Comedy Cult Classic

A luckless baron, a castle-turned-hotel, and a thirsty uncle with a taste for the nightlife.

UNCLE WAS A VAMPIRE

1959 · 1h 37m · R · Comedy / Horror · IMDB TMDB

A baron down on his luck has to sell his family castle to pay off his mounting debt. After the castle is turned into a hotel, he's hired as a bellboy. But all is not lost, as he discovers he has a rich uncle; unfortunately, he's a vampire.

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Vault Note

Proof that even a vampire can be the relative who just won’t leave your couch—or your castle.

Programmer's Pick

If your idea of family drama involves selling your castle, slumming it as a bellboy, and dodging an undead uncle with an eye for the ladies, this Franco-Italian horror farce has your number. With Christopher Lee looming in full vampire regalia and an ancestral pile crawling with bikini-clad guests, it's a cheeky cocktail of Gothic atmosphere and slapstick.

— SassyFlix Programmer

Quick Answer

What is Uncle Was a Vampire about?

Uncle Was a Vampire is a 1959 French-Italian comedy horror film directed by Steno about a down-on-his-luck baron who discovers his uncle is a vampire after turning his ancestral castle into a hotel.

Themes & Keywords

Voyeurism Suicide Jealousy Bikini Father Daughter Relationship Vampire Castle Coffin Hotel Nipples Visible Through Clothing Mother Daughter Relationship Sunbathing Woman Undresses Pointing A Gun At Someone Woman Wears A Nightgown Woman Wears A Bikini

Synopsis

Baron Osvaldo Lambertenghi is forced to sell his ancestral castle; when it’s converted into a hotel, he stays on as a bellboy. His mysterious uncle arrives, and turns out to be a vampire. When his uncle vampirizes Osvaldo, the newly-minted blood-sucker gallops about the castle sipping from the necks of dozens of beautiful female guests.

Details & Specs

Director: Steno
Writers: Mario Cecchi Gori, Marcello Fondato, Edoardo Anton, Renato Rascel, Steno, Dino Verde, Sandro Continenza
Release: 1959
Runtime: 1h 37m
Country: France, Italy
Language: Italian
Genres: Comedy, Horror
Also Known As: My Uncle was a Vampire, My Uncle is a Vampire, My Uncle the Vampire, Hard Times For Vampires, Hard Times for Dracula, Malos tiempos para los vampiros

Why Cult

Baron Bellboy Humiliation

Baron Osvaldo is forced to trade his aristocratic airs for a bellhop's uniform after losing his castle to debt.

Christopher Lee as Vampire

Christopher Lee delivers his signature undead presence as the aristocratic vampire uncle, Baron Roderico da Frankurten.

Hotel Full of Victims

Dozens of glamorous female guests become targets when Osvaldo and his uncle begin prowling the hotel for necks to nibble.

Gothic Slapstick Collision

Expect a playful mix of vampire tropes, comedic mishaps, and cheeky continental gags, all set in a castle with a coffin problem.

Questions from the Vault

What is Uncle Was a Vampire about? +

Uncle Was a Vampire is a comedy horror film from 1959 about Baron Osvaldo Lambertenghi, who must sell his family castle and work as a bellboy, only to discover his uncle is a vampire who soon turns him into one as well.

When was Uncle Was a Vampire released? +

Uncle Was a Vampire was released in 1959.

Who directed Uncle Was a Vampire? +

Steno directed Uncle Was a Vampire.

How long is Uncle Was a Vampire? +

Uncle Was a Vampire has a runtime of 97 minutes.

What genre is Uncle Was a Vampire? +

Uncle Was a Vampire is a comedy horror film.

Where can I watch Uncle Was a Vampire? +

Uncle Was a Vampire is available to stream on SassyFlix.