UK, 1974
90m
35mm film, colour
mono, English
A British comedy horror film directed by Freddie Francis.
Plot Summary
Three days before he is due to be crowned Overlord of the Netherworld by Merlin the magician Count Downe, the offspring of Dracula himself, falls for a human woman and seeks the advice of Van Helsing. While the Count tries to find a way to make himself human, The immortal Baron Frankenstein makes a play for the title.
Credits
Crew
Director: Freddie Francis
© Apple Films Ltd MCMLXXIV [1974]
Jerry Gross presents [US version] A Cinemation Industries release [US version]. An Apple film
Producer: Ringo Starr
Production Director: Tim Van Rellin
Screenplay: Jay Fairbank [real name: Jennifer Jayne]
Additional Dialogue: Graham Chapman [uncredited], Douglas Adams [uncredited]
1st Assistant Director: Peter Saunders
Director of Photography: Norman Warwick
Camera Operator: Chick Waterson
Consultant Editor: Derek York
Music Composed by: Paul Buckmaster
Music Editor: Paul Davies
Sound Mixer: Tony Jackson
Dubbing Mixer: Hugh Strain
Dubbing Editor: Mike Redbourn
Make-up: Jill Carpenter
Hairdresser: Ramon Gow
Art Director: Andrew Sanders
Assistant Art Director: Chris Burke
Set Dresser: Tessa Davies
Construction Manager: Jack Carter
Production Accountant: Alex Richards
Motorcycle Sequences: White Helmets Royal Signals Display Team
Location Manager: Grania O'Shannon
Casting Director: Miriam Brickman
Cast
Harry Nilsson (Count Downe)
Ringo Starr (Merlin)
Freddie Jones (the baron)
Suzanna Leigh (Amber)
Dennis Price (Van Helsing)
David Bailie (chauffeur [Brian])
Shakira Baksh (housekeeper)
Morris Bush (monster)
John Coleclough (Bill)
Nita Lorraine (Gorgon woman)
Skip Martin (Igor)
Dan Meaden (Count Dracula)
Beth Morris (Wendy)
Jenny Runacre (woman in black)
Hedger Wallace (vampire)
Lorna Wilde (Countess Dracula)
Derek Woodward (werewolf)
John Bonham, Peter Frampton, Ricki Farr, Bobby Keyes, Keith Moon, Jim Price, Klaus Voormann (The Count Downes)
Rosanna Lee [girl – uncredited]
Rachelle Miller [club hostess – uncredited]
Alternative Titles
Young Dracula
References
Periodicals
Cinefantastique Winter 1974 p.33 – review
CinemaTV Today 26 August 1972 p.11 – article
CinemaTV Today 25 November 1972 p.9 – review
Flesh and Blood no.3 p.39 – credits, review
Hollywood Reporter 2 December 1974 p.3 – credits, review
Movietone News vol.33 (July 1974) pp.40, 42 – review
Rolling Stone 23 May 1974 – illustrated interview with Ringo Starr (Ringo's Agenda: Movie, Music, But No Beatles by Loraine Alterman)
Books
Cinematic Vampires by John L. Flynn p.196
Classic Movie Monsters by Donald F. Glut p.31 – review
English Gothic: A Century of Horror Cinema by Jonathan Rigby p.252
Fervid Filmmaking: 66 Cult Pictures of Vision, Verve and No Self-restraint by Mike Watt pp.182-185 – illustrated review
The Films of Freddie Francis by Wheeler Winston Dixon pp.135-139, 258-259
Horror and Science Fiction Films Volume II by Donald C. Willis p.362 – credits
Illustrated Vampire Movie Guide, The by Stephen Jones p.91 – credits, review
Monty Python Speaks by David Morgan – note
The Straight Story from Moby Dick to Glory by Freddie Francis with Tony Dalton pp.146, 166-170, 275
Uneasy Dreams: The Golden Age of British Horror Films, 1956-1976 by Gary A. Smith pp.199
Vampire Films of the 1970s: Dracula to Blacula and Every Fang Between by Gary A. Smith pp.166-167; 219 – review; credits
