The Fearless Vampire Killers

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The Fearless Vampire Killers, or Pardon Me, But Your Teeth Are in My Neck (commonly known as The Fearless Vampire Killers; initially released in the United Kingdom under the title Dance of the Vampires) is a 1967 comedy horror movie directed by Roman Polanski. The screenplay was co-written by Polanski and Gérard Brach, with production handled by Gene Gutowski. The cast features Polanski himself, alongside Sharon Tate, Jack MacGowran, and Alfie Bass, with Ferdy Mayne in a supporting role.

The storyline centers on an elderly vampire hunter (Jack MacGowran) and his clumsy assistant (Roman Polanski) who journey to a secluded mountain village to investigate vampire activity. The assistant becomes infatuated with Sarah (Sharon Tate), the tavern keeper’s daughter, who is soon abducted. They confront the undead Count within his castle in an effort to save her. This film later inspired the stage musical Dance of the Vampires, originally named Tanz der Vampire in German.

Plot

Set in mid-19th century Transylvania, the narrative follows Professor Abronsius, formerly affiliated with the University of Königsberg, and his apprentice Alfred as they pursue vampires. Upon reaching a village where inhabitants perform rituals warding off an unseen menace, Alfred develops affection for Sarah, the tavern keeper Yoine Shagal’s daughter. When Count von Krolock abducts Sarah, Shagal attempts a rescue but is discovered frozen and transformed into a vampire.

Following Shagal’s attack on Magda, the tavern maid, Abronsius and Alfred pursue him to the Count’s castle. Captured by Koukol, the Count’s servant, they encounter Count von Krolock and his son Herbert, who shows interest in Alfred. Despite misgivings, Abronsius and Alfred remain at the Gothic fortress.

Abronsius devises a plan to kill the Count by staking him in his crypt but becomes trapped while trying to enter, leaving Alfred to act alone. Hesitant, Alfred fails to kill the Count. Later, he finds Sarah bathing; she seems unaware of her peril and then disappears mysteriously.

Alfred meets Herbert, who reveals his vampiric nature and attempts to bite him. Abronsius and Alfred escape but become confined in a turret. They witness vampires from previous centuries awakening for their annual feast. The Count discloses his intention to convert them into vampires, planning for Alfred to be Herbert’s companion.

They flee by firing a steam-powered cannon at their prison door and infiltrate the vampire ball disguised among guests. Although their reflections reveal their true identities, they manage to rescue Sarah and escape via sleigh. Unbeknownst to them, Sarah has been turned into a vampire and bites Alfred during their flight, initiating the spread of vampirism worldwide.

Production

In his autobiography Roman, Roman Polanski recounted difficulties during production: a last-minute shift of filming locations from Austria to Urtijëi, Italy compressed shooting schedules and caused tensions with Italian crew members. Producer Gene Gutowski suspected financial irregularities involving the Italian technicians.

Cinematographer Douglas Slocombe observed that Polanski infused the project with personal touches and a Central European ambiance reflecting his own humor and heritage. The character Alfred bears resemblance to Polanski himself—youthful, slight, and somewhat vulnerable—adding a Kafkaesque dimension. The film also served as inspiration for the European stage musical Tanz der Vampire and contains references to King Richard III of England, who appears during the ball sequence.

For its American release, MGM repositioned the film as a comedy farce by trimming 12 minutes and incorporating an animated opening sequence. Professor Abronsius was re-dubbed with a comedic voice to match this tone. This version, titled The Fearless Vampire Killers, or Pardon Me, But Your Teeth Are in My Neck, dominated US distribution until the mid-1970s. In the early 1980s, MGM reissued Polanski’s original cut in revival theaters, prompting renewed critical acclaim. Currently, the original edition is widely accessible on VHS, LaserDisc, DVD, Blu-ray formats and occasionally airs on TCM.

The Fearless Vampire Killers marked Polanski’s first color feature utilizing a widescreen 2.35:1 aspect ratio and highlights his passion for winter sports such as skiing.

The musical score was composed by Krzysztof Komeda, who collaborated with Polanski on three other films: Knife in the Water (1962), Cul-de-sac (1966), and Rosemary's Baby (1968).

Animated opening sequence

United States

The sequence begins on a bright daytime setting, gradually shifting to nighttime as a crescent moon ascends. A startled bird flies away, unveiling a cemetery where Professor Abronsius and Alfred convene. From a grave springs a green vampire, chuckling after each attempt to frighten them. A bag containing garlic descends from above, which Abronsius and Alfred employ to diminish the vampire's size. They then brandish a golden crucifix to drive him back once more. Although the vampire tries to intimidate them, he retreats at dawn. Ultimately, Abronsius dispatches the creature using a wooden stake and mallet. The appearance of the MGM logo startles them as the lion’s fangs elongate and blood drips from its mouth, prompting their swift exit.

United Kingdom/Europe

In this version, the MGM lion morphs into an animated vampire with blood dripping from its jaws. Certain European editions display the lion fading into an alternate vampire illustration, as featured on the MGM/UA laserdisc release.

Critical reception

According to Rotten Tomatoes, The Fearless Vampire Killers holds a 71% approval score based on 34 reviews, with an average rating of 6.3 out of 10. Reviewers characterize it as an inconsistent yet charming 1967 vampire parody infused with Roman Polanski’s distinctive style. Its Metacritic rating stands at 56.

Home media

The film was initially issued on laserdisc by MGM/UA in 1993, followed by a DVD release in 2005 by Warner Home Video featuring Polanski’s original cut in Region 1 widescreen format. A Brazilian region-free DVD offers the US prologue as bonus content but utilizes an older 4:3 letterbox master. No authorized releases of the re-edited US version exist beyond theatrical prints.

In France, Warner Home Video distributed a Region B Blu-ray in 2013 employing the same print as the 2005 DVD, which is incompatible with most North American players. In September 2019, Warner Archive announced a US Blu-ray release presenting a newly remastered HD version of Polanski’s original cut from 2019, including supplemental features from the DVD and the US animated prologue.

External links