Dracula Today (1972)
"Dracula A.D. 1972" (original title)

Johnny Alucard raises Count Dracula(Christopher Lee) from the dead in 1972 London. The Count goes after the descendents of Van Helsing.

Director:

Alan Gibson

Writer:

Don Houghton

Stars:

Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing, Stephanie Beacham

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Christopher Lee	...	Count Dracula
Peter Cushing	...	Professor Van Helsing
Stephanie Beacham	...	Jessica Van Helsing
Christopher Neame	...	Johnny Alucard
Michael Coles	...	Inspector
Marsha A. Hunt	...	Gaynor (as Marsha Hunt)
Caroline Munro	...	Laura Bellows
Janet Key	...	Anna
William Ellis	...	Joe Mitcham
Philip Miller	...	Bob
Michael Kitchen	...	Greg
David Andrews	...	Detective Sergeant
Lally Bowers	...	Matron Party Hostess
Constance Luttrell	...	Mrs. Donnelly
Michael Daly	...	Charles

Storyline

In London 1872 - the final battle between Lawrence van Helsing and Count Dracula on top of a coach results in Dracula dying from a stake made from the remains of a wooden wheel. Lawrence dies from his wounds and, as he is buried, a servant of Dracula buries the remains of the stake by the grave and keeps a bottle of Dracula's ashes and the ring. One hundred years later, the colourful 1972, Johnny, the great-grandson of the servant joins up with a "group" containing Jessica, the grand-daughter of the present vampire hunter, Abraham van Helsing and with their unknowing help resurrect Dracula in the 20th Century who is determined to destroy the house of Van Helsing, but who can believe that The king of the Vampires really exists and is alive - in 20th Century London?

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Plot Keywords:

van helsing | vampire | 20th century | ring | year 1972 | 

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Taglines:

The Count is back, with an eye for London's hotpants . . . and a taste for everything

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Genres:

Fantasy | Horror

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English Latin

Release Date:

17 November 1972 (USA)

Also Known As:

Dracula jagt Mini-Mädchen

Filming Locations:

Aldenham Country Park, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hammer Film Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The music used in the church resurrection scene is "The Black Mass: An Electric Storm in Hell" from the 1969 album "An Electric Storm" by White Noise. The group themselves were an experimental space-age rock combo formed by David Vorhaus and featuring Delia Derbyshire & Brian Hodgson from the BBC Radiophonic Workshop.

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Quotes

Jessica Van Helsing: Why don't we go in the front way?
Bob: That's full of geeks and newspaper men.

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Connections

Referenced in A History of Horror with Mark Gatiss: Home Counties Horror (2010)

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Soundtracks

""Black Mass: An Electric Storm in Hell" (uncredited)
Music by Delia Derbyshire, Brian Hodgson, David Vorhaus and Paul Lytton
Performed by White Noise
Courtesy of Island Records

User Reviews

Very camp, yet strangely compelling

What can I say about this movie? Yes it is dreadful, but, you have to watch it. I believe that the movie has been unfairly maligned by many critics, but it really isn't that bad. Christopher Lee looks very out of place in the movie, as he faithfully sticks to his original interpretation of count Dracula, when he is surrounded by a new environment. I have to mention Caroline Munro in this comment, as her character, despite the fact she isn't even in 1/3 of the movie, is one of the best ones there.