La noche de Walpurgis

The Werewolf versus the Vampire Woman (1971)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

A couple beautiful women go looking for the tomb of Countess Wandesa (Patty Shepard) who was believed to have been a vampire. They happen to end up staying with werewolf Waldemar Daninsky (Paul Naschy) and sure enough one of the women (Gaby Fuchs) falls for him while the other falls victim to the Countess when she returns to life. The uncut version of this, under the title WEREWOLF SHADOW, features a few extended scenes involving one of the women's boyfriends but I've always found this to be the lesser version. The American one features bad dubbing but overall I've always found it to be more entertaining. There are several reasons why this here was the best Daninsky picture up to this point. One is that there was a bigger budget, which at least allowed the make-up of the werewolf to look terrific. The biggest reason this picture turned out so much better is that director Leon Klimovsky managed to bring some terrific atmosphere to the picture. The Gothic feel of this picture is without question the highlight because the director really makes you feel and sense an evil presence throughout the picture. This is especially true during the scenes involving the werewolf as well as those were the Countess is brought back to life. The screenplay itself is a few notches better thanks in large part to there being some interesting characters but also because it manages to move at a better pace. The werewolf, the vampire woman and the two female characters are all much more interesting than anything in the previous two movies. With that said, there are still some flaws here including the slow pacing. Still, no matter which version you watch, this here remains an entertaining monster mash.

Paul Naschy again with his classic character and frightening to viewer. It deals with Elvira (Gaby Fuchs) and her friend Genevieve (Barbara Capell) travelling through the French countryside in search of the lost grave of a medieval vampire, Countess Wandesa (Patty Shepard) , then things go wrong . The Blood Flows Like Vintage Wine ! . Things happen that have never been seen by human beings ! . The blood flows like vintage wine ! .

Jacinto Molina or Paul Naschy , who recently passed away, was actor, screenwriter and director of various films about the personage based on a fictitious character, the Polish count Waldemar Daninsky. The first film about Waldemar was ¨The mark of the Wolfman (1967)¨ by Enrique Eguiluz , after that ¨Night of Walpurgis¨, ¨Fury of the Wolfman¨ , ¨Doctor Jekill and the Wolfman¨ ,¨The return of the Walpurgis¨, ¨Howl of the devil¨, ¨The beast and the magic sword(1982)¨ that is filmed in Japan and finally ¨Licantropo(1998).

It's a B series entertainment with abundant sensationalistic scenes and a Naif style. The movie has a bit of ridiculous gore with loads of blood similar to tomato . This time Paul Nashy/Jacinto Molina exhibits little breast but he was a weightlifting champion. Here Waldemar takes on Countess Wandessa played by Patty Shepard in some unforgettable slow-moving scenes . Brief nudism and erotic situations in charge of Gaby Fuchs and Barbara Capell . Good cinematography by cameraman Leopoldo Villaseñor is accompanied by a correct remastering . Eerie and atmospheric musical score by composer Anton Garcia Abril .The motion picture was professionally directed by Leon Klimovsky , a slick craftsman who directed all kind of genres, as Terror for Paul Naschy (Marshall of hell, Rebellion of dead one , Orgy of vampires , Werewolf shadow ,Dr Jekill vs. The werewolf) , Warlike (June 44 attack force Normandy , A bullet for Rommel, Bridge over Elba) and Spaghetti/Paella Westerns (Badland drifter , Some dollars for Django , Death knows no time , Two thousand dollars for Coyote). Carlos Aured's assistant direction, who directed the following sequel titled, ¨ The return of the Walpurgis ¨. The flick will appeal to Paul Naschy fans and horror genre enthusiastic. Rating : 6/10 . Acceptable and entertaining.

There were 13 films in which Paul Naschy played Waldemar Daninsky, who was turned into a werewolf. This film is fourth in the series.

Known as Werewolf Shadow or Shadow of the Werewolf, as well as the original title, La noche de Walpurgis. It is a Gothic horror. Very slow moving with plenty of creepy music.

Those used to copious amounts of nudity and gore in the series will be disappointed with this entry.

The final battle between the wolfman (Naschy) and the vampire woman, Countess Wandesa Dárvula de Nadasdy (Patty Shepard) was quick and anti- climatic, but they are both gone for good.

I had this film on one of the cheapo Brentwood DVD sets but didnt watch that version opting to buy the Anchor Bay restored version so I could see the complete film. DOH!

Don't bother spending the extra $$ on the complete film. Definately not worth it.

I heard some buzz about Paul Naschy and I'll admit that I enjoyed Horror Rises from the Tomb.

Werewolf Shadow on the other hand is really really lame. The plot is as deep as a Scooby Doo episode. The pacing is mindnumbingly slow. Naschy is a truly awful actor. He doesn't do a lot of line intensive "acting" in Horror Rises from the Tomb, so in that film he is easier to take. In Werewolf Shadow though - his scenes are ENDLESS....After about the half-way point in the film the very sight of him was triggering fits of yawning. The scenes where he turns into a werewolf are particularly embarassing - just him roaring like a 4-year-old pretending to be an angry dog - while they do the most rudementary special effects. His make-out scenes are even worse. Dreadful.

Only for the compulsive completist. The Brentwood print is dark and scratchy and 10 minutes shorter than the complete Anchor Bay version, but after seeing the complete film, darkness, and brevity are good things. Go with the Brentwood version.

This barely keeps afloat and is so slow in parts that when one of the characters falls asleep at the table we think for a moment she has dropped off in a state of boredom. And it is such a shame about the pacing because there are decent moments, lovely girls, lots of nudity and blood, even a little gore. The slo-mo gliding of the lady vampires is good too and there are a few minutes somewhere in the middle where it looks as if the film is rising to some altogether different level. But no we are soon back to a plodding Mr Naschy and the plodding script. It's the extras on the disc that tip the scales and the interview with Mr Plod is welcome and goes some way to helping one understand his popularity!