Dracula: Prince of Darkness

Plot synopsis:
A prologue replays the final scenes from Dracula, in which Dr. Van Helsing (Peter Cushing) destroys Dracula (Christopher Lee) by driving him into the sunlight. These scenes are accompanied by voice-over narration that describes how Van Helsing, a scholar of vampirism, was able to end Dracula's century-long reign of terror and destroy his cult; only the memory of Dracula's evil remains.
The main story begins as Father Sandor prevents local authorities from disposing of a woman's corpse as if it were a vampire. Sandor chastises the presiding priest for perpetuating the fear of vampirism, and reminds him that Dracula was destroyed 10 years previously. Sandor visits an inn and warns four English tourists – the Kents – not to visit Karlsbad; they ignore his advice.
As night approaches, the Kents find themselves abandoned by their fear-stricken coach driver two kilometres from Karlsbad, in view of a castle. A driverless carriage takes them to the castle, where they find a dining table set for four people and their bags unpacked in the bedrooms. A servant named Klove explains that his master, the late Count Dracula, ordered that the castle should always be ready to welcome strangers. After dinner the Kents settle in their rooms.
Later that night, Alan investigates a noise and follows Klove to the crypt, where Klove kills him and mixes his blood with Dracula's ashes, reviving the Count. Klove entices Helen to the crypt, where she becomes Dracula's first victim.
The next morning Charles and Diana can find no trace of Alan, Helen or Klove. Charles takes Diana to a woodsman’s hut and then he returns to the castle to search for Alan and Helen. Klove tricks Diana into returning to the castle. Charles finds Alan’s dismembered body in a trunk in the crypt. It is now dark and Dracula rises. Diana meets Helen, but Helen has become one of the undead and she attacks her. Dracula enters and warns Helen away from Diana. Charles struggles with Dracula until Diana realises her crucifix is an effective weapon against vampires. Charles improvises a larger cross and drives Dracula away. They escape from the castle in a carriage, but lose control on the steep roads. The carriage crashes and Diana is knocked unconscious. Charles carries her for several hours through the woods until they are rescued by Father Sandor, who takes them to his abbey.
Klove arrives at the monastery in a wagon carrying two coffins bearing Dracula and Helen, but is denied admission by the monks. Ludwig, a patient at the abbey, is in thrall to Dracula and invites the Count inside. Helen convinces Diana to open the window and let her in, claiming to have escaped from Dracula. Diana does, and Helen bites her arm. Dracula drags Helen off, as he wants Diana for himself. Charles bursts into the room and drives the vampires out. Sandor sterilizes the bite with the heat from an oil lamp.
Sandor puts silver crucifixes in the two coffins to prevent the vampires from coming back. He then captures Helen and drives a stake through her heart, killing her. Ludwig then lures Diana into Dracula’s presence, where the Count hypnotizes her into removing her crucifix. Dracula coerces her to drink his blood from his bare chest, but Charles returns in time to prevent it, forcing Dracula to flee with the unconscious Diana.
Charles and Sandor arm themselves and follow on horseback. A shortcut allows them to get in front of Dracula's wagon and stop it. Charles shoots Klove (who apparently removed Sandor's crucifixes from the coffins), but the horses gallop off to the castle. Diana is rescued, while Dracula's coffin is thrown onto the icy moat. Charles attempts to kill the vampire, but Dracula springs out of his coffin and attacks him. Diana and Sandor shoot and break the ice, and Dracula sinks into the freezing waters.

Tags: good versus evil, gothic

Review:
Despite warnings from the superstitious locals they spend the night at Castle Dracula, where Dracula's sinister manservant uses the blood of one of them as a life force to resurrect his long dead master...Dracula Prince Of Darkness was the official sequel to Hammer's Dracula (1958).
On the other hand screenwriter Jimmy Sangster (who penned the screenplay under the pseudonym John Samson) swears that he didn't write any.Dracula Prince Of Darkness stands as one of the best sequels to Hammer's 1958 film, which is regarded by many as a classic.
Not Hammer's best storyline, I'm sure you'll agree, but as it's done with all the panache and style that we've come to love from Hammer, so they don't really need to set the world of plotting on fire to deliver a damn fine horror movie.Christopher Lee is a great actor.
The four actors playing the British tourists mostly carry the film, and although they aren't bad; none of them have anything on Christopher Lee. Terence Fisher's direction is adequate as usual, and he does a good job at creating the right sort of atmosphere and tension.
Andrew "Professor Quatermass" Keir almost steals the movie as the unconventional Father Sandor, and the four English travellers who find themselves the guests of Dracula are Barbara Shelley, Francis Matthews, Suzan Farmer and veteran Aussie actor Bud Tingwell.
A River Runs Through Him. Hammer brought Christopher Lee back after an eight year absence to play Count Dracula once more in this film, also directed by Horror of Dracula director Terrence Fisher.
RELEASED IN 1966 and directed by Terence Fisher, "Dracula: Prince of Darkness" focuses on two English couples circa 1900 traveling the mysterious forests of Eastern Europe who are warned to stay away from a particular area that has an ominous castle.
Christopher played the Count in every one of these except "The Brides of Dracula" and "The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires." As such, "Dracula: Prince of Darkness" was Lee's return to the role after a long eight year absence.Most Hammer fans praise the first film in the series from 1958, which was Lee's first gig as Dracula, and it is a solid entry with the typical Hammer highlights, like lush Gothic ambiance, bright colors, Lee & Cushing and bodacious women, not to mention Lee's diabolical interpretation of the Count and one of the most stunning horror scores by James Bernard.
While there are some plus features to the movie, this central flaw, which leaves a red-eyed Lee to ham it up like a refugee from a silent-movie throws the movie too far off-kilter for it to really recover.Those plus features I mentioned would include the lush, airy location filming, ditto the castle interiors, in fact the cinematography on the whole is great on the eye, with blood-red the naturally dominant colour in the director's palette.
These include, the obligatory ignoring of the warnings by stern priest Andrew Keir's about avoiding ol' Drac's castle, then disregarding one of their number's dire premonitions of death and destruction, wandering around the castle at night unaccompanied and of course ending up with stiff-upper-lip Francis Matthews, pre-Paul Temple, going back to the castle for the climactic duel with Lee.I quite enjoyed the first hour, particularly the shenanigans in the castle, with a reasonable build up of tension, assisted by effective background music and sound effects but felt the last half-hour, up until just before the not-quite-redeeming conclusion on the ice, appeared grafted on, particularly the utilisation of a daffy old eccentric, a relapsed disciple of Dracula, who turns out to fully engage the trust of Matthew's fiancée when she hardly knows him and then is able to overpower with one blow a pretty virile looking priest.
And yet there are one or two images that linger in the memory (just) beyond the end-titles, notably the transfiguration return of Dracula in the castle dungeon, sparked by the dripping blood of the spit-roasted corpse of Matthew's slain brother and also Lee's deathly gaze from under the ice which has claimed him to the deep (and no, I didn't know running water was fatal to vampires either).It doesn't feel as if this was a particularly long shoot with an attendant unnecessary briskness of manner prevalent - you never feel for a minute that the actors ever really inhabit their parts, improbable as they are.
Director Terence Fisher is in fine form as always, the look of the film is perfect, James Bernards' score is thunderous and insistent, the ladies (Barbara Shelley and Suzan Farmer) are ravishing, and Sir Christopher Lee is a force of nature as the bad Count.
Screenwriter Jimmy Sangster (using the pseudonym John Sansom) lends his expert hand to this colorful, entertaining bloodsucker-revival from Hammer Films, featuring the inimitable Christopher Lee as the wordless, hypnotic Count Dracula.
After not playing Count Dracula for a lengthy period, Christopher Lee stuck in his fangs and blood-shot contact eye lenses a second time for this direct sequel to "Horror of Dracula," which had been released a whopping eight years prior.
But that movie didn't feature the undisputed King of Vampires, and so Dracula properly returns here with Lee right where he belongs, in his most enduring horror role.Some rather likable actors (Francis Matthews, Barbara Shelley, and Suzan Farmer) play the latest group of innocents who somehow manage once more to stumble onto the grounds of an old castle (Dracula's this time) and they're met by a somber-looking servant who informs them that his master is dead.
The Count doesn't speak a word of dialogue in the film, but Lee the proud actor has always claimed that he would rather go the silent route than utter some of the words he had been instructed to say.As happens throughout the Hammer Dracula series, some elements of Bram Stoker's original novel crop up here.
marvelous edition to the hammer dracula franchise, being the second in the series, you may think as with most follow up`s this is not as strong as the first ,but it is ,it work`s because of a heady mix of atmosphere ,coupled with a decent script,and an excellent cast chris lee is as ever menacing ,andrew keir is a superb van helsing wannabe,who is supported by who i think is one of hammer`s unsung heroes francis matthews ,and the lovely ladies barbara shelley ,and susan farmer are perfect as the innocent`s abroad ,this is a good hour and a half`s entertainment,it`s just a pity that hammer milked their dracula series to the hilt because sadly ,this is when it peaked..
It Is Always Great to See Again a Dracula Film by Hammer with Christopher Lee. The English couples Helen Kent (Barbara Shelley), her husband Alan Kent (Charles Tingwell), his brother Charles Kent (Francis Matthews) and his wife Diana Kent (Suzan Farmer) are traveling through the Carpathian Mountain on vacation expecting to climb the mountains.
Now the trio of English tourists will experience the presence of the evil creature in their lives.I have been a great fan of Hammer's vampire movies since I was a teenager, "Dracula: Prince of Darkness" is a classic movie and certainly one of the best films of Dracula.
That also allows for scenes like the resurrection sequence to really have a great atmosphere about it much more-so than if it were to take place in another area entirely since the actions themselves, hanging a dead corpse up over a trench containing Dracula's ashes, gutting it and then pouring the draining blood onto them which soon takes the form of the humanized count makes for a deliciously wonderful and chilling sequence that works as well due to the dank basement set where it takes place.
Terence Fisher directed this third film in the "Dracula" series that sees the return of Christopher Lee as Count Dracula, who has been dead for ten years, but his loyal servant Klove(played by Philip Latham) has been guarding his ashes(after his violent death in the first film) waiting for the proper hosts to resurrect him, which comes with the arrival of the Kents, two couples(played by Francis Mathews, Suzan Farmer, Charles Tingwell, and Barbara Shelley) who stay in the castle overnight after being stranded, much to their later regret...
It was nearly 8 years before Christopher Lee was cajoled into recreating his Dracula role for Hammer and despite valiant attempts from all concerned this doesn't compare with either "Horror of Dracula" or "Brides of Dracula".Terence Fisher manages to control the atmospheric tension very well and there are some decent, originally conceived scenes with strengthen the credentials of this film:  notably the scene in which Dracula is revived by a victim's throat being cut over his resting place and the climatic scene on the ice.
The direct warnings that accompany the film around this time are irritatingly cliched as well.Hammer fans will also notice the significant absence of Peter Cushing who curiously, would not reprise his Van Helsing role until "Dracula AD 1972" (12 years after he appeared in "Brides of Dracula".
This film is not quite the kind of sheer perfection that you find in "horror of Dracula" (the first in hammers Dracula series) but it comes close, and surpasses it in a few areas.As is usual for Director Terrence Fisher, the movie is extremely atmospheric and creepy.
Christopher Lee dons fangs and cape again for 'Dracula, Prince of Darkness', director Terence Fisher's excellent follow-up to his classic 1958 Hammer version of 'Dracula'.A decade after Count Dracula (Lee) was reduced to dust by brave vampire-slayer Van Helsing (Cushing), the superstitious folk of Carpathia still stake their dead before burial, preferring not to take any chances.Local cleric Father Sandor (Andrew Keir) doesn't approve of the villagers' practises, believing the evil to have been vanquished forever, but, even so, he still warns travellers not to stray too close to the Count's castleadvice that is not heeded by the Kents, four English sight-seers who, upon being stranded mid-journey by their coach driver, wind up at Chez Dracula.Welcomed by Klove, Dracula's man-servant, the unsuspecting foursome are given food and shelter for the night, unaware that the castle 's creepy caretaker intends to resurrect his masterusing their blood!!!Very atmospheric, with superb cinematography and fine performances from its cast, 'Dracula, Prince of Darkness' is a worthy successor to the '58 original.
Fisher, once again, does an excellent job with the direction, delivering plenty of thrills and chills, and one or two outstanding set-piecesthe rather nasty and very bloody resurrection scene being the highlight for meamongst the usual plethora of genre staples: buxom beauties, a stormy night in a creepy castle, a bug-eating loony, a fearless vampire hunter, and bright red gore.Lee is as good as always, his Dracula a truly menacing creation with blood-red eyes and a mean snarl, but it is Keir, as the burly man of God, and Barbara Shelley as vampiress Helen, that really made the film for me: Keir's Sandorpacking rifle, wooden stakes and a malletis a memorable nemesis for Dracula, whilst Shelley just looks damn sexy, baring her massive fangs and ample cleavage..
Dracula: Prince of Darkness (1966)** 1/2 (out of 4) The third film in the Hammer series finds four vacationers not listening and ending up at the castle of Count Dracula (Christopher Lee).
In the interim, films had become just that little bit more explicit so that this time round Fisher could up the ante, at least in terms of violence, if not sex.Peter Cushing's Van Helsing was no longer on hand, being replaced by Andrew Keir's somewhat gruff priest but Hammer had found a new Queen of Horror in Barbara Shelley and she's excellent as the latest addition to the count's harem.
It took 8 long years, but Christopher Lee finally returned to the cape and fangs after missing the first sequel "Brides of Dracula." As usual, the writers have to come up with unique ways to revive the Count after he is seemingly destroyed forever--usually a servant performing the dark ritual.
'Horror Of Dracula') but since that film only had Peter Cushing reprising as Doctor Van Helsing and completely lacked the character of Dracula, Dracula: Prince of Darkness is the first direct sequel to feature the famous vampire in the Hammer Dracula series.Unfortunately it didn't quite turn out the way it should have, the biggest major fault with this film is that Dracula doesn't actually say anything apart from hissing, supposedly this was because Christopher Lee hated the dialogue in the film's script so he refused to say any of it and Hammer had no choice but to just go with it.
The Anticipation was High and the Wait Was Not Without its Disappointments.Peter Cushing's Van Helsing was Absent, Christopher Lee's Dialog was Absent, and Count Dracula Himself Would Not Appear Until the Halfway Mark.But Even With Those Letdowns the Film Manages to be Quite Good.
The movie has the two classic Hammer actors: Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing as Dracula and Van Helsing.
Helen's eventual staking at the hands of Sandor and his monks is one of the most iconic moments in vampire cinema, and perhaps the most powerful such scene filmed to this date.Horror of Dracula and Brides of Dracula were both tough acts to follow, and in some ways Dracula: Prince of Darkness inevitably falls a bit short.
Christopher Lee is a brilliant actor and "Dracula: Prince of Darkness" is a great sequel and part of Hammer Studio's finest achievements.
It is films like this genuinely creepy and highly atmospheric sequel that made the great Hammer Studios immortal, and Christopher Lee the Horror icon he is.This time, it is four British travellers, two brothers and their wives, who unsuspectingly wander the Transsylvanian woods, where Count Dracula is waiting to be resurrected...
Eventually Father Sandor discovers that Dracula has risen from the dead, but is it already too late?Directed by Terence Fisher this was the third Dracula film produced by Hammer coming after the Brides of Dracula (1960) & before Dracula has Risen from the Grave (1968) but only the second to feature Christopher Lee as Dracula & the first not feature Peter Cushing as Van Helsing.
Finding myself enchanted with my first ever,"classic era" Hammer Horror, (the under rated Plague of the Zombies)I felt that it would be the perfect time to take a look at Studio Canal's extensive remastering,of possibly Hammer Horror's most famous character:Count Dracula.The plot:Stopping his fellow vicars from stabbing a recently deceased woman through the heart with a stake,Father Sandor tells all of them the it is time that they leave their fear of Vampires behind,due to Count Dracula now having been destroyed for 10 years.Relived over succeeding in stopping the stabbing,Sandor decides to visit a near by country pub.Arriving at pub,Sandor runs into a group of travelling tourist called the Kents,who are currently sightseeing around the area,in the hope of finding a castle which does not feature on a single map.Desperate for no one to ever go back to the castle, (which used to be Dracula's home) Sandor tells the Kent's that they should stop their search for the "unmapped" castle right away.Ignoring Sandor's advice,the Kent's soon get a real stroke of luck when they suddenly find a horse & carriage,that quickly takes them to the "forgotten" castle,which weirdly looks to be currently occupiedView on the film:Taking a look at the "making of",I was shocked to discover all of the painstaking process that Studio Canal had to do in order to create a wonderful print of the movie,due to Hammer deciding to keep cost down by using a film stock that was only half the size of a normal frame of film.Whilst Christopher Lee's dialogue-free performance as Count Dracula does suffer,due to Dracula appearing to be a bloodthirsty,half mad beast,instead of the conniving and calculating creature that the terrific castle setting seems to suggest,the rest of the cast thankfully help to give the film a wonderful Gothic chill,with the under rated Philip Latham giving a stunning,creepy performance as Dracula's skeleton-like butler Klove,and the gorgeous Barbara Shelly, (whose screams were dubbed by Suzan Famer!) giving a very good,untrusting performance as the easy to "transform" Helen Kent.With the screenplay of the film,writer's Jimmy Sangster and Anthony Hinds use the first 40 minutes of the film to smartly build up a strong atmosphere of anticipation,as the Kent's (named after a city in the UK which is nicknamed:"The Garden of England") brush aside the superstitious tales from the towns folk,and get closer and closer to discovering what is lurking in the castle.Disapointingly,due Dracula having no lines of dialogue at all, (with Christopher Lee saying in the DVD audio commentary,that the reason Dracula has no lines in the film at all,is due to the lines in the script being "Completely stupid") the atmospheric build up to the Kent's entering the castle,quickly fades away,and although the second half of the film does feature one or two eye catching set pieces, (with a character getting "gutted" and an extremely suggestive "blood sucking from chest" scenes being a particular highlight) the screenplay lacks any of the sly social comments,or a bubbling sense of fear that could have given the movie a real bite.Impressivly,despite having a less than perfect screenplay to work with,director Terence Fisher and cinematography Michael Reed show a tremendous amount of skill in creating a tremendously foggy Gothic world,from Reed making "transformed" members of the Kent family looking like beautiful,siren Vampires,to Fisher displaying an unexpected,cleverly subtle take on the gore scenes,which give the perfect amount of suggestiveness to send a shiver downer the viewers spine,as they start to fear that Cont Dracula is a king in waiting..
In 1966 'Dracula, Prince of Darkness' marked Christopher Lee's return to the role of Count Dracula for the first time since his debut in the part in Hammer's 1958 Dracula film.
Christopher Lee was made very famous by playing Count Dracula in a number of Hammer Horror films, and this was the second one, from director Terrence Fisher (Dracula - 1958).