''The Vampire'' (1913)

By Crusader1307

1913s Silent Classic ''The Vampire'' was perhaps one of the first ''Vampire Genre'' Movie made. Credited to Director Robert Vignola, it was based on a Short Poem by British Writer, Rudyard Kipling (1897). The Film was very careful (as if a precursor to the later Film Ethics Board) – to portray just ''what'' a Vampire ''was''. While all knew of the European Legends (especially Bram Stoker's Novel) of Vampires as ''Blood Drinkers'', such activities – to include the showing of ''fangs'' were prohibited. In fact, the term ''Vampire'' was becoming more associated with the diminutive ''Vamp'' at this time, or a Woman of ''loose morals who sought to destroy a Man's Will''. The 38-minute Movie dealt with a foolish Man who becomes overcome by a ''beautiful Seductress'' named Sybil. She corrupts The Man in ''drinking and carousing'' and in general ''wasting His life''. We learn that Sybil is really a ''traditional'' Vampiress who ''drains the lifeforce'' of our ''Hero''. This is finalized by the famed ''Vampire Dance'' with Sybil gleefully dancing over the body of The Man. The Film Makers were actually jailed and fined for the ''shocking display'' in France!