The Satanic Rites of Dracula (1973)

In London in the 1970s, Scotland Yard police investigators think they have uncovered a case of vampirism. They call in an expert vampire researcher named Van Helsing (a descendant of the ... See full summary »

Director:

Alan Gibson

Writer:

Don Houghton

Stars:

Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing, Michael Coles

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Christopher Lee	...	Count Dracula
Peter Cushing	...	Prof. Lorrimer Van Helsing
Michael Coles	...	Insp. Murray
William Franklyn	...	Torrence
Freddie Jones	...	Prof. Julian Keeley
Joanna Lumley	...	Jessica Van Helsing
Richard Vernon	...	Col. Mathews
Barbara Yu Ling	...	Chin Yang
Patrick Barr	...	Lord Carradine
Richard Mathews	...	John Porter
Lockwood West	...	General Sir Arthur Freeborne
Valerie Van Ost	...	Jane
Maurice O'Connell	...	Hanson
Peter Adair	...	Doctor
Maggie Fitzgerald	...	Vampire girl

Storyline

In London in the 1970s, Scotland Yard police investigators think they have uncovered a case of vampirism. They call in an expert vampire researcher named Van Helsing (a descendant of the great vampire-hunter himself, no less) to help them put a stop to these hideous crimes. It becomes apparent that the culprit is Count Dracula himself, disguised as a reclusive property developer, but secretly plotting to unleash a fatal virus upon the world.

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Plot Keywords:

dracula | van helsing | rite | vampirism | occult | 

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Taglines:

The Masters of Menace Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing. They're dead but they're alive...

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Genres:

Horror

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English Latin

Release Date:

October 1978 (USA)

Also Known As:

Count Dracula and His Vampire Bride

Filming Locations:

Elstree Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hammer Film Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

last hammer film of John Harvey(I).

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Goofs

When Jessica is attacked by the female vampires in the basement of the sinister cult house, the brunette vampire menacing her from the rear is missing an important bit of anatomy- vampire fangs.

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Quotes

Count Dracula: [to Prof Van Helsing] My revenge has spread over centuries and has just begun!

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Connections

Follows The Brides of Dracula (1960)

User Reviews

Best of the Hammer Dracula sequels

This is a much-maligned film that seems to have been tarred with the same brush as the dire Dracula A.D. 1972, simply because it updates the Dracula legend to the present day. Satanic Rites is an infinitely superior movie, however, and easily the best of the Hammer Dracula sequels. Previous sequels had seen the Count resurrected only to lurk in the shadows and momentarily reveal himself to take his revenge on his foes, reducing Christopher Lee's Dracula to little more than a glorified extra. Satanic Rites is different because it uses Lee's scant appearances to its advantage, keeping Dracula aloof and mysterious and instead concerning itself with the disease of vampirism, which is compared to a plague. Because of it's science fiction overtones, this feels more like an instalment of The Avengers or Doctor Who than a typical Hammer film. In its present-day setting and apocalyptic storyline, it also seems to be a definite influence on the highly-regarded TV series Ultraviolet. For the fan of classic Hammer Gothic Horror, this is probably best avoided, but for those who enjoy British telefantasy it's an absolute must see.