Dracula Has Risen from the Grave (1968)

When Castle Dracula is exorcised by the Monsignor, it accidentally brings the Count back from the dead. Dracula follows the Monsignor back to his hometown, preying on the holy man's beautiful niece and her friends.

Director:

Freddie Francis

Writers:

Anthony Hinds (screenplay) (as John Elder), Bram Stoker (based on the character created by)

Stars:

Christopher Lee, Rupert Davies, Veronica Carlson

1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Christopher Lee	...	Dracula
Rupert Davies	...	Monsignor
Veronica Carlson	...	Maria
Barbara Ewing	...	Zena
Barry Andrews	...	Paul
Ewan Hooper	...	Priest
Marion Mathie	...	Anna
Michael Ripper	...	Max
John D. Collins	...	Student
George A. Cooper	...	Landlord
Christopher Cunningham	...	Farmer (as Chris Cunningham)
Norman Bacon	...	Altar boy

Storyline

When his castle is exorcised, Dracula plots his revenge against the Monsignor who performed the rites by attempting to make the holy man's young niece his bride.

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Plot Keywords:

monsignor | castle | dracula | revenge | village | 

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Taglines:

You just can't keep a good man down.

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Genres:

Drama | Fantasy | Horror | Romance

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Certificate:

G

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English Latin

Release Date:

6 February 1969 (USA)

Also Known As:

Draculas Rückkehr

Filming Locations:

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

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hammer Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This was the first movie to receive a rating from the MPAA in 1968.

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Goofs

When the priest exhumes the coffin of Gisela Heinz (the girl who had been suspended in the bell), we see that, although her body shows signs of decay, her breast has fresh, bright red blood on it (presumably from a staking-wound, as a potential vampire). However, after several months in the grave, her blood should not still be fresh and bright - unless she *is* a vampire and is still 'alive'/undead, although wounded.

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Quotes

Dracula: [to Maria] Now my revenge is complete.

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Alternate Versions

The UK cinema version was cut by the BBFC to remove some closeup shots of Dracula pulling a stake from his heart. Later video and DVD releases were uncut.

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Connections

Referenced in Fear, Panic & Censorship (2000)

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Soundtracks

Students' Beer Song
(uncredited)
Written by Tony Colton and Philip Martell

User Reviews

the ultimate amalgamation of Hammer Film's conventions

If a quintessential example of a Hammer Studio's exercise in Gothic Horror exists, it is probably this film. Not because it is a flawless piece of film-making, far from it. Rather because this film manages to squeeze just about all of Hammer's horror-show templates into it's 92 minute running time.

Here we have the unmistakeably distinctive set design and music score by Hammer mainstays Benard Robinson and James Benard; romantic leads transposing post Summer-of-Love sexual mores (and hairstyles!) to the film's indeterminate post Victorian location; two pub locales, one peopled with wary, hostile, superstitious East-Ender types, the other rollicking with high-spirited youthful inebriates; a pious religious figure (and a much less pious one); a cameo by Michael Ripper; day-for-night location shots; attractive women in low-cut bodices and nightgowns; yet another outlandish method of using trickling blood to revive the antagonist; an eventful screenplay that doesn't measure up to critical evaluation --- whew! I could go on and on.

But please understand, I do not necessarily regard all of the above negatively, just realistically. "D.H.R.F.T.G." is a fun watch if you leave your thinking cap off. Several of the most memorable set-pieces in the Hammer canon are here; the discovery of the girl in the belfry, the attempted staking of Dracula, the Count's seduction of Veronica Carlson, and his over-the-top demise (I won't reveal it here). These scenes lingered for decades in my mind after I saw the film in the early seventies. I was joyful to find the videotape in the '90's and yes, I now happily own the DVD.

One of the harshest critics of this film, incidentally, was it's star. Christopher Lee, who entered the project enduring serious back pain (stuntman Eddie Powell handled the more strenuous action), disliked the script intensely, especially the attempted staking of the Count. His performance, however, betrays none of his vexation; this is one of his best outings as Dracula. Director Freddie Francis coaxes serviceable performances from the rest of the cast. Rupert Davies and Barbara Ewing stand out, as a noble cleric and lusty barmaid respectively.

At the end of the day, I really like this movie, despite it's shortcomings. Heck, I feel like putting on right now. So should you.