Blacula

 

BLACULA-1972-In 1780 Count Dracula (Charles Macaulay) turns an African prince (William Marshall) into the title character because the prince wanted to end slavery. In the present day 2 gay guys buy a batch of African artifacts including the coffin wherein Blacula was imprisoned by the king of vampires for almost two hundred years (like Barnabas Collins). He rises and kills them and medical investigator Dr. Thomas (Thalmus Rasulala) has his suspicions. Blacula goes to a party pretending he's just a plain old ordinary African guy named Mamuwilde despite his long cape. (“Hey, that's one strange dude”) Thomas' girlfriend Michelle (Denise Nicholas) has a sister named Tina (Vionetta McGee) who resembles Blacula's lost long Luva. He tries hard to bring her over to his side but when she is killed he deliberately walks into the sun and disintegrates. Elisha Cook Jr. plays a coroner with a hook hand and Gordon Pinsett is a police lieutenant.

 

Marshall is pretty frightening when he gets angry and overall the movie delivers despite some dumb dialogue. Director William Crain did some TV after this and the horror movie DR. BLACK, MR. HYDE.

 

This was a big hit and AIP produced a sequel the next year.

 

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