DRACULA AD 1972
UK, 1972, 96 minutes, Colour.
Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing, Stephanie Beecham, Christopher Neam, Marsha A. Hunt, Caroline Munro, Michael Kitchen.
Directed by Alan Gibson.
Dracula AD 1972 was one of the prolific series of Dracula films from Hammer Studios. It opened with Dracula in 1958 with Christopher Lee as the count and Peter Cushing as Van Helsing. They continued with a variety of Dracula films throughout the 1960s. In 1972 this updated story was released and was followed, by director Alan Gibson, with Satanic Rites of Dracula in 1974.
This time the setting is contemporary. A young Johnny Alucard (Dracula spelt backwards) uses an incantation to raise Dracula from the dead. Dracula then starts to pursue the descendants of Professor Van Helsing, especially Stephanie Beecham as Jessica Van Helsing. However, the real Van Helsing also appears to do battle, yet again, with Dracula.
1. The appeal of horror films? As adapted to a modern situation? Easier identification? Menace, threat, reality or unreality?
2. The age old appeal of Dracula myths? Historical, literary, cinema? Audience interest in vampires, symbols of evils present in our world, confrontation of good and evil?
3. This particular version within the Hammer Film tradition of Dracula horror? Straightforward style, Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee? The emphasis on gore? The importance of the modern setting?
4. The background of the destruction of Dracula in the 19th century? The role of Professor Van Helsing? The transition to the 20th century? The Van Helsings as the enemies of Dracula? The Professor and his background knowledge of vampire lore? Jessica as an expert? Filling in their characters, way of life, investigation of the killings, Jessica as victim, the build-up to the confrontation? How well done, how involving?
5. The presentation of swinging London of the seventies, as visualised, expected sequences of music, dance, fashions, youth? The points being made about swinging London youth being involved in the occult? Going into de-consecrated churches? Toying with powers beyond them? Fear, fascination, curiosity? Taking off more than they could cope with? Laura and Gaynor being vampirised? The emphasis on the particular sequences of ritual and the occult?
6. The focus on Johnny Alucard? Dracula spelt backwards, a sinister and charming character? His hold on the group, his leading them into the occult, his being an agent of Dracula and the way that this was portrayed?
7. The melodramatic presentation of Dracula’s rising, Christopher Lee and his particular style for communicating the presence of Dracula? The sequences of ritual, vampirising the others?
8. The balance of the ordinary with the presentation of the police and the detectives and the investigation of the deaths as murders?
9. The personality of Jessica, her being lured into this circle, victim of Dracula?
10. Johnny's death and its significance? Leading to the confrontation of the Professor with Dracula? The various ways in which the vampire in destroyed?
11. This kind of film as presenting symbols of evil? the presence of evil in our world, the struggle of good and evil?
