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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It Had To Be Told?

DRACULA UNTOLD-2014-After an encounter with a vampire in a cave, Vlad The Impaler Jr.(Luke Evans) reigns over his peaceful kingdom until the Turkish sultan demands 100 boys for his army (Vlad's dad had handed him over to the Turks in a compromise when he was young). In a new compromise the sultan makes Vlad his new chief but forces him to hand over his son Vlad 3. Instead dad kills the party that comes to get his son. To save his kingdom Vlad drinks the blood of the cave vampire (Charles Dance) and receives great power (and great night vision) and defeats the Turkish horde all by himself (some bats help too). However he is told if he can go for three days without drinking blood he will return to normal, otherwise more blood drinking will cause him to remain a vampire forever. Despite his best efforts, when his wife dies and his son is taken prisoner he drinks his wife's blood and becomes a full fledged vampire. He turns some friends into vampires too and they destroy The Turks. Later they all stand in the sun and die. In the modern day Vlad is still alive for some reason and seems to meet his long lost lover but the cave vampire is there as well. 

Yeah, like there was going to be a sequel to this routine bloody ridiculous CGI laden horror....

The director Irish born Gary Shore had previously done corporation shorts.

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