Kiss of the Vampire Flashcards
(24 cards)
Who produced and distributed Kiss of the Vampire?
produced by Hammer Film Productions; distributed by J. Arthur Rank and Universal.
What was Kiss of the Vampire originally intended to be?
The second sequel to Dracula (1958), though it makes no reference to Stoker’s character.
Why does Kiss of the Vampire avoid referencing Dracula directly?
To avoid comparisons with the superior performance of Christopher Lee in the original.
What other horror franchises had Hammer found success with by 1963?
The Mummy and Frankenstein.
What are some historical events from 1963 that shaped the context of the film?
Beatlemania, ‘Swinging Sixties’, JFK’s assassination, and the first woman in space (USSR).
What conventions might a 1960’s audience recognise in Kiss of the Vampire’s poster?
Composition, fonts, and gendered representation of monsters and victims.
Name two similar films useful for comparative study.
The Evil of Frankenstein (1964), Blood from the Mummy’s Tomb (1971).
What does the serif, capitalised title font suggest?
Gothic/ vampire genre, wooden styling suggests coffins or stakes, with blood dripping ‘V’ as fangs.
Why is the use of colour significant in the poster image?
the use of “Eastman Color” suggests a modern retelling; colour posters were conventional for the period.
What does the poster’s colour palette convey?
Dark, scary atmosphere via greys and browns; red highlights suggest danger and blood.
How are the film’s actors listed on the poster?
By fame and pay, with prominent male actors like Clifford Evans listed first.
How does Barthes’ Hermeneutic Code apply to the poster?
Creates suspense through mysteries about the vampire relationships and victims’ fate.
What is an example of Barthes’ Semantic Code in the poster?
Images of bats symbolising vampirism and horror.
How are Barthes’ Symbolic Codes used in the poster?
Darkness and fear shown through the moon, colour scheme, and submissive pose of the male victim.
What does Claude Levi-Strauss’s theory of structuralism suggest about Kiss of the Vampire?
that the text uses binary oppositions, such as vampires vs, victims and the romantic “kiss” vs. the monstrous “vampire.”
What major societal change began in the 1960s that affects representation in the film poster?
Women’s sexual liberation, including the introduction of the contraceptive pill (1960) and movements for gender equality.
What year was equal pay legislation passed in America?
1963.
How do the female costumes in the poster reinforce femininity?
pale, lightweight dresses highlight body curves and reveal flesh.
How is the woman on the left portrayed stereotypically?
As a passive victim, being held by one arm by the male vampire, showing his power.
how is the female vampire represented differently from the stereotypes?
She shows aggression- bared teeth, raised arm, and a dominant stance over her male victim.
How is the male vampire shown in a less dominant way?
He appears fearful, with a defensive gesture shielding his body from the female vampire.
What does Stuart Hall’s theory of representation say about the poster’s use of iconography?
It uses shared signs (castle, bats, cape, blood) that the audience decodes to understand the genre.
How might David Gauntlett’s theory of identity apply to the female vampire?
She could be a role model for women resisting male oppression and asserting equality.
How does Liesbet Van Zonnen’s feminist theory apply to the poster?
The female vampire’s non-traditional role may reflect social change, but the passive female victim still reinforces stereotypes.
