Taste the Blood of Dracula (1970)

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

It is not deep, but it is fun to watch. It does have a bit more of an edge to it than other similar films.

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

I didn't think Dracula needed a revenge motive to do his dirty work but it's the basis on which this story rests, with Christopher Lee's vampire utilizing a pair of buxom maidens to ultimately destroy his enemies. Actually, it seemed like the character Lord Courtley (Ralph Bates) reincarnated as Lee's Dracula when the whole soul selling deal went South, so that created a bit of a disconnect for me. Come to think of it, there were a lot of disconnects here. Like how is it that the shady businessman Weller (Roy Kinnear) managed to accumulate Dracula's effects after having the bejeezus scared out of him when thrown out of the coach? And what's to account for Dracula spinning around on a wooden stake when Weller finds him in the first place? How did all that happen? Oh well, by this time it probably wasn't supposed to make much sense. As usual though, Hammer Films kept pace with their ornate and colorful Victorian sets, absolutely chock full of furniture, photos, cabinets and glassware of all kinds that one has a difficult time absorbing before the next scene occurs. Lee himself is not in the film all that much, an apparent concession to his unwillingness to reprise the role once more, but absolutely demanded by Hammer fans.Anyway, the whole business with the dried blood of Dracula used to reanimate the Count was a novel enough idea; there's only so many ways one can go back to the well and keep things interesting. I didn't feel too bad for Hargood, Paxton and Secker since they were utterly contemptible in their hedonism, especially Hargood the way he treated his daughter Alice (Linda Hayden). Surprising though the way Secker was up on his vampire lore the way he was, after seeing the bites on Lucy Paxton's (Isla Blair) neck, and knowing how a wooden stake through the heart would put Dracula's victims to rest. You would think his brothel buddies would have been more surprised about his knowledge of the vampire game.

William Hargood (Geoffrey Keen), Samuel Paxton (Peter Sallis) and Jonathon Secker (John Carson) are respectable gentlemen in the community and they are devoted to charitable work. But they are actually a trio of hypocrites that go to brothels instead of charity. One night, they meet the arrogant Lord Courtley (Ralph Bates) in the brothel and they decide to invite him for a drink. They tell that they have boring lives and are looking for excitement. Courtley promises him pleasure if they make a pact with the devil and asks them to buy some Dracula's belongings from the merchant Weller (Roy Kinnear), including dried blood. They go to a derelict church where Courtley asks them to drink the blood of Dracula. They refuse to drink but Courtley drinks and falls on the ground, and Hargood, Paxton and Secker beat him to death. They leave the church and Courtley's body transforms in Dracula (Christopher Lee) that promises to kill them. Meanwhile Hargood has a friction with his daughter Alice (Linda Hayden) because she is in love with Paxton's son Paul (Anthony Corlan). When she leaves home, Dracula meets her and controls her mind. What will happen to Alice?"Taste the Blood of Dracula" is another great vampire movie from Hammer. The story is very conventional as usual, with Christopher Lee in the role of Dracula and the vampire afraid of crosses and holy water. The explanation for Dracula's appearance is confused but his revenge using the sons and daughters of the men that killed his servant is dark. My vote is seven.Title (Brazil): Not available on DVD or Blu-RayNote: On 03 September 2017 I saw this film again.

It's funny how I really wasn't into this movie at first but still ended up really liking it! Thing that makes this movie a bit unusual and different is that it's being a part of the Hammer studios Dracula series but it really doesn't feel or look like a Hammer movie at all! Director Peter Sasdy did an handful of movies for the Hammer studios but only in its later years and he never impressed with any. He obviously wasn't that accustomed to its approach and style of film-making, or perhaps he simply really preferred to do his own thing. But anyway, if you're really into Hammer films, just prepare yourself for something totally different. You might end up disliking it at first, just as I did but don't give up on it! It's really a worthwhile and original enough little horror movie. I can also honestly say that this was the best movie I had seen, that got directed by Peter Sasdy.The movie and story all first starts out as something very simplistic and formulaic but as the movie goes along, you actually start to realize how great its premise is. It has a premise that really adds to the movie its tension and for once isn't all about Dracula and the horror that he does. It might very well be true that this movie would have a better reputation if it didn't featured the character of Dracula in it, since this movie really doesn't feel like a typical Dracula movie at all and its story and atmosphere perhaps called for something totally different, outside of the Dracula universe.And as often is the case with these late Hammer Dracula movies, Dracula himself is hardly in it at all. It was because Christopher Lee got fed up with the role and was also afraid he was going to get typecast because of it, for the rest of his life. He still needed a paycheck, so he kept on playing the character for a couple of years, under the condition that his role got limited down and in some cases he doesn't even have any lines. In this movie he does still speak however and once more shows why he was such a great and charismatic Dracula at the time.It's the more slower sort of horror movie, which doesn't really work out that great for the movie at first but about halfway through it picks up some more pace and things start to get far more interesting and original. It's then that the movie suddenly starts to take form and makes its intension clear. It also provides the movie with some really solid horror moments and the movie has a very constant horror like atmosphere to it as well, that really adds to the tension and mystery of the overall movie.Once you start to realize that this isn't being your average formulaic and simplistic Dracula production, the movie becomes surprisingly good, effective and original to watch!7/10 http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/

"Taste the Blood of Dracula" marked Christopher Lee's fourth incarnation of Bram Stoker's irrepressible Transylvanian vampire. Previously, Hammer Films had confined Dracula to the European continent. Anthony Hinds' screenplay brings the Count to England and focuses on the outrageous hypocrisy of three respectable British gentlemen who like to walk on the wild side. They engage in an act of black magic and bring doom down on their heads as a consequence. This is the first "Dracula" epic to take a social commentary angle. Furthermore, director Peter Sasdy and Hinds refrain from mentioning the word 'vampire' until 72 minutes has elapsed.An English merchant named Weller (Roy Kinnear of "The Three Musketeers") is unceremoniously pitched out of a coach when he upsets a retarded man. Weller sprawls out unconsciously on the ground and doesn't awaken for some time after the coach has gone. He gathers up his goods and sets off into the woods. The howl of a wolf and then several eldritch screams assail his ears and he flees in panic for nowhere in particular until he loses his footing and plunges down a slope. When he looks up, Weller spots the infamous Count Dracula writhing in agony on a golden crucifix. Dracula (Christopher Lee of "Horror of Dracula") dies on the crucifix and his body dissolves along with his blood. Indeed, "Countess Dracula" director Peter Sasdy's "Taste the Blood of Dracula" picks up where "Dracula Has Risen From the Grave" concluded. Dracula fell from his castle and landed on the crucifix. Impaled, he bled blood from his eyeballs as he struggled and Weller watched in horror as the infamous Count vanished, leaving behind his stylistic black cape, his ring, and a buckle with the name 'Dracula' on it.The narrative shifts to Victorian England as wealthy William Hargood (Geoffrey Keen of "Dr. Zhivago") and his wife Martha (Gwen Watford) are leaving church. Their comely teenage daughter Alice (Linda Hayden of "Old Drac") is infatuated with handsome Paul Paxton (Anthony Higgins of "Raiders of the Lost Ark"), but Alice's father disapproves of the shameless fashion with which she is carrying on and confines her to her room for her behavior. After church, stuff hypocritical William joins his comrades Samuel Paxton (Peter Sallis of "Wuthering Heights") and Jonathon Secker (John Carson of "The Plague of the Zombies") as they head out to perform charity work in London's East End. Well, Martha Hargood believes her dutiful husband William is helping the destitute. Little does she know that the trio of businessmen are indulging in carnal pleasures. Specifically, they are huddled around a woman dancing with a python wrapped around her shoulders. In the midst of their pleasure, the threesome notice Felix (Russell Hunter) trying to dissuade a young gentlemen from barging in on them.Lord Courtley (Ralph Bates of "Dr Jekyll & Sister Hyde") invades their company. Courtley has been disowned by his wealthy father, and he convinces the thrill seeking trio to do something really terrible. He inquires if they would like to sell their souls to the devil. He takes them to see Weller and the merchant sells the dried blood of Dracula to them for a thousand guineas. Later, they meet in a cathedral, and Courtley gives them each a goblet and distributes a portion of Dracula's dried blood in it. He slashes his hand and squeezes his own blood into each vessel and the stuff bubbles up with thunder and lightning accompanying it. When Courtley commands them to drive, they shrink in revulsion at his demand. Meanwhile, Courtley drinks from a chalice. He screams out them in agony and collapses himself in front of them. As he begs them to help him, the three old men strike him viciously with their canes and kick poor Courtley to death. They flee from the church. Hargood returns home and orders Martha to tell anybody who asks that he spent the evening at home. Not long after the three have gone, Courtley's supine body is covered with dust and Dracula emerges from it. Dracula reappears at 45 minutes into the action. "They have killed my servant," he observes and then vows. "They will be destroyed." Meantime, in the country somewhere, Alice and Paul celebrate the occasion of Lucy Paxton's engagement to her lover Jeremy Secker (Martin Jarvis) while they cavort about on horseback. Of course, Alice's father would be livid with indignation at the thought that Alice would disobey him and ride with Paul. Hargood meets with Secker and Paxton and they discuss their alibi. Later, after Hargood returns home, he catches Alice fresh from the party with Paul. He slaps her around and she flees right into Dracula's arms. Hargood pursues Alice into the garden and Dracula hypnotizes her into killing her abusive father with a shovel. "The first," utters Dracula solemnly. After Hargood's funeral, Alice entreats Lucy to meet her and they take a ride in a coach to the church where Dracula was resurrected and he turns Lucy into a vampire. Eventually, Secker and Paxton return to the premises to see if Courtley's body has been discovered. Imagine Paxton's surprise when they find Lucy with bite marks on her neck in a crypt! Secker calls her a vampire.Ralph Bates excels as the upstart Courtley, Dracula's servant, who arranges for his return. Christopher Lee is his usual dignified self in his red-lined cape and fangs. "Taste the Blood of Dracula" differs from previous "Dracula" films with the fiendish bloodsucker exacting revenge on the trio that murdered his servant. The camera work is excellent.