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Lionel Barrymore, Bela Lugosi, Elizabeth Allan, Lionel Atwill, Carroll Borland ... see more see more... , Jean Hersholt , Henry Wadsworth , Donald Meek , Jessie Ralph , Ivan Simpson , Holmes Herbert , Franklyn Ardell , Egon Brecher , Guy Bellis , Leila Bennett , James Bradbury Jr , Rosemary Glosz , Robert Greig , Eily Malyon , Torben Meyer , Christian Rub , Zeffie Tilbury , Clare Verdera , Michael Visaroff , June Gittelson , Baron Hesse

Mark of the Vampire is Tod Browning's remake of his own 1927 thriller London After Midnight, which unfortunately no longer exists. The sudden appearance of ghostly vampires in a remote mittel-European... read more read more... community is seemingly tied in with an old, unsolved murder case. Police inspector Neumann (Lionel Atwill) and occult expert Prof. Zelen (Lionel Barrymore) investigate, with the full cooperation of leading citizen Baron Otto (Jean Hersholt). For awhile, it looks as though the vampires -- Count Mora (Bela Lugosi) and his chalky-faced daughter Luna (Carroll Borland) -- will continue to hold the community in thrall, but the truth behind their mysterious activities is revealed midway through the film, whereupon the story concentrates on identifying the well-concealed murderer. In the original London After Midnight, Lon Chaney played both Count Mora and Prof. Zelen, which should provide a clue as to the film's incredible outcome. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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37% want to see it

1,917 ratings

Critics

77% liked it

13 critics

G, 1 hr. 1 min.

Directed by: Tod Browning

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Bela and Luna Bela and Luna Mark of the Vampire Carol Borland and Bela Lugosi Count Mora and his daughter Mark of the Vampire
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Flixster Reviews (103)

  • webalina
    August 4, 2007
    webalina
    Ultimately disappointing vampire story, whose only saving grace is Carol Borland, who really spooked me in her role as the female vampire.
  • guttersnipe28
    November 9, 2006
    guttersnipe28
    One gets the distinct feel that Mark of the Vampire could and should have been really something, but sadly Browning's film fell prey to the fall-out of his own trend-setting. Mark was initially supposed to depict an incestuous relationship between the father and daughter vampires... read more terrorising the town. But MGM were all over Browning after the controversy caused by his masterwork Freaks, that they immediately cut that out without any consideration for how it would affect the plot. As a result, Lugosi sports a bullet-wound throughout the film for seeingly no reason. Besides this, we endure some leaden acting and frightful staginess, irregardless of Browning's honest attempts at atmospherics. Exposition is also a problem, the events unfolding as if read from an instruction maual. Redeemingly, the picture does sport a delightfully unusual ending and features more comedy than you'd expect, making it at the very least entertaining.
  • Hellshocked
    May 26, 2010
    Hellshocked
    Godawful script (due, at least in part, to the numerous scenes that were never shot and a number of others which did not make the final cut) is somewhat redeemed by some decent atmosphere, a spectacular sequence (with some very impressive special effects) and a very creepy perfor... read moremance by Mr. Lionel Atwill.

    Is this a remake of "London After Midnight"?
  • codyfranklin2
    November 2, 2009
    codyfranklin2
    Barely a step above a Ed Wood film, which is surprising with such a good cast and a great director like Tod Browning. The pace and editing of the film is chaotic and the story is stupid. The only saving grace is the look and it's only 80 minutes. I read this film had 20 plus minu... read moretes cut out so that would explain why it was so horrible. It also has a bad twist ending reminiscent of April Fools Day, do not waste your time.
  • ileo
    January 19, 2008
    ileo
    A favorite.
  • CHILIcheeseDONUTSwithTUNAonTOP
    October 21, 2009
    CHILIcheeseDONUTSwithTUNAonTOP
    Bela Lugosi as a vampire in this mystery thriller which takes place in a castle in vague-Europe (kinda like Frankenstein ? never really specified what country its supposed to be). No one believes that it could be a vampire (until a professional vampire hunter arrives), so there i... read mores suspicion cast upon different folks as often is the case with these type of spooky-old-house films. Like most of these spooky-old-house films there is some humor placed throughout which makes this rather enjoyable, but I found the ending a cop-out (though rather common at the time to do so). Maybe Im reading to much into what I saw, but I think I saw the first lesbian-vampire hints here, even earlier than Dracula's Daughter
  • RCMerchant
    March 3, 2008
    RCMerchant
    A GREAT looking film...but not enuff Bela,and the ending disapoints. Carrol Borland is the classic Vampire Girl.

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Critic Reviews

Frank S. Nugent
August 8, 2006
Frank S. Nugent, New York Times

Like most good ghost stories, it's a lot of fun, even though you don't believe a word of it. Full Review

Dave Kehr
January 1, 2000
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

One of the classics of the horror genre. Full Review

John J. Puccio
October 5, 2006
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis

There isn't much in the story that one hasn't seen before, until the very end when Browning and the script turn everything on its ear. Full Review

Geoff Andrew
June 24, 2006
Geoff Andrew, Time Out

A real touch of class is present in James Wong Howe's magnificent photography, not to mention Carol Borland's stunning apparition as a vampire. Full Review

Gerald Peary
November 1, 2003
Gerald Peary, Boston Phoenix

The film gets tiresome and talky, even at its 61-minute length. Full Review

Ken Hanke
May 29, 2003
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Scores high marks for creating a sense of otherworldly dread that depends very little on whether or not what we see makes any sense. Full Review

May 24, 2003
Film4

Suffering from a flagging pace and patchy script, the film has its plus points nevertheless -- notably a good use of visuals. Full Review

Dennis Schwartz
January 1, 2000
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

This amusing B&W film, with photography by James Wong Howe, captures the eerie atmosphere befitting a horror film. Full Review

Michael Szymanski
October 7, 2005
Michael Szymanski, International Press Academy

No review available.

Emanuel Levy
July 13, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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  • A few of my movies. Who am I? Dracula (1931) The Death Kiss (1932) Mark of the Vampire (1935) Son of Frankenstein (1939) The Wolf Man (1941) Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943) The Body Snatcher (1945) I guess I do evil and creepy the best of all time!   Answer »
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