Tonight on MeTV- it’s a story that could be the basis for a reality show- a groom with multiple brides on the prowl for additional mates-object: not so much matrimony as -mealtime! It’s a Hammer Studios production that unleashes a vampire to prey on young women-only to run into some strong opposition in the great vampire hunter Van Helsing-who tries to stake out the groom, who’s grooming a new flock of "Brides of Dracula"!
This full color 1960 chiller was actually Hammer’s sequel to their original version of “Dracula”-which starred Christopher Lee. Please note-in spite of the title- you won't see Count Dracula (or Sir Christopher) in this film! The story begins with a lovely young French woman, Marianne (played by Yvonne Monlaur) travelling to a teaching job at a girl’s school. The trip is suddenly derailed by some mysterious and deliberate actions. Stopping at a local inn, she suddenly finds herself left behind by her transportation-with no further hope of completing her journey at such a late hour. Yet, even this late, a strange and haughty elderly baroness stops in, which seemingly disturbs the innkeepers. The baroness invites our stranded traveler to accept accommodations at her castle for the night.
Upon arrival at the castle, Marianne settles in to the room graciously given her by the Baroness, but, looking outside, she spots a handsome young man on a balcony across the way. She is told by the baroness that he is her son (though she has been giving the impression he had passed away)! Later on, finding him chained up in his room, for reasons yet to be mentioned, he convinces Marianne to help him escape his shackles- but, when she succeeds in doing so-he reveals what he actually is (you didn’t get the hint from the movie title?)-and she flees in terror into the night!
The next day, she is found in the woods, barely conscious, by the good Prof. Van Helsing, and she barely recalls what occurred the previous night. Van Helsing makes an appearance at that same inn where Mademoiselle Marianne had been abandoned, and finds that the funeral of a local young lady is being held. Van Helsing has his suspicions about the reason for her passing, which are confirmed when she rises from her grave, sporting a sinister pair of fangs! Van Helsing worries that this can only mean that disciples of his old enemy Count Dracula are still at large and on the hunt for human prey. His search for whoever is siring these new vampires leads him to the Baroness' castle- where he is shocked to find that the now unshackled young Baron is his prime suspect!
Meanwhile, Marianne finally arrives at her new teaching job- in a school with a student body (ahem) made up of nubile young women, providing a veritable smorgasbord for the young Baron- and our naive French femme ends up in mortal danger- which could make her immortal ( not in a good way) ! Van Helsing must try to rescue her from this fate, while battling more blood-thirsty “brides”, as well as their master- the undead Baron-and his strong supernatural power. The danger of both Marianne and Van Helsing joining the ranks of the undead becomes terrifyingly real!!
We’ve brought this Hammer film back, since it is often asked for, and has a unique position among the Hammer Dracula films! It boasts truly frightening vampires, many alluring young women, and plenty of atmospheric action, all in vivid color, in the Hammer tradition. Peter Cushing, back as Van Helsing, is great, as always, and David Peel, as the young blond Baron is an interesting change from the usual dark-haired vampires of horror films. We’ll tell you about the cast, and explain just why Christopher Lee is not among them- provide a commercial for a stylishly hip Sven product the vampire brides would be proud to wear to go out clubbing- and bring back some fond memories of an amazing costume contest from a past Flashback Weekend. ( Be watching for information about my appearance at this year’s Flashback Weekend at the beginning of August!)
“Brides of Dracula” is set for MeTV tonight at 8pm eastern/pacific, 7 central, or check your local listings or www.metv.com for info and channel in your area. Remember that MeTV invites you to "live-Tweet" about the show during the movie on Twitter- just use the hashtag #svengoolie - and you’ll be among the many Tweeters making us trend in the top subjects every week. Our Chicago area viewers can cry out “Atta boy, Luther!” one more time, as we present the encore of “Ghost and Mr. Chicken” at 11 am on CW26.
We hope you have checked out the new Sven merchandise in our store, including shirts in our “artists” collection, summer tank tops, and more! Also, keep checking the “appearances” tab here on our website- we will have schedules for appearances at both the Flashback Weekend convention and this year’s C2E2 convention soon!
Join us on MeTV tonight for unusual marital bliss and a vampire’s kiss, or, is it… HISS?!
3036 Comments
Another one is Rob Zombie and has the Gillman , Dracula etc ! Very X rated! Pretty good animation 👍🏻
🏆 3000 MADave 🏆
If you watching TAGS - the 2nd episode, "Opie Fails Arithmetic" is the last epiode Barney will be in. There are two more episodes from season 5 to go but he is not in them.
As I had mentioned last night, Wayne Rogers had left the series because he felt his character, Trapper John, had taken a back seat to Alan Alda’s Hawkeye Pierce. In point of fact, the two characters were actually too much alike, and so the show’s creative staff wisely chose, as a replacement, a character who offered more of a contrast with Hawkeye. Unlike Trapper (and even Henry Blake), B J wanted to remain faithful to his wife, and was not afraid to stand up to Hawkeye on occasion, as in the episode when he refuses to help his swamp mate perform elective surgery (an unnecessary appendectomy) to keep a gung-ho lieutenant with a high casualty record among his men out of the war.
As for Sherman Potter, played by Harry Morgan, he was a full colonel (as well as a veteran regular army man) and, unlike the affable but often bumbling Lt. Colonel Blake, commanded respect from everyone at the 4007. He was tough but fair and had a home-town, sardonic wit and humor all his own. He was, frankly, a deeper character than Henry Blake.
In both instances, the writing staff wisely chose to create characters that were significantly different from their respective predecessors, thus avoiding comparisons and allowing them to bring their own distinctive touches to the show. They would do the same thing later when replacing Larry Linville’s Burns with Charles Emerson Winchester III, a skilled surgeon and a snobbish member of the Massachusetts country club elite. Unlike Burns, he was highly intelligent and was more than a match for his two swamp mates’ sarcasm and shenanigans.
Frank was entertaining in that he was disrespected by pretty much everyone, even Margaret.
Henry was not respected for his authourity, but he could be cornered into doing the right thing.
Potter was regular army, seen it all, and just trying to keep a semblance of order until he had his time in.
Winchester might be my favorite. Tossed into the mix for being insufferably arrogant, and still finding ways to have fun. Not always coming out on top, but always bouncing back.
Devious bastage, that guy.
