Mark Of The Vampire (1935)

Sir Karell Borotyn (Holmes Herbert) is found murdered in his
house, with two tiny pinpoint wounds on his neck. The attending
doctor, Dr. Doskil (Donald Meek), and Sir Karell's friend Baron
Otto von Zinden (Jean Hersholt) are convinced that he was killed
by a vampire. They suspect Count Mora (Bela Lugosi) and his
daughter Luna (Carroll Borland), while the Prague Police
Inspector Neumann (Lionel Atwill) refuses to believe them.


Sir Karell's daughter Irena (Elizabeth Allan) is the Count's next
target. Professor Zelen (Lionel Barrymore), an expert on vampires
and the occult, arrives in order to prevent her death. After
Irena is menaced by the vampires on several occasions, Zelen,
Baron Otto, and Inspector Neumann descend into the ruined parts
of the castle to hunt down the undead monsters and destroy them.
When Zelen and Baron Otto find themselves alone, however, Zelen
hypnotizes the Baron and asks him to relive the night of Sir
Karell's murder. It is then revealed that the "vampires" are
actually hired actors, and that the entire experience has been an
elaborate charade concocted by Zelen in the hopes of tricking the
real murderer—Baron Otto—into confessing to the crime.
Acknowledging that the charade has failed to produce its intended
results, Zelen, along with Irena and another actor who strongly
resembles Sir Karell, compels the hypnotized Baron into
re-enacting the murder, effectively proving his guilt. During the
re-enactment, Baron Otto reveals his true motive: he wished to
marry Irena, but her father would not allow it. He also reveals
how he staged the murder to resemble a vampire attack.


With Baron Otto arrested, Irena explains the plot to her fiance,
Fedor (Henry Wadsworth), who was not involved in the subterfuge
and believed that the vampires were real. The film ends with the
actors who played the vampires packing up their supplies, and
"Count Mora" exclaiming, "This vampire business, it has given me
a great idea for a new act! Luna, in the new act, I will be the
vampire! Did you watch me? I gave all of me! I was greater than
any REAL vampire!" which is met with general lack of enthusiasm
by his fellow thespians.