A highly atmospheric adaptation of the classic Bram Stoker novel, directed with panache by auteur Jess Franco Venus in Furs, The Diabolical Dr. Z). Screen icon Christopher Lee Horror of Dracula, Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings) portrays the titular Count Dracula, who flees the cold confines of his Carpathian castle for the shores of England, where he must feed on the blood of beautiful Lucy Soledad Miranda, Vampyros Lesbos) and Mina Maria Rohm, 99 Women) in order to grow youthful and stay alive.
Jess Franco must have been running with the bulls when he made this Spanish release. The good news: Christopher Lee plays the title role in a screenplay that adheres to Bram Stoker’s novel. If you can look past the bad cinematography, perhaps you’ll develop a tolerance for Franco’s mise-en-scene. I hate to admit this (forgive me Mr. Lee, I love you) but the film had me laughing on many occasions. Shall I go down the list? First, trying to pass Rin Tin Tin as a wolf really doesn’t work. Second, the coach driver in the beginning looked like Bela Lugosi’s double in PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE. Third, fake spiders and bats on a string look like leftovers from Mayberry’s annual Halloween pageant. Fourth, Klaus Kinski pretty much plays himself, throwing food on the wall and finger-painting while eating bugs (sample his autobiography. This is the guy who ascertained, "I’d have been better than Adolf Hitler. I could’ve delivered his speeches a lot better." As evinced by his performance in this Franco saga, he could have engaged Der Fuhrer in some mugging competitions).
I also thought it was quite convenient that Dracula sells his castle and moves right next door to Van Helsing’s clinic! Then there’s the stuffed animals that are reanimated; it’s more about taxidermy than terror (honestly, the sock puppets on the ‘ole Soupy Sales show were more convincing). The only "squirm" scene is the abduction of a baby who is fed to the undead, a taboo that was scotched in other adaptations of Dracula. They only decent FX technology was invested in a scene when female vamps rise out of their coffins. Maria Rohm and the late Soledad Miranda, cast as Mina and Lucy, are absolutely gorgeous (a pity these hot horror vets are ignored in the States).
Of course, I tip my hat to Christopher Lee and Herbert Lom, both of whom could survive a Bowery Boys movie with their dignity intact. I give it a 7 out of 10 for effort and if it wasn’t for Messrs. Lee and Lom, my rating would have declined to a 5.
By Alexxus Young
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ALTERNATIVE TITLE: Count Dracula, Bram Stoker's Count Dracula, Il Demone nero, Dracula 71, The Nights of Dracula
MOVIE YEAR: 1970
DIRECTOR: Jesus Franco
WRITING CREDITS: Bram Stoker
GENRE: Horror
CAST: Christopher Lee, Herbert Lom, Klaus Kinski
COUNTRY: Spain
RUNTIME: 97 min
RATING: 7/10
Jess Franco's Count Dracula Website/IMDB Click here
Jess Franco's Count Dracula Trailer Click here
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