Who Will Be His Bride Tonight?

I haven’t seen many Hammer Films and the ones that I did see, I was way too young at the time to remember “Jack Tracy” about them today. So it was with virginal-like anticipation that I sank my teeth into the very first “Hammer” Dracula flick “Horror of Dracula”. I’m happy to report that it was love at first bite. Loosely based on Bram Stoker’s novel of the same name, “Horror of Dracula” came through like a freight train with no brakes by displaying a beyond-infectious classic “horror” feel that emanated out of its every pore. I got off on the film's lavish Gothic sets, the stellar period costumes, the top notch (for the time) production values and the striking locations at hand (loved the cemetery). Genre films don’t look, feel or smell like this anymore, that’s for damn sure! Breathe in that pure horror air!

To top that off, the flick also sported a razor ace in its deck which was the Count himself tackled by the great Christopher Lee. Although I’ve heard people praise his performance as a suave yet deadly being, I can’t say that I found much subtlety within the character and you know what…I LIKED THAT! In my opinion, Dracula here wasn’t the debonair, smooth talker that other incarnations have made him out to be...he was a freaking leech on two legs that just didn’t mess around when it came to getting his female snack. The dude had a relentless demeanor about him, a vicious and greedily thirsty way of being that so rubbed me the right way. Now that’s what I like to see! Dracula can join me at the local pub for drinks any day! He’s my kind of hombre!

It should also be said that Dr. Van Helsing, played by the great Peter Cushing, also largely contributed to making this adventure such a rousing and enjoyable one. Cushing’s gripping performance was pleasantly contrasted, where you felt his genuine caring as a good doctor, but when it came time to whoop some fanged bootie, he also punched in his “staking” clock with purpose. Add to all that quality jazz, a slew of highly memorable sequences (Drac’s nightly visits to Lucy were captivating in their staging and execution), a swift pace, exciting fight sequences, yummy blood splats, moody directing, engaging plot turns galore, mucho creepiness and the occasional erotic undertone, and you get a fanged ride that was hands-down hypnotic in its classic aura and highly refreshing in its old fashioned ways.

On the slight dull side of the tooth, the movie didn’t have enough Dracula in it for my liking. We needed more Count stuff, especially during the semi-laggy middle section. The script also sported a couple of boo-boos. For example, why did Helsing, who was just dying to stake that pesky Dracula, not kill him when he initially had the chance? (he went for the broad instead) His trivial choice came across as an obvious “dumb dumb” move solely there to serve the plot. Lastly, was it me or was Arthur (Gough) not too shook up when people close to him died? Damn, the man took loss very well! TOO WELL! Shed a tear, dude! Call “Stella” to high heavens…do something!

The other 6 “Hammer” Dracula flicks starring Lee are: DRACULA, PRINCE OF DARKNESS (1966), DRACULA HAS RISEN FROM THE GRAVE (1968), TASTE THE BLOOD OF DRACULA (1969),  SCARS OF DRACULA (1970), DRACULA A.D. (1972) and SATANIC RITES OF DRACULA (1973). You bet I’ll try to seek them out!

Lee was replaced by David Peel for “The Brides of Dracula” (1960) where even though the flick was a Dracula flick, the lead blood sucker was named Baron Meinster and was NOT playing Drac…?????

Michael Gough went on to play Alfred in the 4 Batman movies.