Main Cast: Christopher Lee, Barbara Shelley, Andrew Keir, Francis Matthews, Suzanne Farmer
Release Year: 1966
Country: UK
Run Time: 90 minutes
Plot
Christopher Lee dons the evil Count's cloak once again after an 8-year hiatus for this first "authentic" sequel to Hammer Studios' Horror of Dracula (the literal 1960 follow-up Brides of Dracula did not feature Lee). The story begins when two stuffy vacationing couples make an ill-fated stopover at Castle Karlsbad in the Carpathian mountains -- despite the warnings of the mysterious Fr. Sandor (Andrew Keir) and the near-destruction of their coach when the terrified driver runs for his life. After a slightly tedious stretch, one of the men (Charles Tingwell) is sacrificed in a bloody Satanic ritual, orchestrated by the Count's loyal manservant Klove (Philip Latham) to bring the legendary vampire back to life. The revived Count immediately sets his sights on the man's wife (Barbara Shelley), making her his undead bride; the surviving pair seek refuge in Fr. Sandor's abbey, with the undead bloodsuckers in hot pursuit. This stylish and chilling production is imbued with Gothic atmosphere by director Terence Fisher (one of his last films for the studio) and remains one of the classier entries from Hammer's heyday. Also known as Revenge of Dracula. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
Don Mingaye - Art Director, Terence Fisher - Director, Chris Barnes - Editor, James Needs - Editor, James Bernard - Composer (Music Score), Roy Ashton - Makeup, Bernard Robinson - Production Designer, Michael Reed - Cinematographer, Anthony Nelson Keys - Producer, Bowie Films - Special Effects, Anthony Hinds - Screenwriter, John Sansom - Screenwriter
Dracula does not speak in the film; this was not an artistic decision, but the result of Lee's refusal to speak the dialogue that was written for him. He remarked, "I didn’t speak in that picture. The reason was very simple. I read the script and saw the dialogue! I said to Hammer, if you think I’m going to say any of these lines, you’re very much mistaken."[1]
A novelization of the film was written by John Burke as part of his 1967 book The Second Hammer Horror Film Omnibus.
