Prefatory note: Please help out this journalist with an interesting film history question posed to Film & History. The quicker the response the better given deadlines... Bill Didio is not on our discussion groups, so please respond to his query at his address, below. Peter Rollins [log in to unmask] www.filmandhistory.org ________________________________________ CALL FOR INFORMATION: VAMPIRES AND NOSFERATU We are thinking about possibly doing something on the urban legend portrayed in the recent Hollywood release "shadow of the vampire", that way back when the silent film "nosferatu" was shooting in germany -- and perhaps during its release here too -- rumors were circulating that max schreck was, in fact, a vampire. have you run across this myth/possible publicity stunt? if not, any ideas who might know about such things, or where i might look? internet research has been pretty dry on the subject, at the most simply saying that: - scheck was wonderfully creepy in makeup - he was a prolific actor - "nosferatu" was probably the stage actor's first film - "max schreck" means something like "maximum terror" or "ultimate shreak" in german - the movie ran into problem's with bram stoker's estate and a judge ordered all prints burned - he might have studied with stanislavski, etc. ...but no real firm tales of the story circulating or funny/creepy behind-the-scenes production anecdotes related by schreck's co-stars, or even myths that came to life in hollywood long after the film was out of circulation. Bill Didio [log in to unmask] ---- Screen-L is sponsored by the Telecommunication & Film Dept., the University of Alabama: http://www.tcf.ua.edu