ReviewBlood for Dracula was filmed in Italy, immediately after Warhol's
Flesh for Frankenstein, both films directed by Paul Morrissey, on a very low budget.
Udo Kier (Count Dracula) requires the blood of virgins, and travels from Romania
to Italy on the basis that virgins are more available in Catholic countries. Though
he and his servant soon find a decaying estate with four (count 'em) beautiful
women, each seeking a wealthy husband, the plan soon disintegrates, mild sex being
replaced by serious blood letting. The film is an interesting take on the
old legend, weakened by (apparently) the script being written as they went along,
and a cast of pals, wives, mothers and local drunks. The pace is variable, hustled
along by the 'virgins', all of whom can act, and do a good job of supporting the
rest of the cast. The finale is a little disappointing, but the plot had
rather painted itself into a corner The Criterion Collection DVD restores
the film to its originalis a 'director's cut', and comes with a fascinating commentary
by Morrissey, Kier, and film critic Maurice Yacowar. For all the Warhol name dropping
over the years, his name is mentioned only once in the commentary, and it is clear
that his only connection was a marketing one. So much for cult movies, huh? The
DVD - Cast: Udo Kier (Count Dracula), Jose Dallesandro (Mario), Dominique
Dariel (Sofia), Stefania Cassini (Rybena), Arno Juerging (Anton), Maxime McKendry
(Marquise Di Fiori), Milena Vucotic (Esmeralda), Vittorio De Sica (Marquis Di
Fiori)
- Director/Screenplay - Paul Morissey
- Producer - Andrew Braunsberg
- Photography
- Luigi Kevellier
- Music - Claudio Gizzi
- Special Effects - Carlo
Rambaldi
- Makeup - Mario Di Salvio
- Production Design - Enrico Job
- Art
Direction - Gianni Giovagnoni
- Production Company - Compagnia Cinematografica
Champion/Jean Yanne-Jean Pierre Rassam.
- DVD Release 15 December 1998
- Running
Time 103 Minutes, Widescreen
|
