TASTE the BLOOD of DRACULA

meQal · August 10, 2009, 01:28:44 AM

I have seen a few of the Hammer Studio Dracula films. Even got one of them on DVD. They are always fun to watch. And like others here, I use to stay up late as a kid to see the CBS Late Movie. I remember seeing Night of the Lepus and several other films when it came on. Also remember in later years seeing reruns of The Nightstalker including the two hour pilot and reruns of The Avengers with Diana Rigg as Emma Peel in those skin tight catsuits she wore. Needless to say they made my early teen years more enjoyable.

Andrew · August 10, 2009, 12:23:51 PM

The important thing to remember about "Taste the Blood of Dracula" is that you shouldn't. As was said, this is the film with the dabbler in black magic who gets some rich old men to buy the relic of Dracula blood, which he then imbibes. The old guys shacking up in a back room at the house of ill repute, which probably included spanking and other Victorian offenses was pretty funny. However, who in the world would ever think that drinking Dracula's blood was a good idea?

metalmonster · August 10, 2009, 02:38:55 PM

TASTE THE BLOOD OF DRACULA Is A Great Movie But It Is Not As Good As Some Of The Other Films In The HAMMER HORROR DRACULA Series

Neville · August 10, 2009, 03:34:12 PM

This is one of my favourite "Dracula" sequels. I think the series was pretty good until "Scars of Dracula", which I think it's the next entry or so.

I had a blast with the film criticising the hipocrisy of the victorians. Considering they couldn't get away with much nudity at the time they did great, those early scenes are hysterical. And the black mass is terrific too, and scarier than you may expect in a Hammer film.

After that... I once read a review that complained that for all the urge to keep resurrecting Lee everytime, the writers didn't find much for him to do during the rest of the films. Avenging his minion is a rather petty occupation, but who am I to argue with the Prince of Darkness? At least that keeps the plot busy and the killings inventive. And the climax in the church is one of the best in the entire series.

jimmybob · August 10, 2009, 04:19:22 PM

Saw it last night and found it didn't offer much in the way of action. Or atmosphere for that matter.

Meh.

-Jimmybob

BoyScoutKevin · August 14, 2009, 05:08:19 PM

Of all the Lee and Hammer Draculas, this is my least favorite, and the only one that I have ever disliked.

peter johnson · August 15, 2009, 12:02:54 AM

I love them all!!

For cheesy music, for great "Hammer Horses" -- all those feather-foot guys who clomp along that same stretch of road for over 30 years, yeah? -- Man, these things are all so grand and classic - it's not worth talkin about better and best as if in a vacuum - there is nothing like a Hammer!!

peter johnson/denny intoxicated

RCMerchant · June 29, 2018, 10:56:37 PM

I just re-watched this again. It never gets old for me. I love this movie.
The scene when Ralph Bates turns into Christopher lee- and the screen cracks when his eyes turn red- fantastic.
I was lucky. When my Dad and Mary Jo bought the NEW TV (a big cousnal model with a AM/FM radio and a record player and speakers attached! It was a monster!) they gave me the old floor motel RCA. It was color too! It set next to my model shelf.

I NEVER stayed up late on weekdays. If Dad heard that TV, he would have kicked it in and beat my ass. (I listened to my transistor radio with an earpiece. They would play old 1940's radio serials on this one channel.)

Alex · June 30, 2018, 03:55:11 AM

Loved watching these movies at the weekends. Used to sit up until after midnight watching Lee and Cushing battle it out, be it as Dracula and Van Helsing or Frankenstein and his monster I could never get enough of them.

Svengoolie 3 · July 01, 2018, 04:31:47 AM

Just a little fun fact for ya here.

Christopher Lee came to hate the dracula movies after the first few and did not want to do them. Nonetheless for the sake of the working people at Hammer, the stage hands, electricians, costume makers, etc, he did several he considered to be utter trash and inane just to help working people out.

The same is true of his fu manchu movies, he didn't like any after the first but did them to help the working people at hammer studios make money.

It can truly be said his heart matched his height.

RCMerchant · July 01, 2018, 07:34:15 AM

Quote from: Svengoolie 3 on July 01, 2018, 04:31:47 AM
Just a little fun fact for ya here.

The same is true of his fu manchu movies, he didn't like any after the first but did them to help the working people at hammer studios make money.

It can truly be said his heart matched his height.

That may be said for his DRACULA films, but not the Fu Manchu movies. None of them were made by Hammer films.

Svengoolie 3 · July 01, 2018, 08:39:16 AM

Quote from: RCMerchant on July 01, 2018, 07:34:15 AM
Quote from: Svengoolie 3 on July 01, 2018, 04:31:47 AM
Just a little fun fact for ya here.

The same is true of his fu manchu movies, he didn't like any after the first but did them to help the working people at hammer studios make money.

It can truly be said his heart matched his height.

That may be said for his DRACULA films, but not the Fu Manchu movies. None of them were made by Hammer films.

He did do them mostly to help the film crews regardless of the company they worked for,.

Allhallowsday · July 06, 2018, 12:35:40 AM

... and and and he HATED MARGARET THATCHER!!

I watched TASTE THE BLOOD OF DRACULA not too long ago, maybe this year, on TCM. Definitely a lower Hammer DRACULA movie. I love CHRISTOPHER LEE (in anything) but every single one of those Hammer Horrors were... dumb. I do like 'em.

Svengoolie 3 · July 06, 2018, 12:20:24 PM

Quote from: Allhallowsday on July 06, 2018, 12:35:40 AM
... and and and he HATED MARGARET THATCHER!!

Really? Damn, he was more likeable than I ever knew...

Allhallowsday · July 06, 2018, 04:39:36 PM

Like trout rising to bait.