Dracula AD 1972 (1972)

This ill-conceived attempt at updating Dracula sees the vampire (once again played by Christopher Lee) materialise in Swinging London. He looks sorely out of place in a world full of women in mini-skirts and men in flowery shirts.

The story follows the escapades of a group of teenagers (none of whom look a day under 30) who like to gatecrash posh houses and stage parties until the occupants call the fuzz, and everybody makes a run for it.

With the assistance of a Satanist called Johnny Alucard (spell it backwards), the group manage to resurrect the dead Count in a desanctified church in Chelsea.

Unfortunately, from here on, the story resorts entirely to formula, with Jessica Van Helsing (the sexy Stephanie Beecham) now predictably in peril and the climax only a stake away.

Christopher Neame is charismatically evil as Johnny Alucard, who also becomes a vampire to carry out Dracula’s revenge. Caroline Munro, Marsha Hunt and Janet Key all add sex appeal, and Philip Miller is tolerable as Jessica’s beau, Bob.

Salvation arrives in the customary form of Van Helsing (Peter Cushing) to prevent Dracula from taking his revenge on young Jessica, and the final showdown between the two longstanding enemies proves to be splendid stuff.

Count Dracula
Christopher Lee
Professor Van Helsing
Peter Cushing
Jessica Van Helsing
Stephanie Beacham
Inspector Murray
Michael Coles
Johnny Alucard
Christopher Neame
Gaynor Keating
Marsha A. Hunt
Laura Jane Barrows
Caroline Munro
Anna Bryant
Janet Key
Joe Mitchum
William Ellis
Bob Tarrant
Philip Miller
Greg Puller
Michael Kitchen

Director
Alan Gibson

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