Festival Select: Mad Love (1935) and Mark of the Vampire (1935)

Join the Society and Recreation department of the North York Central Library for monthly screenings of fiction and non-fiction films that push the boundaries of the medium. This month we are showing Mad Love (1935) and Mark of the Vampire (1935).

Synopsis (Criterion Pictures): Mad Love: Doctor Gogol is a renowned surgeon who is obsessed with stage performer Yvonne Orlac. So much so that he he actually goes to the theater every evening just to see her. He is disappointed to learn from her that she is leaving the show to join her husband, famed pianist Stephen Orlac, on a much delayed honeymoon. The Orlacs no sooner set off than they are involved in an accident where Stephen's hands are crushed. She begs Dr. Gogol to do anything to save her husband. He decides to graft new hands to replace those that are crushed and uses those from a recently executed prisoner, Rollo the Knife Thrower. When Stephen regains the use of his hands those around him find that he has also undergone a personality change and is now prone to violent fits of temper. He's also very good at knife throwing.

Mark of the Vampire: After Sir Karell Borotin is found dead in his study, drained of his blood, the local doctor determines that he was killed by a vampire. The coroner and police Inspector Neumann dismiss the suggestion but a year later, Sir Karell's daughter is attacked and bite marks are found on her throat. Neumann calls in the eminent Professor Zelin who thinks the story of vampires is true. The locals are convinced that Count Mora and his daughter Luna are the perpetrators of the crime, creatures of the night that can turn themselves into bats. There may be another solution however and the Professor sets a trap.