Son of Dracula (1974)

User Rating:

5.1/10   

Director:

Freddie Francis

Writer:

Jennifer Jayne (writer)

Release Date:

April 1974 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Horror | Musical

Tagline:

The First Rock-and-Roll Dracula Movie!

Plot:

Due to be crowned King of the Netherworld by his mentor Merlin the Magician at a monster's convention Count Downe...

Plot Keywords:

Dracula | Vampire | Independent Film | Character Name In Title

Cast

Harry Nilsson	...	Count Downe
Ringo Starr	...	Merlin, the Magician
Dennis Price	...	Van Helsing
Suzanna Leigh	...	Amber
Freddie Jones	...	Dr. Frankenstein
Peter Frampton	...	Musician
Keith Moon	...	Musician
John Bonham	...	Musician
Rosanna Lee	...	Girl
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
David Bailie	...	Brian
Morris Bush	...	Monster
Shakira Caine	...	Housekeeper (as Shakira Baksh)
Ricki Farr	...	Musician
Bobby Keyes	...	Musician
Nita Lorraine	...	Gorgon Woman
Skip Martin	...	Igor
Dan Meaden	...	Count Dracula
Rachelle Miller	...	Club Hostess
Beth Morris	...	Wendy
Jim Price	...	Musician
Jenny Runacre	...	Woman in Black
Leon Russell	...	Musician
Klaus Voormann	...	Musician
Hedger Wallace	...	Vampire
Lorna Wilde	...	Countess Dracula
Derek Woodward	...	Werewolf

Directed by
Freddie Francis

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Jennifer Jayne		writer (as Jay Fairbank)

Produced by
Jerry Gross	....	producer
Ringo Starr	....	producer
Tim Van Rellim	....	producer

Original Music by
Paul Buckmaster

Cinematography by
Norman Warwick

Film Editing by
Ringo Starr
Derek York

Casting by
Miriam Brickman

Production Design by
Tim Van Rellim

Art Direction by
Andrew Sanders

Set Decoration by
Tessa Davies

Makeup Department
Jill Carpenter	....	makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Chris Kenny	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Tony Jackson	....	sound mixer
Richard Shorr	....	sound editor
Hugh Strain	....	sound re-recordist
Brian Paxton	....	assistant sound recordist (uncredited)

Music Department
Paul Buckmaster	....	music arranger
Gary Wright	....	musician: piano
Del Newman	....	music arranger (uncredited)
Jim Price	....	music arranger (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Apple Corps

Distributors

• Cinemation Industries (1974) (USA) (theatrical)
• Marquis Video (Canada)
• Prima Film (Canada)

Also Known As:

Count Downe (UK) (alternative title)
Young Dracula

Runtime:

USA:90 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:PG

Company:

Apple Corps

Trivia:

David Bowie was originally considered for the role of Count Downe.

Soundtrack:

At My Front Door

Simply and truly appalling! A must-see!

That a film this poorly written, poorly shot, poorly directed,

and poorly acted was even brought to the screen is stupefying! I had the album when it came out, but the movie never played anywhere near me. For the past 29 years I have longed to see this film, and in spite of all its faults, it was extremely fun to watch. Most of it is pretty predictable. Vampire prince is set to inherit the throne of the netherworld. Vampire meets human girl. Vampire turns human. Vampire, now human, keeps girl. Harry Nilsson's musical score is brilliant - some of his best songs, but the settings for them are contrived, and in the case of the climax scene, downright goofy. There is a brief period of a few minutes toward the end of the film that are really quite good - from the end of the operation to the end of the movie. I'd have to rate it a must-see for Nilsson fans or for fans of that weird immediately-pre-disco period of the early/mid- 70s. I would not, however, classify it as one of those films you watch over and over.