Vampira (1974) US 1/2 Sheet Poster

Given Jeremy Lloyd's writing background, with Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In, Are You Being Served? and Allo, Allo to his credit, Vampira should have been considerably funnier than it was. Particularly since it boasted a stellar cast: David Niven, Jennie Linden, Theresa Graves, Nicky Henson, Linda Hayden, Bernard Bresslaw, Freddie Jones, Veronica Carlson and even the Python's Carol Cleveland. Old Dracula traded on the success of Young Frankenstein (1974), and they even went out on an ill-advised double bill together.

This comedic misfire has to be laid at the feet of director Clive Donner, who appeared to start strongly with Pinter's The Caretaker in 1963. But his career went from lame, with-it 60s comedies such as What's New Pussycat (1965) and the sex-comedy/drama Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush (1968) to disasters like Alfred the Great (1969), The Nude Bomb (1980) and Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen (1981). His best work was for TV, with Rogue Male (1976) starring Peter O'Toole a standout.

Condition: GOOD / VERY GOOD - folded glossy card stock, printing error in top border