Dracula A.D. 1972 (1972)

User Rating:

5.4/10   

Director:

Alan Gibson

Writer:

Don Houghton (writer)
(more)

Release Date:

17 November 1972 (USA)

Genre:

Horror

Tagline:

The Count is back, with an eye for London's hotpants . . . and a taste for everything

Plot:

Johnny Alucard raises Count Dracula(Christopher Lee) from the dead in 1972 London. The Count goes after the descendents of Van Helsing.

Plot Keywords:

Good Versus Evil | 1970s | Sequel | Vampire | Cross

Cast

Christopher Lee	...	Count Dracula
Peter Cushing	...	Professor Van Helsing
Stephanie Beacham	...	Jessica Van Helsing
Christopher Neame	...	Johnny Alucard
Michael Coles	...	Inspector
Marsha A. Hunt	...	Gaynor (as Marsha Hunt)
Caroline Munro	...	Laura Bellows
Janet Key	...	Anna
William Ellis	...	Joe Mitcham
Philip Miller	...	Bob
Michael Kitchen	...	Greg
David Andrews	...	Detective Sergeant
Lally Bowers	...	Matron Party Hostess
Constance Luttrell	...	Mrs. Donnelly
Michael Daly	...	Charles
Artro Morris	...	Police Surgeon
Jo Richardson	...	Crying Matron
Penny Brahms	...	Hippy Girl
Brian John Smith	...	Hippy Boy
Tim Barnes	...	Rockgroup Member (as Stoneground)
Sal Valentino	...	Rockgroup Singer / Guitarist (as Stoneground)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
John Blakeley	...	Rockgroup Member (as Stoneground)
Brian Godula	...	Rockgroup Member (as Stoneground)
Lynne Hughes	...	Rockgroup Member (as Stoneground)
Deirdre La Porte	...	Rockgroup Member (as Stoneground)
Cory Lerios	...	Rockgroup Member (as Stoneground)
Lydia Mareno	...	Rockgroup Member (as Stoneground)
Steve Price	...	Rockgroup Member (as Stoneground)
Annie Sampson	...	Rockgroup Member (as Stoneground)
Jane Anthony	...	Debby Girl (uncredited)
Flanagan	...	Go-Go Girl (uncredited)
John Franklyn-Robbins	...	Minister (uncredited)

Directed by
Alan Gibson

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Don Houghton		writer
Bram Stoker		uncredited

Produced by
Michael Carreras	....	executive producer
Josephine Douglas	....	producer

Original Music by
Michael Vickers

Cinematography by
Dick Bush

Film Editing by
James Needs

Casting by
James Liggat

Production Design by
Don Mingaye

Makeup Department
George Blackler	....	makeup artist
Jill Carpenter	....	makeup artist
Barbara Ritchie	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Ron Jackson	....	production manager
Roy Skeggs	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Robert Lynn	....	assistant director

Art Department
John Chisholm	....	props

Sound Department
Roy Baker	....	sound editor
Keith Batten	....	boom operator
Claude Hitchcock	....	supervising sound editor
A.W. Lumkin	....	recording director
Bill Rowe	....	dubbing mixer

Special Effects by
Les Bowie	....	special effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Bernard Ford	....	camera operator (as Bernie Ford)
George Whitear	....	still photographer

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Rosemary Burrows	....	wardrobe supervisor

Music Department
Tim Barnes	....	composer: song "You Better Come Through"
Philip Martell	....	music supervisor
Sal Valentino	....	composer: song "Alligator Man"

Other crew
Doreen Dearnaley	....	continuity

Production Companies

• Hammer Film Productions

Distributors

• Columbia-Warner Distributors (1972) (UK) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. Pictures (1972) (USA) (theatrical)
• CBS Television (1981) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2005) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Humphries Laboratories  processing

Also Known As:

Dracula '72 (UK) (working title)
Dracula 1972 (International: English title) (informal title)
Dracula 1972 D.C. (International: English title) (poster title)
Dracula Chases the Mini Girls (UK) (working title)
Dracula Chelsea '72 (UK) (working title)
Dracula Today
1972: Dracula colpisce ancora! (Italy) [it]
Drácula 73 (Spain) [es]
Drácula no Mundo da Mini-Saia (Brazil) [pt]
Dracula '73 (France) [fr]
Dracula jagt Mini-Mädchen (West Germany) [de]
Draculan kosto (Finland) [fi]
Drakoulas 1972 (Greece) [el]

Runtime:

USA:96 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

UK:15 (re-rating) (1995) | UK:18 (re-rating) (1988) | UK:X (original rating) | Singapore:PG | West Germany:16 (VHS) | West Germany:16 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Netherlands:12 (DVD rating) (2006) | Finland:(Banned) (1972) | Norway:16 | Sweden:15 | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Aldenham Country Park, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company:

Hammer Film Productions

Trivia:

Paul Annett was offered the chance to direct this project.

Quotes:

Joe Mitcham: Okay, okay. But if we do get to summon up the big daddy with the horns and the tail, he gets to bring his own liquor, his own bird and his own pot.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Dracula: A Cinematic Scrapbook (1991)

Soundtrack:

You better come through

Hammer Masterpiece - "Something new yet as old as time"

I have recently managed to finally secure this film on DVD after a long wait and am delighted to have been able to do so. A much maligned later addition to the Hammer Dracula saga, this was a magnificent attempt by Hammer to propel new life into the oft told story of the Count and his many appearances over passing years. It was logic that he would eventually end up in modern time and to this end on the budget available to Hammer at the time, this was without doubt a superb entry into the series. Despite being set in the early 1970's, Hammer made us well aware of the Gothic element still, by utilising an abandoned Churchyard for may scenes and also include an interesting opener at the beginning of the film, set in Victorian times to allow the old and new to join comfortably. Both Lee and Cushing gave sterling performances as Dracula and Van Helsing respectively and the soundtrack although updated is great to, very reminiscent of the period with the correct touch of the creepies also. The supporting cast is also very good and each has enough time to develop filling out the plot, particularly that of Christopher Neame, who plays Draculs disciple in a role that was sadly unable to develop further as Neame showed distinct and early signs of contesting the masters crown although one thinks perhaps that is why ultimately he was cut short! One of the best and for all of the critics out there, ask yourself when condemning films such as this on the basis that we saw Hammer go downhill etc form here out, what indeed we are left with today instead. On that basis this deserves post award ceremonies by the dozen. Long live the studio from Bray!