Dracula A.D. 1972 (1972)
Or…Fangs, Free Love, and Rock & Roll!
The seventh of Hammer’s nine Dracula films, Dracula A.D. 1972, begins a century prior to the ultra hip world of Dick Nixon, Mary Tyler Moore, and the planet shaking tones of Looking Glass’ Brandy (You’re A Fine Girl).
Back in 1872, the D-Man (Christopher Lee - Dark Shadows) and his arch foe, Doctor of Paranormal Dentistry Larry Van Helsing (Peter Cushing - House of the Long Shadows), face off in a clash resulting in (Spoiler!) Big D being killed by….a wagon wheel. Flash forward a century later to a London house party / home invasion / paleo-rave featuring live music by the band Stoneground. My first though was “wow…these guys are actually pretty good.” It turns out that three of the band’s members went on to form Pablo Cruise and another (Pete Sears) later played for Jefferson Starship. More on them if we every create the Big Movie Music Blog.
The party / home invasion is the work of a group of ne’er do well lads and lasses including the moody Johnny Alucard (Christopher Neame - The Prestige), the kindly and perpetually aroused Bobby (Philip Miller), and the innocent Jess Van Helsing (Stephanie Beacham), a young woman who “Isn’t doing acid, hasn’t shot up, and isn’t sleeping with anyone…at the moment” (except maybe for Bobby). When the police arrive our heroes escape to their favorite fab coffee shop for Coca Colas, at which point Johnny suggests they hold a black mass in a recently “desanctified” church.
What could go wrong?
So just a little free BMB advice: if you decide to hold a black mass and the guy in charge uses a big coffin with an embroidered “D” as a backdrop you might want to bring some garlic flavored Mentos.
We won’t spoil the fun, but it involves judicious amounts of tomato soup, incredibly cool street scenes of 1972 London, a 70s porno sound track, and some surprisingly good acting, particularly by Michael Coles (Inspector Murray) - later of Doctor Who, The Avengers, and The Saint (he would reprise his role in the 1973 The Satanic Rites of Dracula).
In terms of frights it is pretty tame by current standards. The most unnerving scenes involve Peter Cushing giving uncomfortably un-grandfatherly pecks and caresses to his granddaughter Jess…including a few clumsy breast grabs that got past the censors.
Most interesting thing I learned watching this? Apparently Super Soakers are an effective weapon against the undead.
Dracula 1972 A.D. is available HERE.
Three out of five vampiric lords. Solid drive-in material.
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