Goffredo Lombardo of Titanus wanted Italian films to not just be seen in Italy but around the world.

Director Riccardo Freda and cinematographer Mario Bava wanted to make a horror movie. Freda believed that until now, only Americans and German expressionists could make a movie like he had in mind.

Lombardo did not care for horror but gave the team a low budget.

They made magic.

On the 12th day of production, Freda left the set. After an argument with producers, Bava took over, changing parts of the story and the ending.

Again, magic was being made.

A series of mysterious killings are being investigated in Paris, as women of the same blood type are being drained by someone the press calls The Vampire. Journalist Pierre Lantin investigates and becomes even more involved when his dancer fiancee Nora Duval is kidnapped, possibly by The Vampire.

There’s also a man named Joseph addicted to something and is told that he must follow orders to get his next dose. He’s also blackmailing Professor Julian Du Grand, who soon meets with a woman shrouded in darkness named Marguerite who threatens the scholar. We learn that he has died unexpectedly, possibly by suicide, soon after.

Another woman named Lorette is kidnapped and kept in a room filled with the skeletons of past victims. And the truth is the Professor’s death has been faked so that he can work for the woman behind all of this, Gisele, a female vampire who ages each night. She and Marguerite are the same person, a woman who will use anyone and do anything she can to remain eternally young.

Released in the U.S. as The Devil’s Commandment and also as Lust of the Vampire, which has new scenes added with “Grandpa” Al Lewis added. This was the first Italian horror film of the speaking film era.

Mario Bava and Piero Regnoli’s last-minute rewrites — they were running out of time to make this movie — made Pierre the lead instead of a supporting character. This was needed as all of the other actors had only signed up for ten days.

Much like an other Italian vampire movie, Atom Age Vampire, there are no vampires in this movie. There are some amazing dungeons and the start of what Bava would bring to his movies.

You can watch this on YouTube.