Cuadecuc, vampir (1970)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Pere Portabella

Writers:

Joan Brossa (idea) &
Pere Portabella (idea)

Release Date:

5 May 1972 (USA)

Genre:

Documentary | Horror

Plot Keywords:

Dracula

Cast

Christopher Lee	...	Himself / Count Dracula
Herbert Lom	...	Himself / Prof. Van Helsing
Soledad Miranda	...	Herself / Lucy Westenra
Jack Taylor	...	Himself / Quincey Morris

Also Known As:

Vampir

Runtime:

Spain:67 min | USA:70 min

Country:

Spain

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

Films 59

Trivia:

"Cuadecuc" is Catalan for "worm tail", so the title translates as "Worm Tail, Vampire".

Goofs:

Factual errors: The opening credits say that Jesus Franco's Nachts, wenn Dracula erwacht (1970) (during the shooting of which this movie was filmed) was produced by Hammer Films, which was not.

Movie Connections:

References Nachts, wenn Dracula erwacht (1970)

surreal behind the scenes glimpse of a horror movie set

Noted Catalonia surrealist Pedro Portobella shot this short subject on the set of Jess Franco's EL CONDE DRACULA.

I think there are a lot of things going for it: non-linear approach, uncomfortably dissassociative sound track, surreal juxtaposition of unexpected images, etc. Anyone expecting a linear documentary will be disappointed, even angry. This is a stand-alone work of cinema art, not a monster movie.

I think it's far more interesting and unsettling than, let's say, the 4 minute behind-the-scenes promo shot for DRACULA 72 AD, though it has a lot in common with it superficially. Both the promotional short and the Portobella film are shot silent; the only sync dialogue is a bit of Christopher Lee speaking about Dracula. Both show the practicalities of film making, the crew and cast in an "unreal" setting with lights and cameras; both place the Victorian central character in an uncomfortable contemporary location. The major difference is intent. The promotional short, "Prince of Darkness," is intended to hype a movie. Portabella's film is a ghostly work of art.