Devils of Darkness ** (1965, William Sylvester, Hubert Noël, Carole Gray, Tracy Reed) – Classic Movie Review 11,053

‘Called from the Grave…To Follow a Mystic Cult of Evil’

Director Lance Comfort’s 1965 Devils of Darkness [Talisman] from Planet Film Productions is a sometimes lively shoestring shocker about a villainous vampire, Armand du Molière, aka Count Sinistre (Hubert Noël), the boss of an undead cult, who lures pretty young British holidaymakers into his underground lair in the graveyard of a small town in Brittany inhabited by gypsies. The vampire cult is on the hunt for victims for its human sacrifice rituals.

Holidaying writer Paul Baxter (William Sylvester) investigates after Count Sinistre murders three of his friends, battles the vampire and his gypsy bride Tania (Carole Gray), and sets out to rescue the lovely Karen Steele (Tracy Reed). Baxter escapes back to England and takes with him Count Sinistre’s golden bat talisman, but Sinistre pursues him to retrieve it and exact revenge, killing Baxter’s acquaintances.

The stars make some headway through the exotic if familiar plot, but the plain handling lets it down, though the low budget (£110,000) did afford Eastman Colour, which is nicely used by cinematographer Frank Drake, and French location work at Château du Rusquec, Loqueffret, Finistère, France. The bulk of the film was made in the studio at Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England.

Devils of Darkness [Talisman] is apparently Britain’s first contemporary vampire picture.

The original story and screenplay are by Lyn Fairhurst was the film critic of the BBC’s radio cinema show, Movie-go-round.

It is the last feature directed by Lance Comfort.

It was made in 1964 but released in May 1965 (US) and September 1965 (UK).

The French inspector’s name Malin is the French word for ‘smart’.

Also in the cast are Diana Decker as Madeleine Braun, Rona Anderson as Anne Forest, Peter Illing as Inspector Malin, Gerard Heinz as Bouvier the Hotel Manager, Brian Oulton as The Colonel, Walter Brown as Bruno, Eddie Byrne as Dr Robert Kelsey, Victor Brooks as Inspector Hardwick, Marie Burke as Old Gypsy Woman, Marianne Stone as The Duchess and Avril Angers as Midge, with Victor Brooks, Gerard Heinz, Rod McLennan, Walter Brown, John Taylor, Marie Burke, Olwen Brookes, Murray Kash, Billy Milton and Margaret Denver.

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,053

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