MARK OF THE VAMPIRE [1935] Photo archive

Mark of the Vampire. 1935. Photos. [Los Angeles]: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, [1935]. Set of four vintage original black-and-white photos, of which three are 8 x 10″ (20 x 25 cm) and one is 13 1/4 x 8 1/2″ (34 x 21 cm). Overall near fine.

MGM director Tod Browning remade his lost silent film London After Midnight (1927) into a sound film, taking advantage of Bela Lugosi’s earlier appearance in Dracula (1931). Mark of the Vampire features a twist ending and outstanding performances by Bela Lugosi as the sinister Count and Carroll Borland as his equally evil and enchanting daughter, Luna.

This collection features two impressive double weight matte photographs, both stamped on the back and credited to MGM photographer Stephen McNulty. One photograph shows Lugosi, with a fresh bullet wound on his forehead, portraying Count Mora. Accompanying him are Carroll Borland as his vampiric daughter Luna, along with Elizabeth Allen and Henry Wadsworth, who play their victims. The second double weight photo captures a striking atmospheric shot of Borland gazing at the viewer while standing over the unconscious body of Wadsworth.

Additionally, there is one set reference photograph labeled “Int. Castle Hallway” and two photos that have been taped together on the back to form a single 13.5 x 8.5 in. set reference photo of the same set. The photo featuring Lugosi has a faint outline of a small paperclip along the upper border, while the image of Borland and Wadsworth displays slight wear on its upper edge. The set reference photo is noted as a “Proof”, with a number handwritten on the upper border.

This is an exceptional collection of vintage original photographs from one of the few horror films produced by MGM in the 1930s.