Scars of Dracula
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Movie Reviews of Scars of Dracula
Movie Review: not the best, but good enough
Summary: 3 Stars
After reading the other reviews, I really expected a really awful film, so I was pleasantly surprised that the film was not as bad as I expected. Several reviewers said that something was missing but couldn't say what. I can tell you. Peter Cushing. Or some other actor of the same ability. Let's face it. Even in a part that he did not really want to play, Christopher Lee is a giant talent. He towers over the rest of the cast and it is just not believable that this crew of very nice but remarkably ordinary people could bring down such a terrible monster. In fact, in the end they don't. The writers had to bring out a "deux ex machina" and Dracula is struck down by a bolt of lightening out of the heavens.
Actually, I bought this disc for the special features. These turned out, by themselves, to be worth the purchase price. There are two parts worth mentioning. First is the commentary by Christopher Lee and the director. this gives us several things one is a chance to listen to Christopher as himself. He comes across as a working actor who thoroughly enjoyed his work and had a considerable respect for the other actors. I don't know how many times he repeats about another actor, "He is a lovely man." To people not familiar with the reserve typical of the English of his generation, this may seem faint praise, but translated into American Idiom, it means "He was a joy to work with, and I loved every minute I spent with him." But even more than the glimpse of the actor, was the insight it gave into the workings of the Hammer Film Corporation and the way they made movies. To me, who had watched so many Hammer Films, but had no knowledge of the organization behind them, except that they were filmed in England, this is very interesting. One of the great joys of DVD viewing is the look we get into the nuts and bolts of movie making through the special features tracks.
In addition to the commentary, this set includes a separate disc where Mr. Lee gives a overview of his career. This is fascinating in that I had never realized that he has played in so many different kinds of parts. I am sorry though, that this was taped before his masterful performance as Saruman in Lord Of The Rings. I would have loved to hear his comments on that part.
On the whole, the disc is just what the makers of the movie intended- a simple, low budget, mildly entertaining, typical horror movie. They weren't aiming for a classic and they didn't get one. But I'd like to comment that given the choice of watching any of the Halloween sequels, any of the Friday the Thirteenth sequels, or any of the Lee as Dracula sequels, Dracula wins with me hands down.
Movie Review: Buy it for the extras
Summary: 3 Stars
This, ladies and gentlemen, is why God made DVDs. Though the film itself is one of Hammer's weaker efforts, SCARS OF DRACULA is very much worth buying, if only for the extras. For one thing, the commentary features director Roy Ward Baker and star Christopher Lee, and their reminiscences alone are worth the price of the DVD. Particularly amusing are Lee's veiled barbs at Baker's less-than-stellar direction, and the two aging gentlemen's blatant plugs for their (then recently published) books. Better still, the package includes a bonus DVD, THE MANY FACES OF CHRISTOPHER LEE, which includes some good clips, Lee's own always-interesting commentary, and a touching little tribute to his departed friends, "Peter and Vincent". The bonus disc is a must for any fan of this sadly underappreciated actor.As for the film itself, we had a right to expect much better from Roy Ward Baker, who gave us the marvellous A NIGHT TO REMEMBER before his Hammer days. His best work for the studio (QUATERMASS AND THE PIT, DR. JEKYLL AND SISTER HYDE, the opening sequence of THE VAMPIRE LOVERS) is on a level with their very finest films, but when he's bad - well, he's bad. (MOON ZERO TWO, anyone?) Baker isn't quite at his worst with this picture, but neither is he far from it.
Nearly everyone who discusses SCARS OF DRACULA feels the need to praise its famous "Dracula climbing up the wall" sequence. If you ask me, this bit is just plain silly. Lee's got his rear end sticking up in the air the whole time, and the director of photography didn't even bother turning his camera so that the wall looks vertical. Despite its fame, it's actually a pretty shoddy scene. Then again, this is overall a fairly shoddy movie...
Fortunately, however, Lee's customary professionalism, along with a couple of semi-interesting scenes, make SCARS OF DRACULA at least watchable. Don't expect too much from the movie, and make the most of the DVD extras, and you won't regret the purchase.
Movie Review: Still a Good Time
Summary: 3 Stars
Though not considered one of the best by Hammer fans, Scars of Dracula is still an enjoyable vampire film. It is dark and violent and at times twisted. Lee himself has said on more than one occasion that this was his least favorite in the series, because of the violent nature of the film, and the acts of torture his character was directed to perform. Yet, it is still very much the Hammer-style film, with luscious, colorful sets, ghothic atmoshere, and great performances by all the actors involved. And in a way, Lee's Dracula here is more frightening than some of his other incarnations, because of his twisted, satanic ways. He gives a feeling that Dracula could indeed originate from the lower regions of hell.It would've been a better film with the reappearance of a Van Helsing type vampire hunter, like Cushing, or Andrew Keir (Dracula: Prince of Darkness), as the kill-scene is my least favorite of all the Lee/Dracula films. But the DVD itself is beautiful, the picture quality near perfect, the sound clear and crisp. And it is a well put together film.
The extras from Anchorbay, as usual, are far superior to anything anyone else (with the exception of Criterion, perhaps) includes with their DVDs. There's an audio commentary with Lee and director Roy Ward Baker. You get trailers, a poster gallery, and with the limited edition two disc set, you also get a neat and personal interview with Lee called "The Many Faces of Christopher Lee", and two totally cool music videos that Lee participated in. Anchorbay, as always, has treated the Hammer Horror fan with an exceptionally good product.
Movie Review: 3 1/2 stars for under rated late period sequel
Summary: 3 Stars
SOD has always been under rated. I, too, saw this (along with Dracula Has Risen From The Grave) on t.v. when I was a kid and enjoyed it. The production values aren't as grand as earlier Hammer films, but the performance by Lee and scenes borrowed from Stoker's novel give this film considerable power. Roy Ward Baker does an admirable job stepping into Terry Fisher (or Freddie Francis) shoes. Baker, who directed the classic Hammer film Quatermass & The Pit (aka Five Million Years to Earth--a bizarre title for such a fine film)creates considerable tension in some of the most powerful scenes in the filmAnchor and Bay have done their typically meticulous job in restoring the film. The bonus of having both Lee and Baker for the audio commentary makes this a great addition to any Hammer film buff's collection. I'd have to rate this just behind Horror of Dracula (still not available on DVD--are you listening Warner Brothers?)and just before Terry Fisher's fine sequel Dracula Prince of Darkness.
After this film the Count was in need of a transfusion. Sadly, it was the wrong blood type. Hammer chose to bring the Count into the 20th century. It could have been a brave move if Hammer had chosen quality writers and directors to work the material. Dracula became little more than a glorified Fu Manchu in the rest of the films and, by the end, Lee could have sleepwalked through the roles despite the return of Peter Cushing. It was another missed opportunity.
Movie Review: What a vampire should be
Summary: 3 Stars
I'm giving a thumbs up to Scars of Dracula, a vampire bloodbath which many feel is one of the lesser Hammer films. The movie has its problems; the bat special effects are sad, and some scenes (like Paul in bed with the burgermeister's daughter, and Dracula's death scene) should have been edited down a bit. But the film succeeds in portraying what (I think) a vampire should be: a malevolent, sadistic beast, a demon from the Pit that mere humans, including Christians, are hard-pressed to deal with.
Christopher Lee puts on a superior performance as a vampire that is not sophisticated, not sympathetic, but an evil monster, and he has more screen time and dialogue in this film than in most Hammer Dracula films; he isn't just a sinister force in the background, we actually see Dracula doing the things you expect Dracula to do, like murdering and torturing people, climbing walls like a spider, and overpowering or outwitting the Christians who try to destroy him.
Patrick Troughton also gives a good performance as Dracula's servant. The protagonists aren't as interesting or as well acted as the villains, but they aren't distractingly bad, and the girls are pretty.
Definitely worth a look for horror fans.