Dir.
Al Adamson, 1971, USA , 90 min
Cast:
J Carrol Naish, Lon Chaney Jnr, Zandor Vorkov
Those looking for high-tech thrills, beautifully choreographed leaping, and actors with high-maintenance hair will flock toVan Helsing, presumably. A few lost souls wandering through video shops looking for an earlier monster-mash may pick up this one, and find the furthest relative possible with the same filmic DNA.
To be fair, Bram Stoker's and Mary Shelley's famous creations have had a rotten time at the movies. Although they have been resurrected on many occasions, you can count on the fingers of one decomposing hand, any bright spots amongst the unadulterated pap. Occasionally though, a version from the back catalogue comes to light, to buck the trend, relegating its rivals and surprising viewers with its quality. But anyway, back to Dracula vs. Frankenstein. This film establishes its credentials early on. It's a Z-grade film. There is nothing like the affection generated by low-grade cheapies. For starters you can see plainly that the filmmakers didn't have much money. That makes it a labour of love, which allows you to appreciate the flaws and eccentricities of film makers who haven't had to answer to corporate sponsors with $100 million invested.
They further endear themselves by, apparently translating the script into Croatian, then back into English again, hiring a sound-mixer recovering from some unspeakable inner-ear trauma, and having an editor who charmingly cuts to pastoral scenes of 1970's frolicking in between the bloodletting. It works a treat.
"You will be spiritually released by what happens in the next few moments." (Dr Frankenstein/Duryea)
The story doesn't get going until after the first decapitation.
In a surprising transition, the action segues from the undergrowth, with Dracula's first victim in the bag, to Las Vegas , where showgirl Judith Fontaine, belts out a lusty tune. Her sister, Joannie, has gone missing in Scooby Doo circumstances, by the beach (evidently miles away, but geography isn't mentioned). This may be connected to her drug enhanced visits to a local fairground, and a carnival of the grotesque run by wheelchair bound Dr Duryea.
The doctor runs a freak show, where visitors can view such acts as beheading by guillotine and a man in monkey suit biting someone. Soon, Judith and the new boyfriend she acquires, after being drugged in the psychedelic nightclub sequence, are "on the case".
There is also, of course, the plot involving the intermingling dynasties of the Frankensteins and the Draculas. Dr Duryea is closely associated with the former clan, and we have Zandor Vorkov's Dracula representing the Transylvanians. Legend has it that Zandor Vorkov is not the actor's real name, that he was actually a stockbroker called Robert Engel. This is interesting especially as his Dracula appears to be a channelling a premonition of the character Screech, from TV's Saved by the Bell crossed with David Brent. His voice is very entertaining too, sounding like it has been overdubbed in an echo-chamber. It's not out-of synch, but it certainly doesn't belong to the character vamping around on screen.
On preparing to view a film also known as Satan's Bloody Freaks , you would expect to see ropey special effects, dwarves, amusing close-ups, and scenes put together from stock footage - all present and correct, but it's the dialogue and unique delivery that is especially entertaining in Dracula vs. Frankenstein. J Carrol Naish as Dr Frankenstein is classic, with his haphazard delivery of so many wonderful quips, such as: "Your fear will fully energize the molecular structure of your blood!", and "When a man comes into my house, and casts no reflection in my mirror, and on his hand wears the unholy crest of Dracula, there is no scientific answer to anything!"
Special mention must also go to Lon Chaney, who was actually Lon Chaney Jr (his father being the famous actor of the silent era) as Groten, who plays the crazed, serum-injected, lumbering-yet puppy loving axe-murder, with gusto. He had a sad, alcoholic end to his life, belying an actor who is the only person to have played all the classic movie monsters: Wolf Man, Ghost of Frankenstein, The Mummy and Son of Dracula.
For fans of lower grade monster movies, Dracula vs. Frankenstein delivers. Val Helsing won't be quaking in his boots, but you can bet there is more eccentricity (and better speeches) in the 1971 film.
Johnny Messias
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