Taste the Blood of Dracula (1970)

Three distinguished English gentlemen accidentally resurrect Count Dracula, killing a disciple of his in process. The Count seeks to avenge his dead servant, by making the trio die in the hands of their own children.

Director:

Peter Sasdy

Writers:

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

Stars:

Christopher Lee, Geoffrey Keen, Gwen Watford

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Christopher Lee	...	Dracula
Geoffrey Keen	...	William Hargood
Gwen Watford	...	Martha Hargood
Linda Hayden	...	Alice Hargood
Peter Sallis	...	Samuel Paxton
Anthony Higgins	...	Paul Paxton (as Anthony Corlan)
Isla Blair	...	Lucy Paxton
John Carson	...	Jonathon Secker
Martin Jarvis	...	Jeremy Secker
Ralph Bates	...	Lord Courtley
Roy Kinnear	...	Weller
Michael Ripper	...	Cobb
Russell Hunter	...	Felix
Shirley Jaffe	...	Hargood's Maid
Keith Marsh	...	Father

Storyline

Three middle-aged distinguished gentlemen are searching for some excitement in their boring bourgeois lives and get in contact with one of Count Dracula's servants, Lord Courtley. In a nightly ceremony, they restore the count to life. However, the three men killed Courtley and, in revenge, the count ensures that the gentlemen are killed one by one by their own children.

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Plot Keywords:

dracula | vampire | servant | father disapproves of daughter's boyfriend | horse riding | 

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Taglines:

They taste his blood and the horror begins!

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Genres:

Drama | Fantasy | Horror | Romance | Thriller

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English Latin

Release Date:

7 June 1970 (USA)

Also Known As:

Prueba la sangre de Drácula

Filming Locations:

Tykes Water Lake, Aldenham Country Park, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hammer Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min (uncut)

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Martin Jarvis was first offered a more major role, then was not free for the dates.

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Goofs

When Paxton and Secker push the slab from the "stone" sarcophagus, the whole structure shakes, betraying its fake, lightweight nature.

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Quotes

William Hargood: [to Alice] I haven't beaten you since you were a little girl.

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Alternate Versions

The UK cinema version was cut by the BBFC to edit blood spurts from the staking of Paxton, a closeup of Dracula's bloodstained teeth and a brief shot of a brothel customer with a topless woman. The 1989 Warner video release featured the heavily edited U.S cinema print which runs around 4 minutes shorter and is missing shots of Dracula's blood becoming powder during the opening scene, the violent beating to death of Courtley, and a snake charmer's dance in the brothel. The 2004 DVD is the original UK cinema version, minus the BBFC cuts which may no longer survive.

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Connections

Featured in Cinemassacre's Monster Madness: Hammer Films (2007)

User Reviews

A lesser Dracula film from Hammer, but still watchable.

Decent entry in Hammer's Dracula franchise doesn't feature the famed bloodsucker very strongly, and in fact this feature didn't start its life as a Dracula sequel. Sir Christopher Lee was becoming very reluctant to keep playing the role, yet Warner Bros. - Seven Arts didn't want to help bankroll the production unless he was in it. The result is a story of Dracula recruiting other unfortunate people to help him get even with a trio of distinguished gentlemen. These three men were on the surface respected members of society, but got bored and starting doing decadent things in private. They were lured into performing a black magic ritual by young Lord Courtley (Ralph Bates), a disciple of the Count, only to change their minds and beat the Lord to death. So the Count seduces young Alice (Linda Hayden) and turns her friend Lucy (Isla Blair) into a vampire, while Alices' nice guy boyfriend Paul (Anthony Higgins) tries to save the day. As we can see, this is an intriguing enough set-up that didn't necessarily need the Dracula character. It's not too much fun to see Sir Christopher do so little; the Count just isn't as intimidating as he usually is. Those blood red eyes are always cool, though, and amid the expected excellent period recreation by Hammer's old pros are great sets and costumes, along with a fine and grandiose score by James Bernard. The cast is full of some excellent actors: Geoffrey Keen is the stiff William Hargood, Peter Sallis and John Carson his two associates, Roy Kinnear the dubious merchant Weller, and Michael Ripper the disinterested Inspector Cobb. Higgins is extremely likable as the hero, while Hayden and Blair are very easy to look at; in fact, Hayden is one of the loveliest young ladies ever to grace a Hammer film with her presence. Hungary born director Peter Sasdy, who does a capable job with the material, went on to do the Hammer films "Countess Dracula" and "Hands of the Ripper" (not to mention the TV series 'Hammer House of Mystery and Suspense'). All things considered, this is a good horror film that just isn't as effective or as satisfactory as the best films in this franchise. Seven out of 10.