TASTE THE BLOOD OF DRACULA
Director - Peter Sasdy, Screenplay - John Elder [Anthony Hinds],
Producer - Aida Young, Photography - Arthur Grant, Music - James Bernard,
Music Supervisor - Philip Martell, Special Effects - Brian Johncock,
Makeup - Gerry Fletcher, Art Direction - Scott MacGregor. Production
Company - Hammer. 1970.
Cast: Geoffrey Keen (William Hargood), Linda Hayden (Alice Hargood),
Anthony Corlan (Paul Paxton), Christopher Lee (Count Dracula),
John Carson (Jonathan Secker), Peter Sallis (Samuel Paxton),
Ralph Bates (Lord Courtley), Isla Blair (Lucy Paxton), Martin Jarvis
(Jeremy Secker), Gwen Watford (Martha Hargood), Roy Kinnear (Weller),
Michael Ripper (Cobb)
Lord Courtley, a secret disciple of Count Dracula, desperately seeks
three priceless items...a black cloak, a ring, and a phial of red
dust...the effects of the dreaded Vampire. Penniless, he induces three
men to purchase them. The men.....William Hargood, Samuel Paxton and
Jonathon Secker....community pillars, eagerly agree when they learn
Courtley can accomodate their secret lusts. The three relics bought,
they join Courtley in a mystic chapel ceremony where madness overtakes
the three. They kill Courtley.
Courtley’s blood, which turns the red powder to liquid, revives
Dracula, who swears vengeance on the three killers of his disciple.
They must die, he vows, by the hands of their children....Alice Hargood,
Lucy Paxton, Paul Paxton and Jeremy Secker. Soon, Dracula has Alice
mesmerized under his satanic power. Alice then lures Lucy to the Vampire’s
bite; and, through Lucy, Jeremy falls victim. Only Paul remains untainted.
Resentful of his daughter’s love for Paul, Hargood, one night, pursues
Alice. But, filled with hate towards her father, Alice kills him. Paxton
and Secker, terrorizzed by the murder of their friend, return to the
chapel to make sure Courtley is dead. There, Lucy kills Paxton with a
stake throught the heart. Later, at home, Jeremy stabs his father to
death. Lucy’s usefulness to the Count now ended, Dracula proceeds to
kill her. Alice is to be next. Paul, however, armed with a cross, goes
to the chapel to save Alice by exorcizing the evil spirit of Dracula.
In the church, Paul arms Alice with a cross after sealing the entrance
door with a large crucifix. Dracula finds himself surrounded by symbols
of holiness and in an attempt to escape, the Count latches onto a rope
and dramatically climbs high above the altar where he is conquered by
the prevailing force of goodness. The vampire falls to his death on the
altar far below and decomposes into dust.
Disclaimer: Taste The Blood Of Dracula was copyrighted 1970 by Hammer Film Productions Ltd. and released on video by EMI Film Productions, Ltd. Used for non-commercial purposes; All rights reserved. DO not use without permission.
