Gli Orrori del Castello di Norimberga (1972)
Genre: Horror
Duration: 98 minuten
Alternative titles: Baron Blood / The Torture Chamber of Baron Blood / Chamber of Tortures / The Blood Baron / The Thirst of Baron Blood
Country:
West Germany / Italy
Directed by: Mario Bava
Stars: Joseph Cotten, Elke Sommer and Massimo Girotti
IMDb score:
5,9 (4.835)
Releasedate: 25 February 1972
Gli Orrori del Castello di Norimberga plot
"He sought the ultimate in HUMAN AGONY... with instruments of TORTURE ghastly beyond belief!"
Peter Kleist travels to Austria to learn about his gruesome ancestor Baron Otton Von Kleist, aka 'Baron Blood'. Together with his uncle Dr. Karl Hummel visits Peter Baron Blood's castle. There he meets Eva, who is in charge of the renovation work of the castle. Eva tells Peter about a witch who once put a curse on Baron Blood. The witch also left a spell that revives the Baron. Coincidentally, Peter once found this spell on his uncle. Despite his uncle's warnings, Peter and Eve cast the curse. Whereupon the notorious Baron Blood starts killing again...
Actors and actresses
Baron Otto von Kleist / Alfred Becker
Eva Arnold
Dr. Karl Hummel
Peter Kleist
Inspector
Fritz
Gretchen Hummel
Mayor Dortmundt
Auctioner
Dr. Werner Hesse
Reviews & comments
Richard_Voorhees
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- 2311 messages
- 2135 votes
A film that mainly relies on its visual splendor. Story-wise, Baron Blood doesn't have much to it. I saw the original Italian version on the very nicely polished Arrow Video blu-ray release.
The Baron looks very good especially for that time (the make-up). Furthermore, in terms of "gore" it also goes a little further than the average contemporary. Bava knows how to stretch some murder scenes nicely until "the moment" when the killing takes place, so that sometimes you almost get the idea of seeing real gore scenes.
The scenes with the baron are often atmospheric (especially the one in the misty outdoors). Nicely done. In terms of acting and good storyline, this Bava has less to offer.
A nice European horror that will do well with fans of Gothic horror films.
Furthermore, the film does not have much to offer compared to Bava's other work.
Translated from Dutch · View original
baspls
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- 4118 messages
- 1673 votes
While color master Mario Bava made atmospheric Gothic horror, Italian adventure films and early Gialli in the 1960s, a hip contemporary setting suddenly became the norm for all his films from the 1970s onwards. This worked well at the Giallo Bay of Blood, but otherwise the Gothic atmospheres feel a bit out-of-place in the funky 70s.
Baron Blood tells the story of Peter Kleist who travels to Austria to visit the castle of his ancestors. There he discovers that he is descended from the infamous Baron von Kleist, who was known for his torture methods and who, according to legend, was cursed by a witch to return to the realm of the living...
The film is set in Austria, so everyone in the English dub speaks with a German accent that reminds you of 1930s films. Sometimes they suddenly forget the German accent or they actually speak German, which makes it seem quite messy. Miraculously, Joseph Cotten (Citizen Kane, The Third Man) wanted to take over the role that Vincent Price had turned down.
The setting is truly beautiful. The Burg Kreuzenstein castle is ideal for the atmospheric lighting of Bava and the atmosphere in this film is delicious. The music was often just a little too clearly a product of the '70s.
Audiovisually, there isn't much wrong with Baron Blood. Lovely atmosphere and nice and gothic. Only the dialogue was a bit cringe-worthy and the plot rather hackneyed. "Hey, how about we read a spell to level up my murderous ancestor?"... Nice, but can't match Black Sunday and Black Sabbath.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Noodless
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- 10100 messages
- 6209 votes
Well-constructed story with two strong assets, namely an appropriately ominous atmosphere and the beautiful location in and around the castle. The acting is solid, Joseph Cotten and Elke Sommer in particular are on a roll. The escape scenes with the fog and in the corridors of the castle provide the necessary tension. It's a shame about the very easy ending, which gives a bit of a disappointing feeling. 6/10
Translated from Dutch · View original
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