Scars of Dracula

   

   

Scars of Dracula

1970

Director- Roy Ward Baker

Cast- Christopher Lee, Jenny Hanley,  Dennis Waterman, Christopher Matthews, Michael Gwynn, Michael Ripper, Patrick Troughton, Anouska Hempel, Wendy Hamilton, Delia Lindsay

           

      This film breaks with the continuity that had continued with the last 5 films. Taste the Blood of Dracula ended with the Count meeting his end in a church. This film starts with Dracula’s remains lying in a crypt in his castle. His reanimation is achieved through a creepy looking bat drooling blood onto the remains. One explanation for the break in continuity is that the film was planned as a possible reboot of the franchise in case Lee decided to quit playing the role.

           

     This movie has one of the most memorable openings in the franchise.  After Dracula’s resurrection, a local village girl is found dead with the telltale marks on her neck. A local inn keeper (Michael Ripper), whips the local villagers into a fury and despite the local priests protests, the men of the town put the women and children in the church and then march off to the castle to exact their revenge on Dracula. They arrive and overpower the Count’s servant Klove (no, not the Klove from Dracula, Princeof Darkness, this is a whole new servant named Klove). They set fire to the castle and then leave, feeling smug that they have shown the Count what for.

            

      They return home and upon entering the church they find an abattoir of gore and mangled bodies. The Count has sent an army of bats of to tear the remaining townspeople to pieces. Eyes hang from skulls, bodies are draped over the cross, flesh is torn from faces. The men know that Dracula has had the last laugh.

           

      Meanwhile, in the neighboring town a young  man, Paul, is trying to find an excuse to leave a young lady he has just had sex with (no, not the Paul from Taste the Blood of Dracula, and no not the Paul from Dracula has Risen from Grave, this is a whole new Paul). Paul snubs the affections of beautiful Alice (no, not the Alice from Taste the Blood of Dracula). As she chases him, naked, through the house, her father shows up. Alice accuses Paul of rape so Paul goes on the run.

           

      After a series of events, Paul ends up at Castle  Dracula. At this point the film shifts and takes its inspiration from the Jonathan Harker segment of the novel, Dracula. Instead of three Brides, he only meets one (played by the beautiful Anouska Hempel). As in the book, when she decides to take a bite out of Paul, Dracula intervenes. However, instead of just pushing her aside he (bizarrely) stabs her to death. I think the movie got a little off track here. Why would the lord of vampires need to stab one of his minions to death? To make matters worse, he has Klove dispose of the body by chopping it up and tossing the parts into acid. Why? Was Drac worried about CSI showing up?

           

     Anyway, like in the book, Paul climbs out of the castle window and descends down the wall and finds Dracula’s tomb. At that point the film shifts focus again.

            

       

     Paul has a brother, Simon.  Simon and Paul both have the hots for Sarah (played by one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever seen in a Hammer film, Jenny Hanley). Simon and Sarah go looking for the missing Paul and their search leads them to Dracula’s castle. The Count drugs them both and has Sarah change into a dress that has the singular virtue of showcasing her cleavage like the newest model at a car show.

            

        The Count tries to bite Sarah but the crucifix around her neck stops him. Klove won’t help the Count because he has the hots for Sarah as well. Klove helps the young couple  escape and the Count punishes Klove who seems to have a kinky masochistic side.

            

       Simon and Sarah get no help from the villagers but the local priest clues Simon in as to Dracula’s true nature. Simon goes back to the castle to look for his brother. He finds Paul dead and confronts Dracula on the roof of the castle. Simon tries to impale Dracula on a large spike. The Count turns the tables and is about to hurl the spike at Simon when lightening (conveniently) strikes the spike, setting the Count ablaze, thus ending the menace (for now).

            

       This film didn’t feel like the previous films in the series. Other than Lee’s and Michael Ripper’s familiar faces (and the over used names) I’m not sure there is much to link it thematically to its predecessors.  The sex was not any more obvious than in Taste the Blood of Dracula but the violence and gore had definitely been upped. Lee (for some reason) was wearing some kind of make-up meant to make him seem paler (I guess). The movie has three things going for it. First, the film looked good. It has bright colors and nice sets and some original scenes. Second was Jenny Hanley. In her blue cape and cleavage showcasing gown, she looks like the sexiest Disney princess imaginable. Lastly, Lee has more of a role in this film, complete with some actual dialogue.

            

      Not as classic as some of the other entries in the franchise, but satisfying if you like things a bit bloodier.