INCENSE FOR THE DAMNED
UK, 1970 97 minutes, Colour.
Patrick Macnee, Johnny Sekka, Alexander Davion, Peter Cushing, Edward Woodward, Madeleine Hinde, Patrick Mower, Imogen Hassall, William Mervyn.
Directed by Robert Hartford Davis.
Incense for the Damned is a bizarre film. With its contemporary setting, it looks like an ordinary drama. However, it is a story about ancient Greek religions and vampires in Greece. The film has a fairly sexy sequence towards the beginning, exploitation material in the style of the MTV videos that were about to come.
The plot makes little sense, there is a voice-over to explain what is going on – a scholar goes to Greece for research, comes across a vampire, succumbs, the dons at Oxford are concerned, his friends and his fiancée go out to look for him. There are all kinds of bizarre happenings in Greece. Patrick Macnee is the local British authority – and falls to his death halfway through the film. Peter Cushing and Edward Woodward also appear – Peter Cushing appearing in a strange group of films at this time, especially vampire films like Twins of Dracula. Edward Woodward has a good five minutes as an expert discussing ancient Greek myths and sexual behaviour. The director Robert Hartford Davis, was unhappy with the film – though this is surprising given several of the other titles that he directed.
1.The impact of the film? Contemporary story? Vampires? Variations on the theme?
2.The Oxford settings, the world of the dons? The Greek settings, their beauty, terrain? The musical score?
3.The title? Its relationship to the plot?
4.The voice-over by Tony, his explanations, his own action, friendship with Richard, discussions with Bob and Penelope, with Doctor Goodrich? Going to Greece with the group, finding Derek Longbow? The explorations, the finding of Richard, his dismay? His being unable to save Derek Longbow? The return Richard’s speech, his being a vampire, destroying Penelope? The funeral?
5.The credibility of Richard’s character, scholar, in Greece, his succumbing to the vampire? His behaviour, violent? His speech denouncing everyone, biting Penelope? His fall to his death?
6.Bob, the friend, joining in the search, the fights? Penelope, the fiancée? Her learning of the news of the vampire? The search? Her being bitten at the end?
7.The vampire herself, the tradition? Sex and violence? To England? Destructive?
8.Derek Longbow, the Patrick Macnee character, style, suave Englishman, helpful – and the surprise of his death?
9.Doctor Goodrich, his daughter, the dons, the rivalry? His concern, the final speech, the rivalry of Doctor Honeydew?
10.Doctor Honeydew, camp style, academic, rivalry?
11.Edward Woodward as Doctor Holstrum, his five minutes – and his speech about vampires?
12.A curiosity item?
