UNCLE WAS A VAMPIRE

Q: What is Uncle Was a Vampire about?

Uncle Was a Vampire is about a baron who, after selling his castle and working as a bellhop in the new hotel, discovers his uncle is a real vampire and must deal with the undead threat.

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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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 cash-strapped baron whose ancestral castle is turned into a hotel, only for his visiting uncle to reveal himself as a real vampire.

Programmer's Pick

Only in Italy could bankruptcy, bellhopping, and bloodlust go hand-in-hand. Christopher Lee brings the fangs, while Renato Rascel’s Osvaldo scrambles to survive both high society and the undead. Expect gothic slapstick, hotel hijinks, and a castle whose new clientele are the least of its problems.

— SassyFlix Programmer

Overview

Baron Osvaldo Lambertenghi finds himself forced to sell his family’s castle to settle his debts, resulting in the grand manor’s transformation into a lively hotel. Clinging to remnants of his aristocratic life, Osvaldo stays on as a bellhop, navigating the indignities of his new role. The arrival of his uncle, Baron Roderico da Frankurten, brings unexpected complications—especially when Osvaldo discovers that his uncle is, in fact, an actual vampire. As Osvaldo tries to warn the oblivious hotel guests, he is dismissed as delusional, while his own fate grows increasingly tangled with the supernatural. This genre-blending mix of horror and comedy explores family ties, societal decline, and the misadventures that arise from hosting the undead.

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, Original title: Tempi duri per i vampiri

Why This Matters

The film introduced the novelty song 'Dracula Cha Cha Cha' by Bruno Martino, which gained popularity beyond the film as a widely covered hit.

— SassyFlix Curator

Cast & Crew

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Director: Steno Writers: Mario Cecchi Gori +6 more

Renato Rascel Baron Osvaldo Lambertenghi

Christopher Lee Baron Roderico da Frankurten

Sylva Koscina Carla

Lia Zoppelli Letizia

Kai Fischer Kay - la rossa FS Franco Scandurra Prof. Stricker

Carl Wery Professor Tedesco

Antje Geerk Susan

Federico Collino Il commendatore Luigino Visnaghi

Susanne Loret Lilliana

Angelo Zanolli Paolo - il primo play boy AM Antonio Mambretti IG Ivana Gilli

Franco Giacobini Il secondo play boy FF Fiorella Ferrero FT Francesco Tensi LA Lamberto Antinori

Rik Van Nutter Victor (uncredited)

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