Dracula - Prince of Darkness

Starring:Christopher Lee, Barbara Shelley, Andrew Keir, Francis Matthews, Suzan Farmer, Charles 'Bud' Tingwell, Thorley Walters, Philip Latham, Walter Brown (II), George Woodbridge, Jack Lambert (II), Philip Ray, Joyce Hemson, John Maxim, Peter Cushing
Director: Terence Fisher
Studio: Anchor Bay Entertainment
Product Type: DVD

Product Description

Dracula is resurrected, preying on four unsuspecting visitors to his castle.

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Dracula: Prince of Darkness
Starring: Christopher Lee , Barbara Shelley , Andrew Keir , Francis Matthews , and Suzan Farmer
Director: Terence Fisher
Manufacturer: Works
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

( D ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Scars of Dracula
Dracula Has Risen from the Grave
Horror of Dracula
Taste the Blood of Dracula
Dracula A.D. 1972

ASIN: B00005NMW9

Amazon.com essential video

For many years after becoming one of the definitive movie Draculas in the 1958 Hammer Films classic Horror of Dracula (in which he was pitted against Peter Cushing as Dr. Van Helsing), Christopher Lee refused to reprise his role as filmdom's most infamous vampire. He finally returned to the role in this belated 1965 sequel, once again directed by Hammer studios veteran Terence Fisher. It's not as effective or as intelligently written as the earlier film, but it has become a minor classic in its own right for horror connoisseurs, notably due to the combination of eerie atmosphere (a Terence Fisher specialty) and violence that was, by mid-'60s standards, quite bloody and graphic. Indeed, the story begins when Count Dracula's servant revives his master by hanging an unsuspecting victim over the tomb containing Dracula's ashes and draining the blood from the unlucky fellow so it can trickle into the tomb and restore life to the remains of the undead vampire! It's this kind of unholy communion that was a trademark of Hammer horror, and Dracula: Prince of Darkness continues with all the requisite ingredients--including a group of tourists who arrive at the count's secluded castle just in time to feed his insatiable bloodlust! True horror fans will appreciate the performance by Hammer regular Barbara Shelley, widely considered to be one of her best. So, file your fangs and enjoy Lee in his most famous and immortal role! --Jeff Shannon

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Hammer fraying at the edges.
Christopher Lee could replace his predecessor Bela Lugosi as Count
The Third Of The Hammer Dracula Films: Dracula, Prince Of Darkness
You can't get the help
Great Hammer Film ... But the DVD

Dracula - Prince of Darkness
Starring: Christopher Lee , Barbara Shelley , Andrew Keir , Francis Matthews , and Suzan Farmer
Director: Terence Fisher
Manufacturer: Anchor Bay
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

( D ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Scars of Dracula
Dracula Has Risen from the Grave
Horror of Dracula
Taste the Blood of Dracula
Dracula A.D. 1972

ASIN: 6305095469
Release Date: 1998-10-21

Amazon.com essential video

Customer Reviews:

Hammer fraying at the edges........2007-02-16

Although this film holds a nostalgic pull for this particular viewer, (having seen it in its original stateside release at a Drive-In)an honest assessment today compels us to admit that the film is a study of a studio in decline.

True, the film is not without its assets, not the least of which is the veteran cast, with the lovely and always dramatically compelling Barbara Shelley pretty much walking off with the picture. Suzan Farmer, as always, is charming, and very easy on the eyes.

However, Bernard Robinson's art direction, (though adequate) doesn't begin to approach his earlier work, (particulary in "Brides of Dracula," "The Man Who Could Cheat Death," and "The Kiss of the Vampire"--and Robinson's genius is of a type that the work 'adequate' sits uncomfortably upon).

The cinematography, while satisfactory, is hampered by poor color, (as noted by film historian Leslie Halliwell), often rushed lighting, and a cumbersome and unnecessary use of wide screen. The absence of Jack Asher is particularly evident here.

That the aforesaid technical credentials are lacking bears ample testament to the studio's drastic mid 60's cost cutting strategies, and the artistically regrettable, but imminent move away from Bray studios.

Moreover, the commercial objectives are baldly evinced here--the film screams "Formula."

Despite these shortcomings, and since this film was one of the last shot at Bray, it does bear compensatory traces of former glories. Thus we fully appreciate the hapless quartet's posthumous toast to Count Dracula, whilst the armorial flags above them billow in a ghostly breeze and the underscoring throbs unnervingly.

And Miss Shelley, as a vampiress, descending the staircase in a diaphanous gown goes a far way on the asset side of the ledger.

Mr. Lee for his part, does his usual hissing and cape waving. Too much is made of his lack of dialogue here. After all he has only a few lines at the beginning of "Horror of Dracula," and a few lines in this film's successor, "Dracula Has Risen From the Grave." So why on earth people feel the absence of such scanty phrases damages this film, who can say?

This picture would have been far better had it been done five years earlier. That said, it is a masterpiece compared to the dreck the eviscerated Hammer would be foisting on the public just five years later.

Christopher Lee could replace his predecessor Bela Lugosi as Count.......2006-09-26

Christopher Lee could balance and continue his charismatic predecessor Bela Lugosi(1882 - 1956) in the 60's Hammer british Dracula series.

This film is a great example for Lee as Count.

The differences are:
- Lugosi was more a theatrical Dracula from Broadway. Lugosi acted very elegant, exclusive & gentleman as a Dracula star. His charming style becomes a legend.
- Lee is more a mainstream Dracula star. He is not a theatre star like Lugosi did in 1931. He'd prefer a type of cold elegant beast. His style is less charming because he has to accustom himself into various directions in eight Dracula series.

Lugosi played as Dracula three times:
1. Dracula 1931
2. Return of the Vampire 1944
3. Mark of the Vampire 1935

Lee played as Dracula 8 times (see Filmography Imdb)

Frankly Bela Lugosi was a bit more charismatic than Christopher Lee, but Christopher Lee could balance the great charisma of his great predecessor.

The Third Of The Hammer Dracula Films: Dracula, Prince Of Darkness.......2006-01-08

TO: Hammer Film Fans

The Good:
Dracula Prince of Darkness is great! There is a dramatic staking scene. There is a cool ressurection scene, with lots of blood. The final demense is awsome, and unexpected. One of my favorite Hammer films. Christopher Lee used cool blood red contact lenses. GREAT WORK HAMMER!!!

The Bad:
Hammer waited eight years to bring Christopher Lee back, but in those eight years they thought up a great movie!

I also recomend: The Hammer Dracula Films!

SEE OLDDARK HOUSE'S GUIDE!

FROM: The Hammer Film Reveiwer!

You can't get the help.......2005-10-16

Rubbish servant at Castle Dracula. Personal hygiene issues and can't even hide a body in a trunk. Job description: look sinister in doorways. Sorry, but that won't do. We expect service when we go abroad. Did he even cook that meal properly? Bet he can't even work a microwave.

I have technical issues. At the beginning of the film you see Dracula's ashes get blown away in the wind. How did the butler suddenly get proficient enough to gather that lot up from God knows where? The man is useless. Actually, he can kill guests well enough, just don't ask him to clean house afterwards. Anyway, he's got Dracula's ashes in a box. But with parts of the ashes almost certainly missing, or left clinging stubbornly in the box as bits are want to do, doesn't that mean the Count should return with fingers missing here and there? No left ear or nose and maybe blind. No right leg from the shin downwards. By rights, he should have a peg leg and crutch and be jumping around like Long John Silver with a red eyed demonic parrot on his shoulder chirping: "pieces of eight, pieces of eight. Vant to suck your blood, vant to suck your blood." Not such a pretty boy, then.

Great Hammer Film ... But the DVD.......2005-07-03

This is One of My Favorite Hammer Films And Christopher Lee will Always Be Count Dracula But a Note About the dvd I Own the Region 2 Edition of this Movie And the only Special Feature there is on it is Scene Selection But the Colors are alot more Solid. In the Region 1 DVD The Colors are Faded Great Movie. by the way I am capable of Gladly owning the Region 2 DVD by Having A Multi - Region DVD Player

Quatermass And The Pit [Region 2 Import]

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Quatermass And The Pit [Region 2 Import]
Director: Roy Ward Baker
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Trailer
Anamorphic
English Audio

ASIN: B000PWGN22

Product Description

Workers excavating at an underground station in London discover the skeletal remains of ancient apes with large skulls. Further digging reveals what appears to be an unexploded German bomb from World War II. Missile expert Colonel Breen (Julian Glover - The Secret Garden. Troy) is brought in to investigate, accompanied by Professor Bernard Quartermass (Andrew Kier - Dracula Prince Of Darkness, Rob Roy). When the interior of the "missile" is exposed, a dead locust-like creature is discovered. It is determined by Quartermass that these "locusts" are in fact Martians who altered the brains of our simian ancestors in order to eventually lay claim to the Earth. But when the scientists realise their power to release the latent evil in human beings may just have been lying dormant, it may already be too late... With a story originally screened by BBC television in 1958, Quartermass and the Pit was the final entry in the original trilogy of Quartermass stories by legendary writer Nigel Kneale. The film represents the directorial debut of acclaimed director Roy Ward Baker (The Anniversary, Scars of Dracula) and is one of Hammer's most polished and thought provoking films.

Dracula: Prince of Darkness [Region 2 PAL Import]

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Dracula: Prince of Darkness [Region 2 PAL Import]

Manufacturer: Studio Canal
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

"The Many Faces of Christopher Lee" 57 minute documentary

ASIN: B000NT5H10

Product Description

Two English couples are stranded while on holiday in the Carpathian mountains. A driverless carriage appears to come to their rescue, taking them to a sinister castle that appears on no map. They reluctantly accept the hospitality of a mysterious character called Klove, the retainer to an 'old and distinguished family': the Draculas. That night one of the tourists, Alan, decides to investigate the castle and discovers a vault containing a stone sarcophagus. He is murdered by Kolve, who suspends the body over the sepulchre and empties an urn full of ashes into it. He slits Alan's throat, and watches as the traveller's blood coagulates with the remains. A familiar shape begins to form - that of Count Dracula, alive once more... Dracula Prince of Darkness was directed by Terence Fisher in 1965 and marked Christopher Lee's first return to his most famous role since the original Dracula in 1958. Infamous for its controversial blood sacrifice scene, Dracula Prince of Darkness is regarded as one of the quintessential Hammer horrors.

Dracula: Prince des Ténèbres (Dracula: Prince of Darkness) [Region 2 Import - Includes English and French audio]

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Dracula: Prince des Ténèbres (Dracula: Prince of Darkness) [Region 2 Import - Includes English and French audio]

Manufacturer: Metropolitan Film & Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video
Product Features:

25-minute Documentary

ASIN: B000IMSXHW

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General | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

( D ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Scars of Dracula
Dracula Has Risen from the Grave
Horror of Dracula
Taste the Blood of Dracula
Dracula A.D. 1972

ASIN: B0000064MX
Release Date: 1998-05-26

Amazon.com essential video

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