For much of the cast, this was their only film appearance since they were not professional actors. Henriette Gérard who played the vampire was a French widow, Jan Hieronimko who played the village doctor was a Polish journalist, Rena Mandel who played Gisèle was an artist's model. Even Julian West (real name: Baron Nicolas de Gunzburg) who played Allan Grey, was French-born member of Russian nobility who agreed to finance the film in exchange for the leading part. (He later emigrated to America where he became a powerful fashion journalist and mentor to designers like Calvin Klein.)
In order to achieve the strange, dream-like photography, a thin gauze was put in front of the lens as a filter.
This was the first film to receive an 'H' certificate in the UK, for "Horrific: Films which are likely to frighten or horrify children under the age of 16 years".
The film was shot entirely on location. In fact, the old castle featured in the film also served as the lodging for the cast and crew.