Scars of Dracula (1970)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

Roy Ward Baker

Writers:

Anthony Hinds (screenplay)
Bram Stoker (characters)

Release Date:

23 December 1970 (USA)

Genre:

Horror

Plot:

A young man, Paul Carlson, is on a trip and spends the night on count Dracula's castle. Needless to say...

Plot Keywords:

Vampire | Bat Attack | Dismemberment | Good Versus Evil | Meat Hook

Cast

Christopher Lee	...	Dracula
Dennis Waterman	...	Simon Carlson
Jenny Hanley	...	Sarah Framsen
Christopher Matthews	...	Paul Carlson
Patrick Troughton	...	Klove
Michael Gwynn	...	The Priest
Michael Ripper	...	Landlord
Wendy Hamilton	...	Julie
Anouska Hempel	...	Tania
Delia Lindsay	...	Alice, burgomaster's daughter
Bob Todd	...	Burgomaster
Toke Townley	...	Elderly Waggoner
David Leland	...	First Policeman
Richard Durden	...	Second Policeman
Morris Bush	...	Farmer

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

UK:X (original rating) | Netherlands:16 (DVD rating) (2007) | Finland:K-15 (DVD rating: 2008) | Australia:M | Finland:(Banned) (1971) | Norway:16 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Elstree Film and TV Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company:

EMI Films

Trivia:

Jenny Hanley was dubbed by Nikki Van der Zyl.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When the Burgomaster is banging on the bedroom door after chasing his daughter up the stairs, the entire wall - supposedly stone - shakes.

Quotes:

Klove: You fools! You think you can destroy my Master? The flames will never reach him.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Midsomer Murders: A Tale of Two Hamlets (#6.4)" (2003)

None too original but action filled Dracula film , the most underrated of the series

Scars Of Dracula is generally regarded very poorly among Hammer fans, which is a shame. Yes, the decreased budget results in less impressive sets, and there is a bit more blood and violence than usual, but the film has an energy which was somewhat lacking in Dracula Has Risen From The Grave and Taste The Blood Of Dracula.

The script is little more than a rehash of Dracula and Dracula Prince Of Darkness, but there is more action than any others in the series, and several memorable sequences, including the discovery of bodies horribly gored by bats in a church [replete with Lucio Fulci style zooms into the nasty bits], Dracula climbing up a wall a la Bram Stoker, and a vampire seduction ending with Dracula stabbing the woman to death. Atmosphere is a little lacking ,and it's odd that no continuity has been attempted to link it with the previous entry. Christopher Lee has more screen time than usual, although his makeup here is over done. James Bernard's music, though, is as vibrant as ever.

With a much stronger supernatural element than the other Draculas, this is still an enjoyable entry, probably the third best in the series.