Jackula

 

 (imdb)

DRACULA-1974-Jonathan Harker (Murray Brown; also in VAMPYRES the same year) goes to Transylvania and meets Dracula (Jack Palance) who's looking to relocate to Carthax Abbey in England. In due course Harker learns his employer is a vampire and becomes a victim of Drac's wives. 5 weeks later The Count is in England. Mina (Penelope Horner), Harker's fiancée, visits her best friend Lucy (Fiona Lewis; she was in LISZTOMANIA the next year), who Dracula took a fancy to when Harker showed him a picture. Lucy is sick in bed with a wound on her throat. Her boyfriend Arthur (Simon Ward) brings in Dr. Van Helsing (Nigel Davenport; PHASE lV the same year) who has his suspicions. Of course, Lucy is a victim of vampirism. Despite their best efforts, Lucy dies and she comes back to try and put the bite on Arthur. Fortunately, Van Helsing intercedes and later puts a stake in her. The Count goes crazy when he finds Lucy dead (apparently, she looked like his long dead love). When he sets his sights on Mina, Arthur and Van Helsing move into action. 

This is a not bad adaptation of the Bram Stoker classic, in fact very good for a TV movie, with Palance putting his own personal touch on his interpretation of the character. Virginia Whetherell, Sarah Douglas and Barbara Lindley play the count's undead wives. Director Dan Curtis and screenwriter Richard Matheson also made the not as good SCREAM OF THE WOLF the same year.

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Bram Stoker?

 

 (imdb)

BRAM STOKER'S SHADOWBUILDER-1998-A weird priest with a gun (Michael Rooker) battles a shadow demon who wants a kid in a small town. Bugs sting a deputy to death, an old man axes his wife, dogs turn on their master, fun stuff like that. The town lunatic (Tony Todd) helps out. The script and acting are pretty bad.

 The script is based on the story “The Shadow Builder” by Bram Stoker from a short story collection “Under The Sunset”, published in 1881 and of course it's nothing like this movie. Director Jamie Dixon did visual effects for other movies.

Illustration from Stoker's original story

(classic-literature.com.uk)

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Price's Dracula

 

 (imdb)

VINCENT PRICE'S DRACULA-1986-The incomparable Vincent Price narrates this documentary on the Dracula legacy. The first part tells the true story of Vlad Dracul aka Vlad the Impaler and uses scenes from the sweeping Russian made VLAD TESPES (a film I'd like to see). It also makes an illusion to Count Chocula and compares Vlad's impaling as a peculiarity that all heads of state have. Like Ronald Reagan liking jelly beans! (Tongue in cheek). 

The second part focuses on Bram Stoker and Price reads from the novel. Then the climax to the silent classic NOSFERATU (1922) is shown. Price then presents a "vampire emergency kit". Then comes an overview of the vampire film. Scenes from VAMPYR (1932), MARK OF THE VAMPIRE (1935) (called a sequel to DRACULA here) and RETURN OF THE VAMPIRE (1943) are used. Also mentioned are Francis Lederer in RETURN OF DRACULA (1958) and John Beal in THE VAMPIRE (1957). It ends with an exorcism being performed in modern day Transylvania. 

Price as the on screen narrator and his witty and urbane dialogue are the real reason to see this. It's director John Muller's only credit.

 (letterboxd.com)

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The Legend Begins

DRACULA-1931-Every horror fan knows this was the first sound horror film and despite its flaws it ushered in the “golden age” of monsters and vampires. Universal followed it with their adaptation of Mary Shelly's Frankenstein and at night a special Spanish language version was filmed using many of the same sets. Some claim it's better than the famous Tod Browning version but Carlos Villarias in the lead is no Lugosi. Here are some quotes:

“I dislike mirrors”.

“For one who has not even lived a single lifetime you are a wise man, Van Helsing”.

“The Strength of the vampire is that people will not believe in him”.

“Isn't this a strange conversation for men who aren't crazy?”.

“I am Dracula”.

“I bid you welcome”.

“Listen to them. Children of the night. What music they make”.

“The Spider spinning his web for the unwary fly. The blood is the life, Mr. Renfield”.

“I never drink... wine”.

“Your will is strong Van Helsing”.

Rats,rats rats! Thousands, millions of them. All red blood. All these will I give you”.

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More Hammer Mummies

BLOOD FROM THE MUMMY'S TOMB-1971-In this Hammer "mummy" entry, a dead (but amazingly preserved) Egyptian queen named Tera (Valerie Leon) is brought back to England by Prof. Fuchs (Andrew Keir; Quartermass in 5 MILLION MILES TO EARTH). Unfortunately it's at the exact same time his wife gives birth to their daughter. Several years later when the daughter Margaret (also played by Leon) is an adult and the result of the expedition is still a mystery Tera takes control of Margaret and she slashes several throats.

James Villiers is a weirdo scientist who thinks he can control Tera with "the scroll of life". George Coulouris plays a fellow scientist confined to an asylum. It's a nice little horror movie with good flashback scenes, some bloody deaths and an interesting, unexpected climax.

The production was shrouded by some bad luck. Peter Cushing was the original Fuchs but left early when his wife passed away. Director Seth Holt (who had made THE NANNY and SCREAM OF FEAR earlier for Hammer) died before completing the film and it was finished by studio head Michael Carreras.

Unfortunately the very hot Valerie Leon never really had another role like this but strangely made appearances in two movies featuring James Bond (THE SPY WHO LOVED ME with Roger Moore and NEVER SAY NEVER with Sean Connery). It's based on a story "Jewell of The Seven Stars" by Bram Stoker and there's a character in the film named Tod Browning!

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