Being true to my original idea of dedicating 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 to
survive. Of course, once again there is no matte painter credited, not even FX.
The art director of this film, John Elphick, had vast experience in 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 to be the work of any of these artists.
In 1958, there were already a good number of
matte artists working in the 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 daylight.
That matte shot of the upper part of the set
and ceiling looks better than the previous.
It is also worth mentioning the makeup work of
Jimmy Evans for a deformed hunchback character.
