I watched 9 classic films about Dracula with Christopher Lee in the title role! How well these films are preserved? Who can be scared today? I’ll try to figure it out! At the same time I will talk about references in the Castlevania series.
Introduction
The 90s were an amazing time. As a child, I just loved watching horror and often did not even understand what chronological sequence films were released. I was scared, rejoiced at the appearance and defeat of my beloved monsters and simply enjoyed the familiar formula. I did not care what part of the “Nightmares on the Street of Elm” I was watching – after all, I knew how it would end.
Moreover, even individual films about monsters were formed in unified series. I often reviewed Dracula from Ford Coppola, but it was absolutely obvious to me that this is just one of the series films. Strange, sexy, old films about Dracula excited my imagination. I perfectly remember the scene in which a group of aristocrats visited the brothel and tried to hold a ritual in the church to experience pleasure inaccessible to mortals. Definitely, about Dracula there are pieces of 30 films folding into a separate universe!
Recently, I decided to revise the Star Wars and, at the same time, google the biography of Count Duku, which was brilliantly played by the legendary Christopher Lee. For me it was a shock that one actor played Count Duku, Saruman, as well as the same Dracula from my childhood! So the choice but to watch all 9 films about Dracula from the Hammer studio, I didn’t have! (Let the “Dracula” from Coppola is not included.)
My hobby for vampires also applied to video games. On every console on which I played, I had a cartridge/disk with Castlevania. Mario, Sonic, Crash were associated with specific prefixes, but Castlevania has always been. Absolutely every Castlevania was a steep platformer or metroide.
Konami did not make bad games (how painful it hurts). Starting my marathon, I found a lot of references in Castlevania to Hammer films, and it would be cool to write about them. In general, the stars came together, which means that the article be!
Dracula (1958)
Director – Terent Fisher
Jonathan Harker decided to move for the sake of working in the library of the old count. Unfortunately Harker, the count turns out to be a powerful vampire and messenger of Satan in our world … But do not rush to despair! After all, the real profession of John is not a librarian at all. Harker is an experienced vampire killer and student of Abraham van Helsing himself! This fight will be legendary!
The first film of https://non-uk-casinos.co.uk/review/winit-casino/ the series is a real classic of horror! By 1958, there were several adaptations of Bram Stoker’s novel, so Hammer studio did not definitely follow the plot of the book and concentrated more on the action-component. The viewer already knows who Count Dracula is, so it makes no sense to delay the narrative.
Another distinctive feature of the film was cruelty. Terens Fisher did not hesitate to show the viewer bloody and sexual scenes. Of course, in comparison with modern horror, the 1958 Dracula looks too naive and theatrical, but everything stretches a brilliant acting game. Christopher Lee was able to create a truly memorable image of an ancient, dangerous and ruthless predator. The duet Christopher made up another legendary horror actor-Peter Cushing. His hero is Abraham van Helsing – wise, fearless and cunning.
I liked the “Dracula” of 1958. Yes, the film lacks special effects and it is too far from the original, but he has his own charm. Cinema is not trying to explain the origin and ability of the count, but this is normal for the horror of those years. By 1958, not so many colored horror films came out, and Hammer was able to catch the wave.
It’s funny, but Christopher Lee did not plan to play Dracula forever. Wanting to say goodbye to the image, he starred in the comedy “difficult times for Dracula”, where he played a parody version of the vampire. Nevertheless, have he continued to play in studio films. Of the significant roles, I can note the monster Frankenstein, Rasputin and, of course, the criminal genius Fu Manchu.
Castlevania is not so much tied on the events of the first film. Konami studio drew inspiration in the Hammer horror universe. So in Castlevania appear: Monster Frankenstein, Gorgon, Mummy and, of course, Count Dracula himself. In the horror from Terens Fisher, heroes often like to spread the candlesticks, this is reflected in the game. Destruction of candlesticks is an important part of any game of the Castlevania series. In addition, in Castlevania, a cross and holy water are found as an additional weapon.
Brides Dracula (1960)
Director – Terent Fisher
Charming Marianne always dreamed of becoming a teacher, and her cherished desire was so close … But the new employer decided to save on tickets, so the girl was stuck in the mountains of Transylvania. From cold death on Marianne Street, the local aristocrat Baroness Minster saved. But in the castle it was found that the Baroness has a son-ray, who is kept on a chain and not let go anywhere. Now Marianne will have to figure out the family relationship Minster and find a way out of the castle.
I liked this film even more than the first part, although there is no Christopher Lee in it. Director Terent Fisher was able to work out perfectly to the Gothic atmosphere of the Minster castle. The first third of the film is perfectly designed, the viewer does not immediately understand who the main villain and what happened in the Mainster estate.
In the “Dracula brides” we were able to see the details and laws of the vampire world. So the first appeal to the vampire occurs after the Black Mass, perfect by bad people. The film shows the skills of vampires perfectly. They can hypnotize their victims and contact bats. Another interesting detail of the world – Van Helsing is healed from a vampire bite with hot silver.
“Dracula bride” is a more sexy and bold movie. In many ways, this was facilitated by a brilliant cast. Peter Cushing laid out in all 300% and literally got used to the role of Abraham van Helsing. David Pil perfectly played the role of the baron, he managed to reveal the sexual side of the vampire world. Ivonn Montlor was charming in the role of naive Marianne.
The idea with a young and beautiful Dracula was actively used by Konami for Castlevania Games, published on the fourth generation of prefixes (Castlevania: Bloodlines, Super Castlevania). The steel chain, as a weapon, resembles a whip that the Belmont family used to combat the undead. The image of Elizabeth Bartley from Castlevania: Bloodlines was borrowed from Dracula’s brides.
Dracula: Prince of Darkness (1966)
Director – Terent Fisher
A group of tourists was stuck in the Transylvanian mountains, but the aristocrats accustomed to comfort were able to quickly find the castle. In it they found food, alcohol and overnight. Alas, there is nothing free in our world, and aristocrats will still have to pay blood.
The legendary return of Christopher Lee to the role of Dracula, and the best film from the Terens Fisher trilogy! In many ways, we have an attempt to rethink the original novel. I liked that the main antagonist of the film is the butler of the clock, who is trying to resurrect his master. This was due to the discontent of Christopher Lee Script. The actor was able to achieve a reduction in his role, and throughout the film he does not pronounce a word.
Surprisingly, this approach has a positive effect on the atmosphere. The appearance of Dracula is always a holiday, it resembles a wild beast obsessed with a thirst for blood. From the cast, I would like to note Andrew Keira, who was able to brilliantly play the role of Father Sandor.
Most of all I liked the obsession with the usual mortal in the desire to serve my master. Dracula is a monster, but clocks are a person who is well aware of his actions. Terent Fisher was able to work out the final battle well. It feels like nature itself rebelled against the atrocities of Dracula.
The theme with rituals for the revival of Dracula was actively operated by Konami. It’s easier to name the games of the Castlevania series in which there was no ritual. But I like the scene from Castlevania Chronicles most of all.
In the next series
Well, that’s all, my little bloodsuckers. In the next part I will write about the conveyor of Hammer and sunset the Great Studio. We are waiting for such hits as: “Devil’s rituals Dracula” and “The taste of the blood of the Dracula”. If these articles turn out to be successful, I will tell you about the Carnstein trilogy and other Hammer vampire films – bloody, sexy and just trash films. FIN.
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