect those around her. As a result Sylvia breaks off her engagement with Piero, who decides to travel to the castle out of concern for Sylvia. When he arrives at the same inn Sylvia visited earlier in the film, Piero is filled in on the events by one of the inns barmaids. He then travels to the castle with the intent to stop Walbrooke from turning Sylvia into a vampire. In the Spanish version, the uncles vampire ploy turns out to be a hoax hes using to drive his niece crazy. But the distributors had a different rushed ending added to the English language prints, in which the

Source: Wikipedia