- Actors: Christopher Lee, Geoffrey Keen, Gwen Watford, Linda Hayden, Peter Sallis
- Directors: Peter Sasdy
- Writers: Anthony Hinds, Bram Stoker
- Producers: Aida Young
- Format: PAL
- Language English
- Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
- Number of discs: 1
- Classification: 15
- Studio: Warner Home Video
- DVD Release Date: 21 Jun 2004
- Run Time: 91 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B0001XLY5G
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 9,808 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)
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Amazon.co.uk Review
Taste the Blood of Dracula is one of the best of Christopher Lee's Dracula series for Hammer. A group of businessmen who, out of sight of their families, like nothing more than to frequent brothels and generally behave in sensation-seeking ways, are persuaded by Dracula's servant (a splendidly manic Ralph Bates) that summoning up the orthodontically-challenged aristocrat would be the ultimate thrill. They warily agree, purchasing relics for the necessary ritual from a shifty dealer (Roy Kinnear--who else?), but panic halfway through the proceedings and decide to kick their initiator to death instead. Unfortunately, it's too late, and Dracula materialises as they make good their escape, swearing to avenge the murder of his servant.
While the subsequent descent into paranoia by the three villains-Dracula himself hardly counts in comparison with this odious bunch--isn't exactly the stuff of Rosemary's Baby, it still infuses the plot with an element of psychodrama that is unusual for a Hammer fang-fest. There are strong performances pretty much all round, but Peter "Clegg" Sallis quakes exceptionally nicely as one of the trio of miscreants. The sets, props and costumes are of an unusually high order, too. --Roger Thomas
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Taste the Blood of Dracula is another great film from the House of Hammer.This DVD is the uncut version, which includes the brothel scenes, the killing of Lord Courtley.
The film begins with Roy Kinnear, a salesman on a carriage ride trying to sell an item to 2 odd looking men,he gets thrown off the carriage, witneses the killing of Dracula (Christopher Lee). Three Victorian gentlemen who keep respectability in front of their families are drawn in to Dracula's resurrection courtesy of Lord Courtley(Ralph Bates).
In a disused church, Dracula is brought back to life by the blood of Courtley & seeks revenge on them & their families,who destroyed him.
Although Christopher Lee has a very small part in the film, this is still a good film by Hammer Studio's.There are great supporting roles for Linda Hayden, Isla Blair & Anthony Corlan. The DVD's only extra features is a trailer & scene selection which is a shame but at least it is the uncut version. The picture quality is also an improvement. Worth buying!
The film begins with Roy Kinnear, a salesman on a carriage ride trying to sell an item to 2 odd looking men,he gets thrown off the carriage, witneses the killing of Dracula (Christopher Lee). Three Victorian gentlemen who keep respectability in front of their families are drawn in to Dracula's resurrection courtesy of Lord Courtley(Ralph Bates).
In a disused church, Dracula is brought back to life by the blood of Courtley & seeks revenge on them & their families,who destroyed him.
Although Christopher Lee has a very small part in the film, this is still a good film by Hammer Studio's.There are great supporting roles for Linda Hayden, Isla Blair & Anthony Corlan. The DVD's only extra features is a trailer & scene selection which is a shame but at least it is the uncut version. The picture quality is also an improvement. Worth buying!
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Taste The Blood of Dracula saw Hammer Films attempt to shake up their Dracula franchise and bring him over from Translyvania to Victorian London.
It opens with the climax of the previous film 'Dracula Has Risen From The Grave'. A traveller (played with great gusto by Roy Kinnear) witnesses the counts demise and keeps some of the debris as a souvenir.
Back in London a trio of decadent men become involved with a disciple of Dracula and the black arts, played by Ralph Bates. Having purchased the remains of Dracula he promises the men a night they won't forget. While attempting to revive Dracula he dies and the men flee. Dracula takes over the young mans body and promises revenge on the men who betrayed his servant. The sins of the fathers are about to visited on their children.
Dracula first possesses one of them (Linda Hayden) then uses her to trap the others and turn them into the undead.
The character of Dracula works very well in Victorian London. Unleashing the repressed desires and exposing the hypocrisy of the elders and betters portrayed by reliable character actors such as Peter Sallis and Geoffrey Keen.
The cast is full of actors who've gone on to establish long and succesful careers such as Martin Jarvis and Isla Blair, both very good in their juvenile roles. There's even a cameo from cult film favorite Madeline Smith.
The star of the film Christopher Lee is at his sardonic and imposing best but it is Linda Hayden and Ralph Bates who make the biggest impressions.
Bates was being groomed by Hammer to be one of its new stars but none of his films (Cult classics such as 'Lust for a Vampire' or 'Dr Jekyll and Sister Hyde') ever lifted him onto the A list. In this film he brings his character to such vivid life that its a shame that he's killed off half way through the film.
Linda Hayden is excellent as the female lead, starting as an innocent before being corrupted and taken over by Dracula. The climax of the film is a battle for her soul. A battle you're not always convinced she wants the hero to win.
Her career started well in vehicles like this and she was always the best thing in such exploitation films as 'Blood On Satans Claw', 'Expose', 'Baby Love' and 'Confessions of A Window Cleaner'. Very little of her work has been available on DVD to date and it is to be hoped that the release of this film will encourage labels to bring out some of her other films.
She was one of many seventies film starlets such as Judy Geeson and Madeline Smith who are largely forgotten today but gave great performances in often ordinary and exploitative work.
'Taste The Blood Of Dracula' is worthy of its cast. A great gothic Victorian melodrama with Dracula at its centre manipulating all.
Its a film thats been underrated by fans of Hammer Horror and the Dracula series and one thats well worth examining. Its at a great price so even the lack of extras can be forgiven.
Well worth purchasing by horror film fans.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Made as a follow up to Dracula Has Risen From The Grave, it does work rather well. Set in Victorian London, a group of business men who have become rather bored with their way of life are tempted to explore the world of darkness. They get more than they bargain for when Dracula is resurrected and sets about his vengeance when his servant (Ralp Bates) is murdered by the three businessmen. Its a good story helped along by its gothic atmosphere and good sets. Good to see the lovely Linda Hayden in this, her career never really took off which was a shame for she was a decent actress who more often than not ended up in low budget flicks which did little for her career. Dracula (Christopher Lee, who else?) says very little during the film, but his presence adds menace throughout. The supporting cast are good too, Peter Sallis; Geoffrey Keen and Gwen Watford just to name a few. It was sadly, the last film made in the Dracula series which is of any merit, so am sure Hammer fans would add this to their collection. Good sound and picture and can be bought for a good price too.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
"TASTY."
Back in the 1970's I'd beg my parents to let me stay up late and watch Hammer films only to spend the 90 minutes watching from behind the sofa! Read more
Published 3 days ago by Ms. Deborah M. King
Taste the blood of Dracula
A gauranteed 5 stars as this is a great vampire tale with roy kinnear isla blair, sadly no Peter Cushing to deal with the prince of darkness and kill his servant,which was a bad... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Diane Tate
Another very good hammer film
I can't say this is the best dracula film of the hammer series but its definitely not the worst, christopher lee puts in his usual performance as the count while linda hayden and... Read more
Published 2 months ago by PD
the hammer goes down
three businessmen seeking thrills one of them peter salis (and no the other two were not foggy and compo)meet with lord courtley ralph bates who offer them the biggest thrill of... Read more
Published 3 months ago by jed
Taste The Blood Of Dracula DVD
Three Victorian thrill seeking hedonists team up with the decadent aristo Lord Courtley, deliciously overplayed by Ralph Bates in an attempt to ressurect the Count by way of a... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Gaz Atkins 'Gravedigger'
Great Cast, Great Film - The Best Hammer Dracula Sequel
I recently watched 'Taste the Blood of Dracula' again after ten or fifteen years and was surprised by just how good it was. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Colin C
DRAC'S BACK....AGAIN, BUT RARELY SEEN
Taking up where Dracula Has Risen From The Grave ended. If I remember correctly this was the fourth instalment of the famous count dished out by Hammer Films of which I was a fan... Read more
Published 18 months ago by JIMBO (Dublin,)
Victorian repression and seventies orange blood = great fun
Taste The Blood Of Dracula, the fifth in Hammer's series of Dracula films, follows on directly on from where the previous film left off. Read more
Published on 4 May 2010 by seun
DRACULA IN VICTORIAN ENGLAND
Taste The Blood Of Dracula [DVD] [1970]Peter Sasdy, a horror movie director who never fulfilled early signs of promise, took Lee through his next screen incarnation as the Count in... Read more
Published on 6 Dec 2009 by JESSICA'S DAD
Hammer still got the knack
The 5th installment of Hammers Dracula films is excellent in my opinion. There was a review in a newsapaper stating that this was a recovery from the last film (risen from the... Read more
Published on 28 Feb 2008 by Kenneth Lewis
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