DRACULA A.D. 1972 (1972, UK, 96m, 15) **
Fantasy, Horror
dist. Columbia-Warner Distributors (UK), Warner Bros. (USA); pr co. Hammer Films; d. Alan Gibson; w. Don Houghton; pr. Josephine Douglas; ph. Dick Bush (Eastmancolor | 1.85:1); m. Michael Vickers; ed. James Needs; pd. Don Mingaye.
cast: Christopher Lee (Count Dracula), Peter Cushing (Professor Lorrimer Van Helsing), Stephanie Beacham (Jessica Van Helsing), Christopher Neame (Johnny Alucard), Michael Coles (Inspector Murray), Marsha A. Hunt (Gaynor), Caroline Munro (Laura Bellows), Janet Key (Anna), William Ellis (Joe Mitcham), Pip Miller (Bob), Michael Kitchen (Greg), David Andrews (Detective Sergeant), Lally Bowers (Matron), Constance Luttrell (Mrs. Donnelly), Michael Daly (Charles), Artro Morris (Police Surgeon), Jo Richardson (Crying Matron), Penny Brahms (Hippy Girl), Brian John Smith (Hippy Boy), Stoneground (Rockgroup).
A misguided attempt to update the Dracula legend to swinging 1970s London. Here, Professor Van Helsing Jr. (Cushing) protects his granddaughter (Beacham) from the vampire count (Lee), brought back by London hippies, led by Neame. One or two scenes aside, the production fails to achieve its goals on almost every level. By emphasising the youth culture of the day, the atmosphere and tension is almost completely diluted. This is not helped by a funky musical score by Vickers, which belongs in another film. Lee and Cushing manage to bring some dignity to the proceedings, but Lee is once again under-utilised, and Cushing takes a central role late in the story—the remainder of the cast struggles with their hip dialogue and underdeveloped characters. The result is the first major disappointment in the series. Aka: DRACULA TODAY. Followed by THE SATANIC RITES OF DRACULA (1973).
