Being true to my original idea of dedicate this
Blog to little known films, this time I have some matte shots from a British movie I have never heard of until
recently. Blood of the vampire (1958) It
is not even a vampire film, but a mad scientist who needs blood in order to
survive. Of course once again there is not matte painter credited, not even FX.
The art director of this film, John Elphick had
a vast experience on the use of glass and matte paintings. On previous films he
had already worked with Les Bowie, Percy Day, or Albert Whitlock. But the matte paintings
on “Blood of the vampire” do not seem the work any of these artists.
At 1958 there were already a good number of
matte artists working at British film industry. Probably those paintings were
done for any of the less experienced.
The matte painting of the Exterior of the Prison
was shown at night.
And with day light.
That matte shot of the upper part off the set
and ceiling looks better that the previous.
It is also worth mentioning the makeup work of
Jimmy Evans of a deformed hunchback character.
