Count Dracula And His Vampire Brides

Year releasted: 1974

by Keith Phipps
November 17th, 2004

Also Known As:
The Satanic Rites Of Dracula, Dracula Is Alive And Well And Living In London

Tagline:
"The masters of menace Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing... They're dead but they're alive..."

Plot:
In a London where overcast skies clash with a funky, Shaft-inspired score, police inspectors scratch their heads at a dying man's report that he witnessed strange, possibly satanic rites involving a naked woman. As the film repeatedly flashes back to these rites, the inspectors uncover a cabal that appears to involve Britain's highest scientific and governmental muckity-mucks. Sensing a need to call in the big guns, the police consult with occult expert Professor Van Helsing (Peter Cushing) and his mystery-solving granddaughter Jessica (Joanna Lumley). After slowly talking through several possible theories, Cushing proposes a question: Could this be the work of... Dracula? Answer: Yes, just as the title suggests.

Key scenes:
Having somehow survived his last encounter with Hammer Studios' resident vampire hunter in Dracula A.D. 1972, Dracula (Christopher Lee) eventually reveals himself as the source of a scheme involving high-ranking government officials, an apocalyptic new strain of bubonic plague, and scantily clad vampirettes. Sadly, Lee didn't seem to train his followers particularly well. In one scene, his "brides" attempt to claw Lumley to death, having apparently never learned the traditional biting attack favored by most vampires. Later, when Lee reveals the full scope of his plans, his in-the-pocket politicos react with horror, having not anticipated that an undead ghoul might be less than candid about his intentions toward humanity.

Can easily be distinguished by:
In most Hammer Dracula films, Cushing stalks Lee between poorly lit castles while occasionally driving around in a carriage. In this one, Cushing occasionally drives around in a car.

Sign that it was made in 1974:

In a nod to contemporary fashion usually not seen in the vampire community, the eponymous brides of Dracula sport loose-fitting, brightly colored clothing and layered, flowing hair.

Timeless message:
Kill Dracula all you want. He'll just keep coming back for more.

Memorable quotes:
"The worship of blood... Well, I can understand the young kids taking a fly at it just for kicks," a detective says. "But we're talking about sophisticated, mature adults."