Vampire Circus

In the early 19th century, in the small village of Stetl, the teacher Albert Müller realizes that his wife Anna has become the lover of the vampire Count Mitterhaus, for whom she kidnaps innocent children. Together with other men from the village, Albert sets out to kill the count and blow up his castle. Shortly before his death, Anna von Mitterhaus receives the order to search for his cousin Emil, who is part of the Circus of the Night. 15 years later, Stetl is struck by an epidemic, whereby all access roads to the village are blocked and nobody can enter or leave. The villagers suspect that it is a curse of Count Mitterhaus. One day, when the circus of the night appears, the villagers are happy to have a change of scenery, but the circus crew has sinister plans. Emil wants to bring Mitterhaus back to life and take revenge on the villagers. Once again, Albert must face the vampire.

Vampire Circus revives the vampire genre with fresh blood, although it is somewhat dusty in 1972. After the classic destruction of the evil vampire was celebrated with a big explosion in the prologue, the small village is in a claustrophobic state 15 years later. The origin of the plague, which separates the inhabitants from the outside world, causes some suspicion, which flattens a bit when the circus appears. The bizarre crew, consisting of a panther man, a gypsy woman, a dwarf, a bodybuilder and other artists, has the goal of reawakening Mitterhaus, but before that, everyone involved in Mitterhaus' death is murdered in turn. This unusual mixture of paranoia, freak show and vampire horror makes Vampire Circus unique. A highlight from the Hammer Studios.

US TV version heavily edited

A shortened version of the film was shown on US TV, in which all nude scenes and some violent scenes were removed. Presumably this is the US theatrical version, which was shortened for a PG rating. Mostly the critical scenes were shortened, at one point there was even a zoom into the picture when Emil climbs into the cage to the naked Rosa. The dance of Milovan and Serena has been re-edited to show as little of Serena as possible. At the beginning, a shot of Anna was moved. A curious thing is the shortening of a scene in which Rosa leads the hand of Emil to her breast. It seems that they wanted to remove all sexual references from the film.

Runtimes:

US TV: 83:07 min (NTSC)
DVD: 83:19 min (PAL)

The US TV version was compared to the uncut German DVD by Koch Media.

[00:04:11][00:04:03]

Anna can be seen earlier. She gets up from the floor, her dress falls down.

DVD: 4 sec.


[00:04:15][00:04:09]

Through a jump-cut, the US removes the bare breast of Anna as she walks around Count Mitterhaus.

DVD: 4 sec.


[00:04:52][00:04:49]

In the US, the camera continues to pass Anna. The love scene between Anna and Count Mitterhaus follows.

DVD: 34 sec.


[00:04:55][00:05:26]

After the gate is broken open, Anna turns to the side. She says to Count Mitterhaus that he should never leave her alone.

DVD: 7 sec.


[00:05:35][00:06:12]

One of the angry citizens tries to stab Count Mitterhaus from behind with a knife. This fails and the count kills the man.

DVD: 7 sec.


[00:06:10][00:06:52]

Anna cries out and crawls over the bed to Count Mitterhaus after he has been impaled.

DVD: 7 sec.


[00:06:36][00:07:23]

Count Mitterhaus continues to tilt to the side. Anna is pulled up. Her husband Albert tosses her the clothes. Anna is pulled away.

DVD: 13 sec.


[00:06:46][00:07:46]

In the US, we see Anna being pulled away here.

The DVD continues to show the citizens in front of the castle.

No time difference. (each 4 sec.)


[00:08:50][00:09:45]

Anna is pulled up. She spits in Albert's face and runs away. The next shot starts a little earlier.

DVD: 4 sec.


[00:13:02][00:13:52]

Defect after advertising. The girl can be seen earlier.

DVD: 2 sec.


[00:18:48][00:19:25]

Flaw in the advertising. The disfigured Hans can be seen longer, then the horses earlier.

DVD: 5 sec.


[00:22:44][00:23:17]

The beginning of the dance of Milovan and Serena is missing.

DVD: 39 sec.


[00:22:46][00:23:58]

The TV version now shows some scenes of the dance. The sequence has been reassembled and mainly shows cuts to the audience.

Now, on the DVD, the second half of the dance follows.

TV: 1:06 min.
DVD: 1:10 min.

[00:28:24][00:29:31]

The naked Rosa lies down on the floor in the cage. Emil starts to kiss her.

DVD: 10 sec.


[00:28:36][00:29:52]

The scene in which Emil turns his head to the side was zoomed for the TV broadcast to hide Rosa's chest.

No time difference.


[00:28:42][00:29:58]

Another zoom was made.

No time difference.


[00:43:09][00:43:50]

Dora is frightened by the body parts and signs the cross.

DVD: 16 sec.


[00:43:17][00:44:14]

Dora puts the severed head to the ground. (Only visible offscreen).

DVD: 12 sec.


[00:43:45][00:44:52]

Flaw in the advertising. The schoolmaster comes into the picture.

DVD: 2 sec.


[00:53:25][00:54:10]

Flaw in the advertising. The villagers can be seen earlier.

DVD: 2 sec.


[00:56:47][00:57:27]

Rosa kisses Emil's hands and then leads them to her breasts.

DVD: 22 sec.


[00:57:50][00:58:49]

The dead Rosa is placed on Count Mitterhaus. Emil tells him to drink her blood quickly.

DVD: 5 sec.


[01:02:30][01:03:22]

Flaw in the advertising. Anton can be seen earlier.

DVD: 2 sec.


[01:11:27][01:11:58]

Flaw in the advertising. The soldiers can be seen earlier.

DVD: 1 sec.


[01:14:22][01:14:46]

The moment when the ball exits the back of the strong man is missing.

DVD: 0.5 sec.


[01:15:14][01:15:36]

The cut on Hauser's burnt face is missing. He says "The crypt".

DVD: 6 sec.


[01:18:57][01:19:17]

Flaw in the advertising. Anton can be seen earlier.

DVD: 1 sec.


[01:20:46][01:21:01]

The head of Count Mitterhaus is cut off by the crossbow.

DVD: 2 sec.


[01:20:48][01:21:04]

The head of Count Mitterhaus lands in his coffin.

DVD: 2 sec.


[01:20:52][01:21:09]

The severed head of Count Mitterhaus can be seen longer.

DVD: 1 sec.