Dracula: Prince of Darkness (1966)

Dracula is resurrected, preying on four unsuspecting visitors to his castle.

Director:

Terence Fisher

Writers:

Jimmy Sangster (screenplay) (as John Sansom), Anthony Hinds (from an idea by) (as John Elder)

Stars:

Christopher Lee, Barbara Shelley, Andrew Keir

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Christopher Lee	...	Dracula
Barbara Shelley	...	Helen
Andrew Keir	...	Father Sandor
Francis Matthews	...	Charles
Suzan Farmer	...	Diana
Charles 'Bud' Tingwell	...	Alan (as Charles Tingwell)
Thorley Walters	...	Ludwig
Philip Latham	...	Klove
Walter Brown	...	Brother Mark
George Woodbridge	...	Landlord
Jack Lambert	...	Brother Peter
Philip Ray	...	Priest
Joyce Hemson	...	Mother
John Maxim	...	Coach Driver

Storyline

Two couples traveling in eastern Europe decide to visit Karlsbad despite dire local warnings. Left outside the village by a coachman terrified at the approach of night, they find themselves in the local castle and are surprised at the hospitality extended by the sinister Klove. It turns out the owner, Count Dracula, dead for ten years, has been hoping for such a visit.

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Plot Keywords:

female vampire | crucifix pendant | hanging upside down | stake through the heart | count dracula character | 

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Taglines:

DEAD for Ten Years DRACULA, Prince of Darkness, LIVES AGAIN!

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Genres:

Horror

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Certificate:

Unrated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Sir Christopher Lee's stunt double Eddie Powell became trapped underwater during the drowning scene and nearly drowned.

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Goofs

Diana holds the crucifix out towards Dracula twice in successive camera shots from the back whilst front shots don't show her holding it at all.

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Quotes

Charles Kent: [as Klove starts to serve dinner] What's your name?
Klove: Klove, sir.
Charles Kent: Well, uh, Kove, isn't your master joining us for dinner?
Klove: No, sir. I'm afraid not.
Charles Kent: Is he indisposed?
Klove: [matter-of-factly] He's dead.
Charles Kent: [hesitates] I'm sorry if we appear a little dense. Perhaps you could explain?
Klove: Explain, sir?
Charles Kent: Yes, you seem to have expected us. Ah, this dinner. our rooms, the carriage... everything.
Klove: You see, sir, my master is dead but instructions were left that the castle should always be ready to receive guests. I am merely ...
[...]

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Alternate Versions

The UK cinema version was cut by the BBFC with edits to blood flows during the resurrection scene, a closeup shot of Helen's staking, and a shortening of the seduction scene where Dracula pulls a hypnotized Diana towards his chest wound. Video releases featured the cut cinema print though all widescreen DVD releases feature the fully uncut version.

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Connections

Referenced in In Search of...: Dracula (1977)

User Reviews

The count plays second fiddle to a no nonsense priest.

Christopher Lee first put on his max factor fangs for Hammer productions in 1958. The result was the marvelous technicolor classic "The Horror of Dracula". Despite the film's awesome success it took Hammer eight years to convince Lee to do a sequel. The result was the far less heralded but nearly as good "Dracula-Prince of Darkness".

Taking place ten years after the vampire king's demise at the end the of "Horror", "Prince of Darkness" concerns two British couples traveling through central europe on a sight seeing venture. Ignoring warnings to avoid Castle Dracula the foolhardy band enter the vampire's abode and must battle for their lives against the recently resurrected count. One couple escapes and finds sanctuary at the nearby monastery of the Abbott of Kleinberg.

Enraged, Dracula pursues to reclaim his lost prey. Unfortunately, the master bloodsucker must first contend with the Abbott who knows how to deal with toothsome troublemakers.

Lee is his ghoulishly macho self in the title role. Hammer pinup girls Barbara Shelly and Suzan Farmer are appropriately pretty. Peter Latham is effective as the count's creepy man friday, Klove. But the real star of this outing is Andrew Keir as the Abbott, Father Sandor. Tough, gruff, witty and righteous Sandor is a every bit as worthy an opponent for the count as Van Helsing was in the original.

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 January 1966 (USA)

Also Known As:

Dracula: Prince of Darkness

Filming Locations:

Black Park Lake, Black Park, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

GBP100,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Associated British Productions (ABP), Hammer Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min 86 min (DVD)

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1