Taste the Blood of Dracula (1970). ****
Hammer Studios hired Hungarian-born Peter Sasdy to direct this sequel to 1968's Dracula Has Risen from the Grave, using a script by John Elder (Anthony Hinds). Coupled with Arthur Grant's superb photography, Hammer achieved its best effort since 1957's Horror of Dracula. In this picture, the Dracula presence is explicitly associated with the disintegration of the family, coming much closer in spirit to Stoker's novel. Certainly one of the best vampire films Hammer ever made.
The Scars of Dracula (1970). *
Produced immediately after Taste the Blood of Dracula and directed by Roy Ward Baker, this film is one of the most seriously flawed vampire films which Hammer ever attempted. A vicious, unbelievably cruel film.
Count Yorga, Vampire (1970). **
Directed by Bob Kelljan, this production features a vampire in the tradition of the English gothic villain. Courteous and refined, Count Yorga seeks the blood of Southern California teenage girls. Unfortunately, the situations have become stereotyped, and the plot is absolutely predictable.
Daughters of Darkness (1970). *
Harry Kumel's film is concerned with the sexuality of vampirism. This film features bisexual female vampires and lots of self-consciously "arty" scenes composed of red, black, and white colors. This kind of sophomoric symbolism is indicative of the artistic pretensions of this silly little soft-core film. The film did well, however, when it premiered in the United States in May of 1971.
House of Dark Shadows (1970). *
Another of the bumper crop of vampire films made in 1970 which exploits the teenage fascination with Dark Shadows, a gothic soap opera of the late 60's. The vampire in this film and in the TV series was played by Jonathan Frid.
