Dracula vs. Frankenstein is a 1971 American sci-fi horror film directed by Al Adamson (Nurse Sherri).
This was Lon Chaney Jr.’s final horror film role and J. Carroll Naish’s last film. Chaney filmed his part in mid-1969 when the film was titled Blood Seekers; Naish filmed additional footage in 1970 when Dracula and the Frankenstein Monster were added to the story (and in his confrontation scene with Dracula, he appears noticeably older). Regina Carrol appears in the film as one of the people who discover the two title monsters; in reality, she was married to director Adamson.
The film has also been released as Blood of Frankenstein; The Revenge of Dracula; Teenage Dracula and Love Tramps.
Plot:
A mad scientist (Naish) descended from the original Doctor Frankenstein takes to murdering young women for experimentation in hopes of reviving his ancestor’s creation, with help from his mute assistant (played by Lon Chaney Jr.).
Things start to heat up when Dracula (played by Zandor Vorkov) arrives and promises to revive Frankenstein’s monster in return for a serum that will grant him immortality…
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The special edition Blu-ray includes an audio commentary by writer/producer Sam Sherman, a documentary on Independent International Pictures, a rare alternate ending, deleted scenes, a deleted scene with Famous Monsters editor Forrest J Ackerman and Dracula, rare 8mm movie location footage, the original theatrical trailer, TV Spot and an extensive photo gallery.
Reviews:
“Vorkoff’s Dracula literally sucks, with his mod ’70s afro and sideburns, dubbed echo-chamber voice and K-mart Halloween costume. The head of the Frankenstein Monster looks like a rotten potato smeared with dried oatmeal. Seeing Lon Chaney in such a state of decline would normally invoke sympathy if it weren’t for his giddily goofy performance … After a while, this all gets to be pretty funny somehow — a sort of cumulative reaction effect to a constant bombardment of schlock.” Eccentric Cinema
“With a retro feel that would shame Paul Naschy, all bubbling test-tubes and screaming girls, this is fun nonsense for a very precise demographic of horror fandom (you know who you are…), but tedious gubbins for everyone else.” Stephen Thrower, Nightmare USA
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“There’s no middle ground with this one–you either love it or hate it. It’s likely the late director’s most “revered” motion picture and if anything can be said of it, there’s a great deal of fun to be had here in the right frame of mind. Your enjoyment can be gauged on your tolerance for sincerely awful movies.” Cool @ss Cinema
“This is one of those rare films which deserves its classic reputation. If Dracula and Frankenstein’s monster can be called “un-dead” — existing in a state between life and death, never truly belonging to either state — then this movie should be called “un-good”. It’s not that it’s simply bad (actually, it’s epically bad), nor that it’s so-bad-it’s-good (because few, if any, bad films have managed to be so gloriously endearing) — it’s in a category all by itself.” Braineater
Cast and characters:
J. Carrol Naish … Dr Durea alias Dr Frankenstein
Lon Chaney Jr … Groton
Zandor Vorkov … Count Dracula
Anthony Eisley … Mike
Regina Carrol … Judith Fontaine
Russ Tamblyn … Rico
Jim Davis … Sgt. Martin
Angelo Rossitto … Grazbo
Greydon Clark … Strange
Ann Morell … Samantha
William Bonner … Biker
Forrest J. Ackerman … Dr Beaumont
Maria Lease … Joan
John Bloom … The Monster
Shelly Weiss … The Creature
Bruce Kimball … Ed the Biker
Albert Cole … Cop Driving Car at Beach
Gary Kent … Bob
Connie Nelson … Laura / Vampire Woman
Irv Saunders … Policeman
Lu Dorn … Make Out Girl in Car
Sean Graver … Dead Boy in the Arms of the Vampire Woman
Barney Gelfan … Cemetery Guard
Filming locations:
Las Vegas, Nevada
Hollywood Stages, 6650 Santa Monica Boulevard, Hollywood, California
Santa Monica, California
Somers, New York (old church)
Technical details:
1 hour 31 minutes
Audio: Mono
Aspect ratio: 1.66: 1
Trailer:
TV spot:
