Blood for Dracula
Blood for Dracula | |
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Directed by | Paul Morrissey |
Screenplay by | Paul Morrissey[1] |
Story by | Paul Morrissey[1] |
Based on | Characters and concepts created by Bram Stoker for Dracula |
Produced by |
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Starring |
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Cinematography | Luigi Kuveiller[1] |
Edited by |
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Music by | Claudio Gizzi[3][1] |
Production company | Compagnia Cinematografica Champion[2] |
Distributed by | Euro International Films |
Release dates |
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Running time | 106 minutes[4] |
Countries |
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Language | English |
Blood for Dracula is a 1974
The film involves Count Dracula arriving in Italy to feast upon the blood of virgins, only to find difficulty with this due to the lack of virgins present in Italy.
Filming began shortly after the completion of Flesh for Frankenstein. Italian director Antonio Margheriti is credited in Italian prints of the film despite not directing it. This misattribution led both producer Carlo Ponti and Margheriti to be put on trial for "continued and aggravated fraud against the state" by attempting to gain benefits by law for Italian films.[5]
According to the American Film Institute, the film opened to mixed reviews.
Plot
In the early 1920s, a sickly and dying
Of di Fiore's four daughters, Saphiria and Rubinia regularly enjoy the sexual services of Mario, the estate's handyman, a proud peasant and staunch
Soon after the Marchese di Fiore travels out of Italy to pay his great debts, Mario discovers that Dracula is a vampire and what he has done to the di Fiore sisters. When he realizes the danger Dracula poses to Perla, the youngest, he uses the excuse of protecting her to rape her. Mario then warns di Fiore's wife, La Marchesa di Fiore, about Dracula's plan. Meanwhile, Dracula has drunk the blood of Esmeralda, turning her into a vampire and regaining his strength. La Marchesa confronts Anton, and after he stabs her, she fatally shoots him before succumbing herself to her wound. Mario kills Dracula and Esmeralda, becoming the de facto master and manager of the estate.
Cast
- Udo Kier as Count Dracula
- Joe Dallesandro as Mario Balato, the worker
- Arno Juerging as Anton, Dracula's manservant
- Vittorio de Sicaas Il Marchese di Fiore
- Maxime McKendryas La Marchesa di Fiore
- Milena Vukotic as Esmeralda di Fiore
- Dominique Darel as Saphiria di Fiore
- Stefania Casini as Rubinia di Fiore
- Silvia Dionisio as Perla di Fiore
- Roman Polański (uncredited) as man in tavern[6]
Production
In 1973, Paul Morrissey and Joe Dallesandro came to Italy to shoot a film for producers Andrew Braunsberg and Carlo Ponti.[7] The original idea came from director Roman Polanski who had met Morrissey when promoting his film What? with Morrissey stating that Polanski felt he would be "a natural person to make a 3-D film about Frankenstein. I thought it was the most absurd option I could imagine."[7] Morrissey convinced Ponti to not just make one film during this period, but two which led to the production of both Flesh for Frankenstein and Blood for Dracula.[7]
One day after the principal shooting for Flesh for Frankenstein was completed, Morrissey had Udo Kier, Dallesandro and Arno Juerging get shorter hair cuts, as filming for Blood for Dracula began immediately.[2] The film featured other directors in the cast, including Vittorio De Sica, who wrote his own lines on the set.[5] Roman Polanski also made a cameo in a tavern scene.[5] Despite other sources' claims, Polanski was not shooting What? at the time in Italy, as that film had already been released in Italy by the time the film Blood for Dracula went into production.[5] On its release, the film was promoted with Andy Warhol's name. When asked about how he contributed to the film, Warhol responded that "I go to the parties," following up that "All of us at The Factory contribute ideas."[8]
Italian credits of the film give different credits, including stating
Release
Blood for Dracula was first released as Andy Warhol's Dracula in both West Germany on 1 March 1974
Reception
According to the American Film Institute, the film opened to mixed reviews.[4] The Hollywood Reporter lauded the production design by Enrico Job and Luigi Kuveiller's photography.[4] The Los Angeles Times review described the film as "aesthetically pleasing" and "pretty funny up until that Grand Guignol finale" but felt that Morrissey had too much talent for "such sickening junk."[10]
See also
- Vampire films
- Andy Warhol filmography
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Curti 2017, p. 116.
- ^ a b c d e f Curti 2017, p. 117.
- ^ Alexander, Chris (6 October 2009). "Exclusive Interview with Composer Claudio Gizzi". Fangoria. Archived from the original on 14 October 2009.
- ^ a b c "Andy Warhol's Dracula". American Film Institute. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g Curti 2017, p. 118.
- Newspapers.com.
'Dracula' stars Joe Dallesando, Udo Kier, Arno Juerging, Vittoria de Sica, with a cameo appearance by Roman Polanski
- ^ a b c Curti 2017, p. 81.
- ^ Gardner, Paul (14 July 1974). "Warhol - From Kinky Sex to Creepy Gothic". The New York Times. Vol. 123, no. #42540. p. D-11.
- ^ Lucas, Tim (1995). "Udo Kier: Andy Warhol's Horror Star". Video Watchdog. No. Special Edition #2.
- ^ a b Thomas, Kevin (6 November 1974). "A Sick Spoof of 'Dracula'". Los Angeles Times. Vol. 93. Part 4, p. 13.
- ^ Staff writer (6 November 1974). "Andy Warhol's 'Dracula'". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Vol. 291, no. #129. p. 11 B.
Starts today.
- ^ a b c Curti 2017, p. 119.
- ^ "Blood for Dracula". British Board of Film Classification. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
- ^ "Blood for Dracula". British Board of Film Classification. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
Bibliography
- Hughes, Howard (2011). Cinema Italiano - The Complete Guide From Classics To Cult. London - New York: I.B.Tauris. ISBN 978-1-84885-608-0.
- Curti, Roberto (2017). Italian Gothic Horror Films, 1970–1979. McFarland. ISBN 978-1476629605.
External links
- Blood for Dracula at IMDb
- Blood for Dracula at AllMovie
- Blood for Dracula at Rotten Tomatoes
- Blood for Dracula an essay by Maurice Yacowar at the Criterion Collection