{"id":4489,"date":"2020-05-22T14:52:09","date_gmt":"2020-05-22T14:52:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.casbahrecords.co.uk\/?p=4489"},"modified":"2020-05-22T14:52:09","modified_gmt":"2020-05-22T14:52:09","slug":"dracula-ad-1972-the-count-is-back-with-an-eye-for-londons-young-blood","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/casbahrecords.co.uk\/?p=4489","title":{"rendered":"DRACULA AD 1972: \u201cThe count is back, with an eye for London\u2019s young blood!\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n


\u2026So ran the rather lurid tag line from London\u2019s billboards in 1972! The film was initially inspired by the story of the Highgate vampire\u2014a media sensation of the time involving disturbed tombs and grave robbing in Highgate cemetery. Hammer films decided for Christopher Lee\u2019s sixth and penultimate outing as the count that the franchise needed updating to the present. And so, with the help of some young fresh blood in the shapely form of upcoming starlets Stephanie Beacham, Caroline Munroe, and (straight out of \u2018Hair\u2019) Marsh Hunt, also ably assisted by Michael Kitchen and Christopher Neame, we have Dracula AD 1972<\/em>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\/<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"\/<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The main thrust of the story is this: Neames character Johnny Alucard (Dracula spelled backwards) is a descendant of one of Dracula\u2019s side-kicks from the 19th<\/sup> century. His mission is to bring Dracula back to life and in doing so gaining power and eternal life for himself. It just so happens that the group he latches onto includes Stephanie Beacham\u2019s character Jessica\u2014the latest in the line of Van Helsings. Alucard convinces \u2018the group\u2019 that he has a \u2018new way\u2019; \u2018the ultimate kick\u2019 to shake off this \u2018tired scene, man\u2019! \u2026A black mass, no less, in an old abandoned church! This is where it all starts to go horribly wrong for the kids\u2026 Various members come a cropper or are \u2018turned\u2019 before Jessica\u2019s grandfather, an expert in the occult, gets involved (played by\u2014yes, you guessed it\u2014Peter Cushing). Cushing knows a thing or two about tackling vampires and he soon gets on the trail of Alucard before finishing off the count in time honoured fashion. 

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\/<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"\/<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"\/<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"\/<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Whilst Hammer purists at the time (and some even now) are decidedly lukewarm about the film, citing its cringe worthy use of hippie speak and blatant attempt to appeal to younger hip audience, for the student of Sixties\/Seventies pop culture there\u2019s much to enjoy here! The first scene set in the 20th<\/sup> century features a party with the American band Stoneground (they replaced the Faces who were first choice) playing some funky rock to the assembled \u2018kids\u2019 and some rather shocked oldies! There\u2019s some full-on seventies gear on show: hot pants, frilly shirts, crushed velvet, floppy hats\u2026 the lot! There\u2019s even the groovy surroundings of the Cavern coffee bar in the Kings Road where the group hang out. This was situated at 372 Kings Road and was still a caf\u00e9 up to recent times. Alucad\u2019s flat (72 Hollgate Place in Notting Hill), where he takes Marsha Hunts character Gaynor for some late-night action, is all 70s decadence. And then there\u2019s the music\u2026 Mike Vickers of Manfred Mann wrote the score, a funky brass laden gem, plus you have the aforementioned Stoneground, and for the Black Mass scene the far out \u2018electric storm in hell\u2019 by Delia Derbyshire\u2019s White Noise can be heard (on reel to reel tape, of course). Best of all though is the dialogue! Christopher Lee was appalled when he read the script and you can see why. However, watching it now there\u2019s a certain period charm to be enjoyed, as long as you like your horror with a large helping of cheese!

Here\u2019s a few choice examples:

Alucard to Gaynor as he puts a record on: \u201cThey were really zonked when they made this\u201d <\/em>
Gaynor: \u201cyeah, aren\u2019t they always\u201d
 <\/em>
Alucard at the black mass: \u201cDig the music, kids\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Van Helsing to the police inspector: \u201cThere is a satan\u201d\u00a0<\/em>
Inspector: \u201cOf course, otherwise we wouldn\u2019t need a police force, would we?\u201d.
\u00a0<\/em>
Gaynor: Is this the place Johnny?\u201d\u00a0<\/em>
Alucard: \u201cYeah, why don\u2019t you drop in for a bite?\u201d<\/em>

The film has now reached cult status with some fairly prominent fans amongst them, notably\u00a0horror writer Kim Newman and U.S. director Tim Burton. It\u2019s what most people would describe as\u00a0\u2018so bad, it\u2019s good\u2019 and I can see that. But I adore it! It\u2019s probably up there in my list of top ten films, not just horror films, but all-time greats. A few years ago, I managed to get my DVD copy signed by Caroline Munroe, which was a thrill and, hey, it was released on the 28th<\/sup>\u00a0of September which is my birthday\u2014That must mean something!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here’s the trailer: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n