Taste the Blood of Dracula (1970)

Dracula is back. He’s resurrected by the conniving of one of his disciples, Lord Courtley (Ralph Bates), who seeks three items – a black cloak, a ring, and a phial of red dust – the blood and effects of Count Dracula.

Courtley, without money, has induced three men – William Hargood (Geoffrey Keen), Samuel Paxton (Peter Sallis) and Jonathon Secker (John Carson) – to buy the items. At the evil ceremony that follows the three go berserk and kill Courtley.

The once-moribund Dracula, now resurrected, swears vengeance. The men must die, but in the most horrifying circumstances he can envisage – the children of the men will do it for him!

Very soon Dracula has three of the children, two pretty girls and a young man, in his power. Only the fourth, another young man, withstands the vampire’s mesmeric influence and he alone appears to be the one to break Dracula’s evil hold.

Christopher Lee bloodsucks his way murderously through this gruesomely evil piece until good triumphs yet again and all that remains is a ring, a cloak and red dust . . .

This film is a follow up to Dracula Has Risen from the Grave (1968) and picks up where the other film left off. It features Madeline Smith’s first role in a Hammer film.

1970 was a very busy Dracula year for Lee. This is one of four films released that year in which he played Count Dracula.

The others were Count Dracula, The Scars of Dracula and the Sammy Davis Jr/Peter Lawford comedy One More Time.

Count Dracula
Christopher Lee
William Hargood
Geoffrey Keen
Mrs Martha Hargood
Gwen Watford
Alice Hargood
Linda Hayden
Samuel Paxton
Peter Sallis
Paul Paxton
Anthony Higgins (as Anthony Corlan)
Lucy Paxton
Isla Blair
Jonathon Secker
John Carson
Jeremy Secker
Martin Jarvis
Lord Courtley
Ralph Bates
Weller
Roy Kinnear
Cobb
Michael Ripper
Felix
Russell Hunter
Hargood’s Maid
Shirley Jaffe
Vicar
Reginald Barratt
Dolly
Madeline Smith
Chinese girl
Lai Ling
Snake girl
Malaika Martin

Director
Peter Sasdy

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