# Terror in the Crypt > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Terror_in_the_Crypt > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Terror_in_the_Crypt.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terror_in_the_Crypt > Source revision: 1351154767 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|1964 film by Camillo Mastrocinque}} {{Infobox film | name = Terror in the Crypt | image = Terror-in-the-crypt-poster.jpg | alt = | caption = Italian film poster | native_name = {{Infobox name module|it|La cripta e l’incubo}} | director = [Camillo Mastrocinque](/source/Camillo_Mastrocinque) | producer = Marco Mariani{{sfn|Curti|2015|p=128}} | writer = | screenplay = {{plainlist| *[Tonino Valerii](/source/Tonino_Valerii) *[Ernesto Gastaldi](/source/Ernesto_Gastaldi)}} | story = | based_on = {{based on|''[Carmilla](/source/Carmilla)''
(1872 novel)|[Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu](/source/Joseph_Sheridan_Le_Fanu)}} | starring = {{plainlist| *[Christopher Lee](/source/Christopher_Lee) *[Adriana Ambesi](/source/Adriana_Ambesi) *Pier Anna Quaglia *Jose Campos *Vera Valmont}} | narrator = | music = [Carlo Savina](/source/Carlo_Savina){{sfn|Curti|2015|p=128}} | cinematography = {{plainlist| *Julio Ortas *[Giuseppe Aquari](/source/Giuseppe_Aquari){{sfn|Curti|2015|p=128}}}} | editing = [Roberto Cinquini](/source/Roberto_Cinquini){{sfn|Curti|2015|p=128}} | production_companies = {{ubl| * MEC Cinematografica{{sfn|Curti|2015|p=128}} * E.I. Associates * Hispamer Films * Alta Vista }} | distributor = MEC Cinematografica (Italy) | released = {{film date|df=y|1964|05|27|Italy|1966|08|01|Spain}} | runtime = 85 Min | country = {{plainlist| *Italy *Spain{{sfn|Curti|2015|p=128}}}} | language = Italian | budget = | gross = [₤](/source/Italian_lira)69.541 million }} '''''Terror in the Crypt''''' ({{langx|it|'''La cripta e l’incubo'''|lit=The Crypt and the Nightmare}}, also released as '''''Crypt of the Vampire''''' and '''''Crypt of Horror''''') is a 1964 [gothic](/source/Gothic_horror) [horror film](/source/horror_film) directed by [Camillo Mastrocinque](/source/Camillo_Mastrocinque) and starring [Christopher Lee](/source/Christopher_Lee), [Adriana Ambesi](/source/Adriana_Ambesi), Ursula Davis and José Campos. It is based on the 1872 novel ''[Carmilla](/source/Carmilla)'' by [Sheridan Le Fanu](/source/Joseph_Sheridan_Le_Fanu).{{Cite web |title=Terror in the Crypt |url=https://collections-search.bfi.org.uk/web/Details/ChoiceFilmWorks/150013812 |access-date=7 August 2024 |website=British Film Institute Collections Search}} An Italian and Spanish co-production, the film was released on May 27, 1964. ==Plot== In the ancient Karnstein castle live Count Ludwig and his daughter Laura, who is plagued by constant nightmares. To dispel the suspicion that his daughter has been reincarnated as a Karnstein ancestor, the Count summons a young scholar, Klauss, to the castle to uncover the connection between Laura's nightmares and the death a person from her dream. Klauss studies the ancient parchments and seems to have found a clue, but just as he is about to unravel the mystery, Count Ludwig forbids him from continuing. The halt in the search leads to a series of murders: first that of an old storyteller, then that of a young maid, followed by Laura's old nurse. At this point, the Count's reservations are shattered. Klauss feverishly resumes his research, and the mystery is solved. ==Cast== {{castlist| * [Christopher Lee](/source/Christopher_Lee) as Count Ludwig Karnstein * [Adriana Ambesi](/source/Adriana_Ambesi) as Laura / Sheena Karnstein * Ursula Davis as Ljuba * José Campos as Friedrich Klauss * Véra Valmont as Annette * Angela Minervini as Tilde Karnstein * Carla Calò as Ljuba's mother * Nela Conjiu as Rowena * José Villasante as Cedric, the majordomo * [John Karlsen](/source/John_Karlsen) as Franz Karnstein {{small|''(uncredited)''}} }} ==Production== ''Terror in the Crypt'' was the third film adaptation of the novel ''[Carmilla](/source/Carmilla)'', following [Carl Theodor Dreyer](/source/Carl_Theodor_Dreyer)'s ''[Vampyr](/source/Vampyr)'' (1932) and [Roger Vadim](/source/Roger_Vadim)'s ''[Blood and Roses](/source/Blood_and_Roses)'' (1960).{{sfn|Curti|2015|p=129}}{{sfn|Paul|2005|p=18}} According to Tonino Valerii, the script was written in three days, while Gastaldi stated that it was written in 24 hours. Gastaldi has also claimed that he lied to a producer that they had a script ready, and then returned home to pen the script to return to the producer with the following day. The original title of the script was entitled ''La maledizione dei Karnstein'' (lit.: "The Curse of the Karnsteins").{{sfn|Curti|2015|p=129}} The film was originally going to be directed by [Antonio Margheriti](/source/Antonio_Margheriti). Due to other commitments, the film was given to [Camillo Mastrocinque](/source/Camillo_Mastrocinque) to direct. Mastrocinque was more prominently known for his comedy films, and was suggested by agent Liliana Biancini in order to help find the director new work. Valerii was also the assistant director on set, and later claimed that he personally shot several scenes of the film.{{sfn|Curti|2015|p=129}} The film was shot at [Castello Piccolomini](/source/Castello_Piccolomini_(Balsorano)) in [Balsorano](/source/Balsorano), [Abruzzo](/source/Abruzzo).{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Crypt-of-the-Vampire-Blu-ray/327222/ |title=Crypt of the Vampire Blu-ray (Terror in the Crypt {{!}} Standard Edition) |language=en |access-date=2026-04-26 |via=www.blu-ray.com}} ==Release== ''Terror in the Crypt'' was released in Italy on 27 May 1964 where it was distributed by MEC. It grossed a total of 69.541 million [Italian lire](/source/Italian_lira).{{sfn|Curti|2015|p=128}} ''Terror in the Crypt'' was released straight to television in the United States by [AIP-TV](/source/AIP-TV) as ''Crypt of the Vampire''. It was released theatrically in the United Kingdom as ''Crypt of Horror''. === Home media === The film was released on [DVD](/source/DVD) in 2012 by Retromedia/Image in the United States where it retains the title ''Crypt of the Vampire'', while the credits in the film call it ''Terror in the Crypt''.Curti, Roberto (2015-04-02). ''Italian Gothic Horror Films: 1957-1969'' (Kindle location 3595). McFarland. Kindle edition. It was released by on Blu-Ray by [Severin Films](/source/Severin_Films) on January 31, 2023. ==Reception== In a contemporary review ''[The Monthly Film Bulletin](/source/The_Monthly_Film_Bulletin)'' wrote: "This is occasionally quite atmospheric, with an effective climax and some nice shots of the castle battlements by moonlight and so forth. For the rest, though, it is slow and static, indifferently acted and directed, and poorly dubbed."{{Cite journal |date=1 January 1965 |title=Terror in the Crypt |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1305826574 |journal=[The Monthly Film Bulletin](/source/The_Monthly_Film_Bulletin) |volume=32 |issue=372 |pages=8 |id={{ProQuest|1305826574}} }} ==See also== *[Christopher Lee filmography](/source/Christopher_Lee_filmography) *[List of horror films of 1964](/source/List_of_horror_films_of_1964) *[List of Italian films of 1964](/source/List_of_Italian_films_of_1964) *[List of Spanish films of 1964](/source/List_of_Spanish_films_of_1964) == Notes == {{reflist}} == References == {{Refbegin}} * {{cite book |last=Curti |first=Roberto |title=Italian Gothic Horror Films: 1957-1969 |publisher=McFarland |isbn=978-1476619897 |year=2015 }} * {{cite book | last= Paul | first= Louis | title= Italian Horror Film Directors |publisher= McFarland |year= 2005 |isbn= 978-0-7864-8749-3}} {{Refend}} ==External links== * {{IMDb title|0057280}} {{Camillo Mastrocinque}} {{Carmilla}} Category:1964 horror films Category:1964 films Category:Italian horror films Category:Spanish horror films Category:Films directed by Camillo Mastrocinque Category:Films based on Carmilla Category:Gothic horror films Category:Films set in Austria Category:Films set in the 19th century Category:Films shot in Abruzzo Category:Films with screenplays by Ernesto Gastaldi Category:Films scored by Carlo Savina Category:1964 Italian films Category:1964 Spanish films Category:1960s vampire films --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Terror in the Crypt](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terror_in_the_Crypt) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terror_in_the_Crypt?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.