A-List star on less-than-grand times David Niven takes his turn as the Count in this hard-to-find film(currently it can be seen on Amazon Prime). A film like this you know is going to have problems because it has more than one title that it is frequently known by. It is called Old Dracula, Old Drac, and Vampira. I probably first saw this on TV sometime in the late seventies. I liked it then. I sought it out and re-visited it over forty years later. I kind of liked it. It is a tepid, lukewarm reaction to some stuff that really has become quite out- dated. This film was made during the Blaxplotation craze of the 70's. It takes the grittiness and edge from that away, and it gives you this. I also read it came out shortly after Young Frankenstein as a means of cashing in on that film's success. Obviously, it did not work as those two films have NOTHING in common. The film clearly has a nice budget as we see posh sets and locations along with good actors for the most part. Niven looks tired in this role - he is suppose to be too - as he tries to find the right blood type to bring his wife "back-to-life." He finds it when a group of Playboy models come to spend the evening in his now- opened-for-the-public castle. Trouble is that all the blood is mixed up somehow and he does not know which model had the right blood. Why is this a problem? When his wife comes back to life she is black. He must now take her and his servant to London and find the right model in the hopes that it will turn her back to her "normal" pale self. The story truly is my biggest problem with the film. It really is somewhat offensive as well as ridiculous. Try making sense of it if you can. I moved on so as not to miss the film from that point on. The acting is good throughout though Niven, as I said previously, is lackluster. Teresa Graves as his new wife; however, gives a lively performance(and is a beauty to boot). She chews up the scenery with her scene-stealing scenes(okay, more like taking something that nobody else wanted). The models are all luscious as well. Cathie Shirriff is particularly appealing(and free in her performance as well). So is the always lovely Veronica Carlson who is somewhat wasted in her role. Linda Hayden as a voluptuous castle-wench is funny and gorgeous. The best performance for me was the deadpan one of Peter Bayliss as Dracula's manservant Maltravers. He had the funniest lines and the bit he does at the castle being the mad-servant for the guests may have been the highlight of the film. That does not bode well then for the rest of the film. Old Dracula is an okay film from an era where you could make this type of film. I know it has a lot of detractors but was watchable at least.
24 Reviews
Good Actors - Terrible Story - Not Many Laughs
Rainey-Dawn16 April 2016
The movie is just not all that funny - you would expect a comedy to give more laughs than this film gave us. It has a few moments worth of giggles but not bust-a-gut laughter like one wants from a comedy.
All the actors are fine - really good. It's just a terrible story with very few laughs.
I have to agree with other reviewers that Dracula's problem is not that she's black but that he wanted his wife, Vampira, the way he remembered her - he just wanted his wife back. He felt he was with another woman because she acts different and looks different.
It's such a shame the comedy wasn't funnier and the storyline a bit better because this film had the potential to be really comical if better written.
3.5/10
All the actors are fine - really good. It's just a terrible story with very few laughs.
I have to agree with other reviewers that Dracula's problem is not that she's black but that he wanted his wife, Vampira, the way he remembered her - he just wanted his wife back. He felt he was with another woman because she acts different and looks different.
It's such a shame the comedy wasn't funnier and the storyline a bit better because this film had the potential to be really comical if better written.
3.5/10
Old, but mostly weak & pitiable Dracula
Coventry4 March 2019
This movie often gets accused of being a "Young Frankenstein" rip-off, but the producers only altered the title from "Vampira" into "Old Dracula" to cash in on the tremendous success of Mel Brooks horror spoof. The truth is that "Vampira" got filmed prior to "Young Frankenstein" and it also can't hold a candle to that film, as this is a truly poor and almost pitiable attempt at comedy. The great cast, including David Niven and Peter Bayliss, do whatever they can, but Clive Donner's direction is uninspired and especially Jeremy Lloyd's screenplay is anemic and almost entirely devoid of laughs and creativity. In Transylvania, Count Dracula and his male servant Maltravers are hosting tourist tours in the old castle, and every once and a while this also allows them to restorage their blood reserves. When a group of Playboy models visits the castle, they discover that one of them has the same and extremely rare blood type of Dracula's deceased wife Vampira. But, as mandatory in lame comedy, the samples get mixed up and the count's beloved wife resurrects as a feisty black girl. Reason enough for the old-fashioned Count to travel to swinging London where his conservative life-style naturally conflicts with the free-spirited mentality. The best parts of the films are the dialogs between Niven and Bayliss, and even those are lukewarm at best. Everything else is downright pathetic, with as absolute low points Dracula's "night on the town" and the predictable finale with atrocious make-up effects.
Kitchy but kind of cool
Malibukitten27 March 2006
I caught this on cable, and found it quite amusing. Not laugh out loud, but still rather good. Granted, it's no masterpiece, but I enjoyed it for what it was, a kitchy cool retro film from the 70's. I love watching bad 60's and 70's films for the music, the clothes, the decor...and this was the perfect film. How can you deny seeing London at the end of the swingin' 60's? And the Playboy element, the swinging party...I don't know. I took this film for what it was, and I would definitely watch it again....
Maybe the fact that I watched it as a morning double feature with Vincent Price's "Scream and Scream Again" helped me get into the mood for this...
Maybe the fact that I watched it as a morning double feature with Vincent Price's "Scream and Scream Again" helped me get into the mood for this...
My Offense and Defense
blandiefam1 November 2009
This movie is rather offensive. Not because I am Black and that I should take offense to the premise, but that they should spoof Dracula to the point where even a card carrying Van Helsing club member would be offended. This movie seemed as if it was a British writer trying to compete with Mel Brooks. I am not offended with the premise because I must defend the actors who chose to do such a dreadful movie. Ms. Graves found popularity by being a beautiful funny Black woman on Laugh In. She needed work and wanted to also be accepted by the public and further her career. She was one of the few Black women to play a lead role with the great David Niven. David Niven, on the other hand, was in his last days as a lead and his last years on earth. He valiantly tried to make something out of nothing. I don't think he (Dracula) was concerned with the color of his bride's skin more than seeing her the way he remembered her. Vampira was sexy enough to grace the last scenes of the movie and even seduce the two lead men. It seems as if the writer was celebrating the new times and he wanted to join the party of real race relations. Ms. Graves went on to have her own series for a short while and I think she made an impact on many young girls and taught them to stand for themselves. The only thing that was disturbing to me was that the young actor playing the Don Juan like character looks a lot like Jeremy Pivens. The end was very predictable and it made the whole thing look like what it was meant to be; A meaningless pursuit of the old ways while change to the new ways ended up not being so bad. In fact the change helped in the end. This movie was fun and the limited nudity expressed some class. I would recommend it to only those with an affinity to the art of movies and you should remember the times when this was done. I believe this was just at the start of Blacksploitation, disco and spoofs. In conclusion, it was a failed attempt to suck blood from the new times and still win favor of the old school. I think I would watch it again, though.
Times are tough in Transylvania
bkoganbing3 December 2013
David Niven's career hit rock bottom when he played the one and only Count Dracula in Vampira. Niven's dapper English charm is truly put to the test her and it fails.
Times are tough in Transylvania and Castle Dracula is now being rented out as a tourist attraction. The money's good and one can take an occasional bite out of a tourist. But Niven's real mission is to find the right blood to revive the Countess who's been asleep since the Roaring Twenties.
He finds the right blood from one of the tourists, but lo and behold the countess wakes up and turns black into someone that looks a whole lot like Teresa Graves. What to do, Niven's a most conservative Dracula and apparently interracial marriage is frowned on.
The rest of the film is spent on Niven trying to find a cure for Graves. And listening to Graves calling Niven such things as 'jive turkey' with both of them wondering where she's pick up the latest slang.
A few years earlier Godfrey Cambridge did Watermelon Man which laid a giant ostrich egg with the same kind of humor. It's not any funnier with Teresa Graves.
And David Niven should have been ashamed of himself.
Times are tough in Transylvania and Castle Dracula is now being rented out as a tourist attraction. The money's good and one can take an occasional bite out of a tourist. But Niven's real mission is to find the right blood to revive the Countess who's been asleep since the Roaring Twenties.
He finds the right blood from one of the tourists, but lo and behold the countess wakes up and turns black into someone that looks a whole lot like Teresa Graves. What to do, Niven's a most conservative Dracula and apparently interracial marriage is frowned on.
The rest of the film is spent on Niven trying to find a cure for Graves. And listening to Graves calling Niven such things as 'jive turkey' with both of them wondering where she's pick up the latest slang.
A few years earlier Godfrey Cambridge did Watermelon Man which laid a giant ostrich egg with the same kind of humor. It's not any funnier with Teresa Graves.
And David Niven should have been ashamed of himself.
Anemic attempt at comedy.
Mephisto-2411 March 2001
Vampira (also known as 'Old Dracula', presumably in the hope that someone would confuse it with the excellent 'Young Frankenstein', released in the same year) is a feeble spoof of vampire films for those who don't like either (a) vampires or (b) laughing. An aging Dracula attempts to revive his beloved Vampira with transfusions from Playboy bunnies, but the wrong blood sample somehow transforms her into Teresa Graves, so he goes to London to get more white blood cells. Niven lends some dignity to this mildly offensive nonsense, but it's tragically short on good jokes: 'Love at First Bite' did it much better, and even 'Dracula: Dead and Loving It' has more laughs.
Mildly amusing, but never particularly funny.
grendelkhan6 June 2012
Warning: Spoilers
I first saw this on TV, way back in the late 70s or early 80s. It's not a particularly good comedy and certainly not a serious vampire film. However, I don't find it awful, either. It's a pleasant little film that doesn't aspire to much and the actors keep it light enough. Seen today, it's an old piece of early 70s nostalgia; a failed attempt at both a Dracula satire and a Blaxploitation spoof.
David Niven is a charming, if less than hypnotic or even funny Count Dracula (even George Hamilton managed funny) who seeks to revive his dead wife, Vampira (not the horror host), with the right blood. Enter a party of Playboy playmates in his castle, a bit of a mix-up with the blood samples and we get a revived Vampira, as a non-caucasian Teresa Graves. From here we jet to London to find the right girl's blood to sort things out.
The script is by Jeremy Lloyd, of Laugh-In and Are You Being Served? fame, but the jokes are rather flat (suggesting that David Croft was the true comedic force in their partnership). The script gets by mostly on the strength of the actors, mining what little amusement that can be had. However, there is a decent enough story that things never degenerate into boredom. It is never particularly memorable, but it is pleasantly diverting. The jokes about the color change are never mean-spirited enough to really be offensive, though they are borderline often. Mostly, they just seem sad. The surprise ending (which is hardly that surprising) is especially poorly conceived and David Niven should have known better. It doesn't take too much effort to be offended by elements of the movie, though there is so little to it that it's more like a child uttering something they heard an adult say; it's unfortunate, but you don't really blame the child.
You can do worse than this film, but you can do a whole lot better. For me, the cast is the only thing worth watching here, even if their dignity is often left at the door (especially Niven, who even gets one in the goolies). If you want vampires, try Hammer; if you want comedy, try Love at First Bite. If it's raining and you are bored and find the 70s to be kitschy fun, try this.
David Niven is a charming, if less than hypnotic or even funny Count Dracula (even George Hamilton managed funny) who seeks to revive his dead wife, Vampira (not the horror host), with the right blood. Enter a party of Playboy playmates in his castle, a bit of a mix-up with the blood samples and we get a revived Vampira, as a non-caucasian Teresa Graves. From here we jet to London to find the right girl's blood to sort things out.
The script is by Jeremy Lloyd, of Laugh-In and Are You Being Served? fame, but the jokes are rather flat (suggesting that David Croft was the true comedic force in their partnership). The script gets by mostly on the strength of the actors, mining what little amusement that can be had. However, there is a decent enough story that things never degenerate into boredom. It is never particularly memorable, but it is pleasantly diverting. The jokes about the color change are never mean-spirited enough to really be offensive, though they are borderline often. Mostly, they just seem sad. The surprise ending (which is hardly that surprising) is especially poorly conceived and David Niven should have known better. It doesn't take too much effort to be offended by elements of the movie, though there is so little to it that it's more like a child uttering something they heard an adult say; it's unfortunate, but you don't really blame the child.
You can do worse than this film, but you can do a whole lot better. For me, the cast is the only thing worth watching here, even if their dignity is often left at the door (especially Niven, who even gets one in the goolies). If you want vampires, try Hammer; if you want comedy, try Love at First Bite. If it's raining and you are bored and find the 70s to be kitschy fun, try this.
Falls flat
dworldeater25 May 2023
I really wanted to like this, but Old Dracula was too boring and lacking in purpose that I found it hard to do. The film actually is really sharp looking, the sets, the costumes, all look really good. ( Giving a huge nod to Hammer). David Niven is a good Dracula and there is no shortage of pretty girls either. However, I had a hard time staying awake with this film. This is supposed to be a comedy and I didn't find much of this funny. Maybe I just didn't get it with the British sense of humor going over my head. At least I got to see Dracula get called a jive turkey. But if it's a disco themed Dracula movie, I would much rather watch something that is more fun. Love At First Bite comes to mind and is a lot better than this.
Not too bad.
gridoon3 November 2002
David Niven has a role that is clearly beneath his stature (in his first scene, he is reading a Playboy magazine), and Clive Donner's direction is almost embarrassingly crude (the dreadful copy I saw made it look even worse than it is, but it's crude nonetheless). Still, the movie has some unexpectedly clever lines (Dracula's assistant to his master: "I cross my fingers, sir" - Dracula's response: "I'd rather you didn't"), and (don't crucify me for this) I really found it more enjoyable than Polanski's overrated "Fearless Vampire Killers" - mainly because it has no pretensions of greatness. (**)
The comedy movie that sucks.
jacobjohntaylor119 May 2015
This is a comedy about Dracula. Most comedies about Dracula are funny. This one is not. If a Dracula movie is not going to be funny then is should at lest be scary. This movie is not scary. It as an awful story line. The ending is awful. There are good actors in this movie. But they wasted there talent being in this awful movie. Do not wast your money. Do not see this movie. Do not wast your time. Do not see this movie. It is the comedy movie that sucks. There are a lot of comedy movie that suck. And this is one of them. This movie is pooh pooh. Do not see this movie. I need more line and I am running out of thing to say.
A humorous film putting a Brit Twist on the Dracula Legend.
The_Pendragon13 July 2002
Though it has been several years since I saw this film, I recall enough to wish I could find it on video..or better DVD.
I happen to like David Niven and found this film rather enjoyable. I would expect that one would need to be able to grasp some of the subtle humor that a good number of Britcoms are known for to really enjoy some of the more funny bits.
I happen to like David Niven and found this film rather enjoyable. I would expect that one would need to be able to grasp some of the subtle humor that a good number of Britcoms are known for to really enjoy some of the more funny bits.
A camp disco Dracula
neil-douglas201018 February 2023
Almost so bad it's brilliant, this is one of the more strange versions of Dracula. Set in London in the seventies we see an older Dracula (David Niven) hosting parties for young people at his castle. He's searching for suitable blood to bring his former lover Vampira (Teresa Graves) back to life. Only trouble is when it works she is now black much to Dracula's distaste. They must try again with the help of Marc (Nicky Henson) who unwillingly gets samples of blood from girls.
It's certainly a camp version of the Dracula story, but it has a certain charm and is obviously being played for laughs.
It's certainly a camp version of the Dracula story, but it has a certain charm and is obviously being played for laughs.
There are some Dark Shadows surrounding David Niven's solo appearance as Count Dracula.
mark.waltz5 July 2019
Warning: Spoilers
This is one of those obscure films that in the annual edition of "Screen World" most likely was listed in the "also" chapter where minor films of little critical importance ended up with just a short paragraph featuring cast and crew and if lucky a teeny, tiny photo. sure enough, I had never heard of it until I came across that it accidentally, even though I thought I knew everything about David Niven's career.
This film could be described as "Murder By Teeth" in reference to Niven's smash hit "Murder by Death" two years later. as count Dracula, he is surprised when bringing his late wife back after 50 years in her eternal coffin finds that she has turned into the black Teresa Graves! There is little to offend side the initial shock, and after going to a black midnight movie, Graves begins speaking a more streetwise black dialect. she looks great in vintage fashions, and I must say that she was certainly one of the most beautiful actresses of the 1970's.
Count Dracula needs the blood three women for mysterious reasons and goes to London get it, utilizing vampire historian Nicky Henson in his plans. He sees an atmosphere quite different since he had been there decades earlier (when he look like Bela Lugosi) and somehow finds his place in the psychedelic world of 1970's London nightlife. Peter bayliss get some very funny lines as Niven's non-vampire valet.
While this is enjoyable for the most part, it is certainly a very dated film, obviously a quick trip off of Mel Brook's "Young Frankenstein". Brooks would spoof the vampire genre with "Dracula Dead and Loving It" many years later with better results. But this film is hokey with scattered laughs, perhaps being a bit too proud of its tongue in cheek (or teeth in neck) attitude. There have been worse "Dracula" spoofs ("Transylvania 6-5000" is by far the worst), but I can see why this has definite flop status and hasn't gained a cult following. In short, its bite really doesn't leave much of a mark.
This film could be described as "Murder By Teeth" in reference to Niven's smash hit "Murder by Death" two years later. as count Dracula, he is surprised when bringing his late wife back after 50 years in her eternal coffin finds that she has turned into the black Teresa Graves! There is little to offend side the initial shock, and after going to a black midnight movie, Graves begins speaking a more streetwise black dialect. she looks great in vintage fashions, and I must say that she was certainly one of the most beautiful actresses of the 1970's.
Count Dracula needs the blood three women for mysterious reasons and goes to London get it, utilizing vampire historian Nicky Henson in his plans. He sees an atmosphere quite different since he had been there decades earlier (when he look like Bela Lugosi) and somehow finds his place in the psychedelic world of 1970's London nightlife. Peter bayliss get some very funny lines as Niven's non-vampire valet.
While this is enjoyable for the most part, it is certainly a very dated film, obviously a quick trip off of Mel Brook's "Young Frankenstein". Brooks would spoof the vampire genre with "Dracula Dead and Loving It" many years later with better results. But this film is hokey with scattered laughs, perhaps being a bit too proud of its tongue in cheek (or teeth in neck) attitude. There have been worse "Dracula" spoofs ("Transylvania 6-5000" is by far the worst), but I can see why this has definite flop status and hasn't gained a cult following. In short, its bite really doesn't leave much of a mark.
PITIFUL!
suzyqfd11 June 2004
Someone, please, bite THEM and put them out of their misery....really bad acting, really bad plot, yuck, yuck, yuck! yucky! This one is just so bad I can't believe that David Niven even lent himself to starring in this. He must have been short on cash to star in this dog. Oh, and the music! It's this music that is really trying to be hip and disco, don't forget, this was made in 1974, the start of the disco era. There are not enough words to say how bad this movie is, but I keep having to say them because IMDB will not let me post unless I have 10 lines! Please, if you see this advertised on TV, do not watch! It is a big waste of your time. Unless you are stoned or something and then maybe you would laugh your head off. Otherwise, stay away! On a scale of 10, I give it a 0!
Strictly for Niven's fans...all others bevare!
moonspinner5510 May 2011
Terrible comedy from once-respected British director Clive Donner, a modern-day Dracula tale told with a comedic bent, and with a bevy of Playboy models for victims (in case we missed which corporation these ladies work for, the Playboy Club in London is prominently featured). Vampire David Niven needs the blood of nubile playthings to keep wife Teresa Graves alive, and the only commendable thing you can say about this scenario is the relaxed way in which white men and black women interact sexually. The jokes are stale, the picture looks crummy, and the final gag is ridiculous. It took four more years to get a bloody good Dracula comedy, "Love at First Bite", which puts this one to shame. NO STARS from ****
You watch to see how bad it can get!
joannejerome5 December 2021
Is this what we watched in the 70's? Guess we did.
Do not EVER compare this to a Mel Brooks FRANKENSTEIN classic, as one reviewer did.
I am sorry for Niven for ever choosing to be in it. So black person's blood transfusion turns you black? Let's just say liberals TODAY would have a field day with this one. The only funny thing about it.
At least no swearing.
Do not EVER compare this to a Mel Brooks FRANKENSTEIN classic, as one reviewer did.
I am sorry for Niven for ever choosing to be in it. So black person's blood transfusion turns you black? Let's just say liberals TODAY would have a field day with this one. The only funny thing about it.
At least no swearing.
What a load of old tosh.
BA_Harrison23 June 2019
Count Dracula (David Niven) opens his castle to tourists, draining blood from the guests in an attempt to find someone whose rare blood type can revive his beloved wife Vampira. Success comes when he uses blood drawn from a group of Playboy playmates, but the vampire is shocked when the revived Vampira turns black. Together with his loyal assistant Maltravers (Peter Bayliss) and his wife (blaxploitation babe Teresa Graves), Dracula travels to London to find a way to restore Vampira's original colour.
While watching the opening credits for Vampira, I was delighted to see the name of one of my favourites actresses, 'Confessions..' beauty Linda Hayden, but sadly she isn't in the film for long: she wears a blouse unbuttoned to reveal some tempting boobage, and gets turned into a sexy vampire by Count Dracula, but is dispatched all too soon by Maltravers, who shoots a crossbow bolt through her heart.
With Linda gone so quickly, I felt just a little downhearted, but put my trust in writer Jeremy Lloyd (creator of the excellent 'Are You Being Served?'), usually reliable star Niven, several more lovely ladies (including Hammer hottie Veronica Carlson), plus many a familiar face from British cinema and TV of the '70s. Surely 'Carry On' legend Bernard Bresslaw and TV favourite Frank Thornton (Captain Peacock from 'Are You Being Served?') wouldn't let me down...
Unfortunately, Lloyd's script is extremely poor, stuffed with stale humour that rarely works, and there's very little the talented cast can do to generate laughs. The whole 'black Vampira' plotline is horribly dated and embarrassingly un-PC, more cringeworthy than chucklesome. After lots of weak vampiric shenanigans, in which Dracula hypnotises Playboy employee Marc (Nicky Henson) to do his bidding, we are given a truly awful finalé that sees David Niven sporting dreadful black make-up, Dracula having been bitten by his wife.
While watching the opening credits for Vampira, I was delighted to see the name of one of my favourites actresses, 'Confessions..' beauty Linda Hayden, but sadly she isn't in the film for long: she wears a blouse unbuttoned to reveal some tempting boobage, and gets turned into a sexy vampire by Count Dracula, but is dispatched all too soon by Maltravers, who shoots a crossbow bolt through her heart.
With Linda gone so quickly, I felt just a little downhearted, but put my trust in writer Jeremy Lloyd (creator of the excellent 'Are You Being Served?'), usually reliable star Niven, several more lovely ladies (including Hammer hottie Veronica Carlson), plus many a familiar face from British cinema and TV of the '70s. Surely 'Carry On' legend Bernard Bresslaw and TV favourite Frank Thornton (Captain Peacock from 'Are You Being Served?') wouldn't let me down...
Unfortunately, Lloyd's script is extremely poor, stuffed with stale humour that rarely works, and there's very little the talented cast can do to generate laughs. The whole 'black Vampira' plotline is horribly dated and embarrassingly un-PC, more cringeworthy than chucklesome. After lots of weak vampiric shenanigans, in which Dracula hypnotises Playboy employee Marc (Nicky Henson) to do his bidding, we are given a truly awful finalé that sees David Niven sporting dreadful black make-up, Dracula having been bitten by his wife.
Not utterly terrible, but terribly imbalanced
I_Ailurophile8 November 2021
Warning: Spoilers
To say I was skeptical before I began watching is a distinct understatement; to read of marketing, release, and reception history is less than encouraging. Yet I'd be lying if I said there weren't right away things about 'Vampira,' also known as 'Old Dracula,' that I enjoyed. The consideration for details like hair, makeup, and costume design is fantastic, and set design and decoration. Never outright funny, there's nonetheless a mild measure of wit throughout, just amusing enough to keep the movie from flagging. David Niven offers dry, cheeky delivery in this rendition of Dracula that is welcome, and Teresa Graves bears both graceful charm and poise and invigorating vivaciousness as Countess Vampira.
Beyond these aspects, the film is more of a mixed bag. I'm unsure at all points if performances outside those of the chief stars are perfectly suitable, or too restrained and low-key for their own good, or too ham-handed. I was ever so pleased to see Linda Hayden and Freddie Jones named among the cast, but they both have vanishingly little time on screen. At times the score and soundtrack perfectly complement a scene, while at others they're quite over the top. I don't find any particular fault with Clive Donner's turn as director, but nor is it remarkable in any way.
Jeremy Lloyd's screenplay is a bit all over the place. Characters are thin, and dialogue is mostly perfunctory, with only just enough scattered cleverness to sustain rudimentary entertainment. Lloyd's scene writing, however, is broadly pretty great, with no small amount of intelligence in each passing moment. It is in individual scenes that we get small counts of tension or suspense, and adequate cinematic stimulation. If the same care were put into other elements of the feature as with which Lloyd penned each scene, the movie would have surely turned out far better.
And that brings us to the overall narrative. It's coherent and whole, as written, with some good ideas. But as the very premise denotes, the story being told plays off racial dynamics, with the popular depiction of Count Dracula as a white Eastern European male figure - contrasted with the sudden melanization of his beloved Vampira. On the one hand, Dracula's relationship with Vampira does not change, and he plainly states in a key, gratifying early piece of dialogue: "black is beautiful." On the other hand, the entire thrust of the plot is that Dracula is seeking the perfect blood from a white model to perform another transfusion, so that Vampira's "natural" alabaster pigmentation can be restored. It's rather unclear at any one point or another whether the movie wants to poke fun at racism, or is embracing it - though a torrid instance of blackface doesn't help the case for pointed mockery.
At length, 'Vampira,' or 'Old Dracula,' is simply a movie that wasn't sure what it wanted to be. For all those facets that are written or executed well, others are rendered with too much indifference, or too much exaggeration. The technical craft is generally fine, if not also commendable, but the writing, performances, and other rounding details are more questionable - yet the worst fault of all may be the picture's uncertain regard of race.
This much is certain: If you're looking for a serious vampire movie, this isn't it. If you're looking for a robust horror-comedy, this isn't it. 'Vampira' isn't altogether bad, but nor is there any reason to seek it out, even for specific fans of the cast. Why, I readily wonder if I'm not being too generous as it is. Still, there are worse things you could spend 90 minutes on, and there's just enough modest enjoyment to be had to make this a passably suitable diversion - with caveats. Take that as you will.
Beyond these aspects, the film is more of a mixed bag. I'm unsure at all points if performances outside those of the chief stars are perfectly suitable, or too restrained and low-key for their own good, or too ham-handed. I was ever so pleased to see Linda Hayden and Freddie Jones named among the cast, but they both have vanishingly little time on screen. At times the score and soundtrack perfectly complement a scene, while at others they're quite over the top. I don't find any particular fault with Clive Donner's turn as director, but nor is it remarkable in any way.
Jeremy Lloyd's screenplay is a bit all over the place. Characters are thin, and dialogue is mostly perfunctory, with only just enough scattered cleverness to sustain rudimentary entertainment. Lloyd's scene writing, however, is broadly pretty great, with no small amount of intelligence in each passing moment. It is in individual scenes that we get small counts of tension or suspense, and adequate cinematic stimulation. If the same care were put into other elements of the feature as with which Lloyd penned each scene, the movie would have surely turned out far better.
And that brings us to the overall narrative. It's coherent and whole, as written, with some good ideas. But as the very premise denotes, the story being told plays off racial dynamics, with the popular depiction of Count Dracula as a white Eastern European male figure - contrasted with the sudden melanization of his beloved Vampira. On the one hand, Dracula's relationship with Vampira does not change, and he plainly states in a key, gratifying early piece of dialogue: "black is beautiful." On the other hand, the entire thrust of the plot is that Dracula is seeking the perfect blood from a white model to perform another transfusion, so that Vampira's "natural" alabaster pigmentation can be restored. It's rather unclear at any one point or another whether the movie wants to poke fun at racism, or is embracing it - though a torrid instance of blackface doesn't help the case for pointed mockery.
At length, 'Vampira,' or 'Old Dracula,' is simply a movie that wasn't sure what it wanted to be. For all those facets that are written or executed well, others are rendered with too much indifference, or too much exaggeration. The technical craft is generally fine, if not also commendable, but the writing, performances, and other rounding details are more questionable - yet the worst fault of all may be the picture's uncertain regard of race.
This much is certain: If you're looking for a serious vampire movie, this isn't it. If you're looking for a robust horror-comedy, this isn't it. 'Vampira' isn't altogether bad, but nor is there any reason to seek it out, even for specific fans of the cast. Why, I readily wonder if I'm not being too generous as it is. Still, there are worse things you could spend 90 minutes on, and there's just enough modest enjoyment to be had to make this a passably suitable diversion - with caveats. Take that as you will.
What on Earth is it?
DoctorThotcer27 January 2022
This movie is one of the most confusing things I've ever seen. Is it a bawdy comedy, a serious drama, a spoof horror, it can't decide. David Niven can't seem to pin down if he's playing a part that's more James Bond or Blofeld and to say the story arc of his character hasn't aged well is an understatement.
Theres a few good moments and certainly plenty of titillating visuals, but mostly it's just puzzling what the heck they were going for.
I guess it's one good point is it's certainly unique.
Theres a few good moments and certainly plenty of titillating visuals, but mostly it's just puzzling what the heck they were going for.
I guess it's one good point is it's certainly unique.
Quite racist
ericstevenson2 August 2016
Warning: Spoilers
Seeing as how this movie was released in 1974 and was a weird horror movie featuring black people, I thought this would be a Blaxploitation film. I guess it wouldn't technically be my first Blaxploitation film, as I also saw "Django Unchained" which could be considered a modern take on the genre. I've looked up the movie and have not seen any mention of this being a film of that genre. Too bad, as it would have been nice to see a movie made at that time. What makes this movie so weird is that it's about, well Dracula's wife awakening from slumber only to find out she accidentally became a black woman from a blood transfusion. It's about as dumb as it sounds.
The ending is also weird, as it shows Dracula deciding not to change his wife, but instead becoming black himself. This movie was so dumb and it even shows Dracula getting away with everything. Apart from that, the special effects are terrible and the acting is hokey. I guess the black actors in this movie weren't offended to be in it. Well, they probably did it for the money. We get the usual scenarios of a Halloween party for Dracula to blend in with. I just had no clue what this movie was trying to tell me. It just left a weird taste in my mouth and I just saw thirty minutes of footage from "The Day The Clown Cried"! It's best to skip this one as it's too strange to care about. This was apparently supposed to be a comedy but I found no laughs. It was just awkward. *1/2
The ending is also weird, as it shows Dracula deciding not to change his wife, but instead becoming black himself. This movie was so dumb and it even shows Dracula getting away with everything. Apart from that, the special effects are terrible and the acting is hokey. I guess the black actors in this movie weren't offended to be in it. Well, they probably did it for the money. We get the usual scenarios of a Halloween party for Dracula to blend in with. I just had no clue what this movie was trying to tell me. It just left a weird taste in my mouth and I just saw thirty minutes of footage from "The Day The Clown Cried"! It's best to skip this one as it's too strange to care about. This was apparently supposed to be a comedy but I found no laughs. It was just awkward. *1/2
Not quite blaxploitation, not quite a comedy, not quite good.
ecmelton-186-10504922 August 2019
The core idea of the film (Dracula accidentally turning his wife black by using a black woman's blood to resurrect her) has so much possibility. There are so many jokes you could make about prejudice, and old fashioned ideas, interracial relationships, etc, but the film doesn't do any of that. It doesn't really do much of anything. You might expect Dracula to overcome his apprehension about his wife now being black, realize the superficiality of his concern, and just be happy to be reunited, but that also doesn't happen. He's just unhappy about his wife being black and tries to change her back. He never develops or realizes he's wrong. He's just uptight through the whole movie. There's no real moral or messaging about racism or love. I suppose the ending is supposed to give us something like that, but it really doesn't, and the ending REALLY doesn't age well. Totally a wasted concept and cast.
AKA 'Old Niven', 'Old Clueless Niven', 'Old David Niven in a Bad Blacksploitation Spoof'
haagis27 February 2001
Niven plays a modern-day Dracula who, when discovering a young model with an ideal blood-type, then seduces the hot-bodied Afro-American, and drains her of her plasma to rejuvinate his eon-slumbering vampire bride. But it it all goes snafu when the new corbuscles turn his pale Transylvanian beauty into a dark-skinned vamp with an insatiable sexual appetite, much to her hubbies tight-faced disdain.
Bad, stupid, bad-bad, dumb, silly, awful, stinking, wreaking, bad, lousy, offensive, grotesque, bad-bad-bad movie!!
Bad, stupid, bad-bad, dumb, silly, awful, stinking, wreaking, bad, lousy, offensive, grotesque, bad-bad-bad movie!!
Old Dracula
Coxer995 July 1999
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