Ray Charles Video:

Editorial Review:
For many years after becoming one of the definitive movie Draculas in the 1958 Hammer Films classic Horror of Dracula (in which he was pitted against Peter Cushing as Dr. Van Helsing), Christopher Lee refused to reprise his role as filmdom's most infamous vampire. He finally returned to the role in this belated 1965 sequel, once again directed by Hammer studios veteran Terence Fisher. It's not as effective or as intelligently written as the earlier film, but it has become a minor classic in its own right for horror connoisseurs, notably due to the combination of eerie atmosphere (a Terence Fisher specialty) and violence that was, by mid-'60s standards, quite bloody and graphic. Indeed, the story begins when Count Dracula's servant revives his master by hanging an unsuspecting victim over the tomb containing Dracula's ashes and draining the blood from the unlucky fellow so it can trickle into the tomb and restore life to the remains of the undead vampire! It's this kind of unholy communion that was a trademark of Hammer horror, and Dracula: Prince of Darkness continues with all the requisite ingredients--including a group of tourists who arrive at the count's secluded castle just in time to feed his insatiable bloodlust! True horror fans will appreciate the performance by Hammer regular Barbara Shelley, widely considered to be one of her best. So, file your fangs and enjoy Lee in his most famous and immortal role! --Jeff Shannon

Dracula - Prince of Darkness Reviews:
Anchor Bay PRINCE OF DARKNESS / SATANIC RITES double feature - okay but flawed!
2009-12-02 - It's out of print at this time, but I just acquired a new sealed copy, and I'm delighted to have the films -- particularly PRINCE OF DARKNESS. However, I have to reiterate what others have pointed out, here and elsewhere, that this is one botched release in comparison to so many other really great efforts by Anchor Bay.

1. First and foremost, it's widescreen (thank goodness), but NON-anamorphic. For a 2004 release, that's surprising, and not consistent with some (most?) of Anchor Bay's other Hammer releases.

2. The double feature is on two discs (thank goodness, again), BUT...they're both flippers (two-sided) for no good reason. In the case of both films, the supplements would absolutely have fit on the same side as the feature.

3. It gets worse. Compounding the fact that both discs are flippers, both are MISLABELED as to title and sides. I won't attempt to explain the labeling. Just take a few minutes to check each side and VERY CAREFULLY notate -- with a fine point Sharpie in the safe area in the center of the disk -- what's on each side, and you'll save yourself a world of grief later.

4. Not only could these films and features have been supplied on two nicely labeled one-sided discs, the "World of Hammer" extra included on each one is the same episode. Yes, you get the same extra twice in this set. According to IMDB, there were 13 episodes in this series, and it's not that these were all that stupendous in the first place...but what a waste.

5. Finally (I hope), my copy lacked the very nice insert cards with the poster reproductions that were supplied with other films in the series. Whether this release ever had them, I don't know. But collectors appreciate and value such things, especially when so nicely produced. We also value consistency in releases of a series.

All in all, somebody at Anchor Bay was asleep at the switch on this one. Big time. Hey, we still love you -- but how about getting some of these films back into print, and with the attention and quality of presentation they deserve?


Delivered as ordered
2009-04-13 - It is always nice to get a product as it was advertised. This one did all of that.

THE REVENGE OF DRACULA
2008-10-14 - Vampires & More! 20 Movie Pack
Dracula, prince of darkness was directed by Terence Fisher, who had guided Christopher Lee through his first performance as the blood-thirsty count. Yhis film was the first NOT to feature Dracula's nemesis Van Helsing(played by Peter Cushing). Instead vamoire-fighting expertise was supplied by Andrew Kier in the role of Father Shandor. Like Van Helsing, Shandor despises blind superstition, but recognizes the forces of evil and respects their power. Dracula, Prince of Darkness, is in many ways a different sort of film from Hammer's, Horror of Dracula. Rather than jumping right into the expected vampiric activities, this film, takes its time introducing and developing its new characters before the revival of Dracula. Along with Shandor, the film's featured characters are two vacationing British British couples, newly-weds, Charles and Diana(Francis Mathews and Suzan Farmer) along with Charles' elder brther, Alan and his wife Helen(Charles Tingwell and Barbara Shelly). Despite Shandor's warnings, the holiday-quartet, find themselves, stranded near Castle Dracula at night. A driver-less coach appears and on boarding it, they find that they are unable to control the horses, who bring them directly to the castle, where they encounter, Klove(Philip Latham), an eerie "servant" of Count Dracula. Once Dracula is introduced, the pace of the film picks up, and a number of thrilling vampiric encounters ensue. While much of this footage is similar to material in Horror of Dracula, variations and some novel ideas do crop up. Even Dracula himself, is is a bit different. Most obviously the lining of his cloak has been changed from black to red. The most interesting of the film's new material is drawn from Bram Stoker's original,'Dracula', novel. Thorley Walters plays an insect-eating character named Peter, who is obviously based on the novel's Renfield. And Dracula summons Diana to vampirism by baring his chest, cutting himself with his fingernail, and drawing the girl to him, to taste the wound: a sequence lifted almost exactly from the original work.. The film also uses Stoker's premise that a vampire cannot cross a threshold uninvited, and coverts Stoker's idea that a vampire cannot cross running water into the premise that running water is fatal to the vampire.

Hammer in decline.
2008-07-22 -
Although this film holds a nostalgic pull for this particular viewer, (having seen it in its original stateside release at a Drive-In)an honest assessment today compels us to admit that the film is a study of a studio in decline.

True, the film is not without its assets, not the least of which is the veteran cast, with the lovely and always dramatically compelling Barbara Shelley pretty much walking off with the picture. Suzan Farmer, as always, is charming, and very easy on the eyes.

However, Bernard Robinson's art direction, (though adequate) doesn't begin to approach his earlier work, (particulary in "Brides of Dracula," "The Man Who Could Cheat Death," and "The Kiss of the Vampire"--and Robinson's genius is of a type that the work 'adequate' sits uncomfortably upon). Curiously, Mr. Robinson was back at the top of his game months later when he designed the plushy, "Plague of the Zombies."

The cinematography is compromised by grainy film stock, poor color, (as noted by film historian Leslie Halliwell), often rushed lighting, and a cumbersome and unnecessary use of wide screen. Terence Fisher filmographer, Wheeler Dixon, has noted the deficiencies in Michael Reeds's lensing on this project. In any case Mr. Reed nowhere equals the beautiful compositions he had managed on "The Gorgon," all of which makes the absence of Jack Asher particularly evident.

That the aforesaid technical credentials are lacking bears ample testament to the studio's drastic mid 60's cost cutting strategies, and the artistically regrettable, but imminent move away from Bray studios.

Moreover, the commercial objectives are baldly evinced here--the film screams "Formula."

Despite these shortcomings, and since this film was one of the last shot at Bray, it does bear compensatory traces of former glories. Thus we fully appreciate the hapless quartet's posthumous toast to Count Dracula, whilst the armorial flags above them billow in a ghostly breeze and the underscoring throbs unnervingly.

And Miss Shelley, as a vampiress, descending the staircase in a diaphanous gown goes a far way on the asset side of the ledger.

Mr. Lee for his part, does his usual hissing and cape waving. Too much is made of his lack of dialogue here. After all he has only a few lines at the beginning of "Horror of Dracula," and a few lines in this film's successor, "Dracula Has Risen From the Grave." So why on earth people feel the absence of such scanty phrases damages this film, who can say?

This picture would have been far better had it been done five years earlier. That said, it is a masterpiece compared to the dreck the eviscerated Hammer would be foisting on the public just five years later.



Delightful Double Dose of Dracula
2008-06-19 - Christopher Lee has always been my favorite actor to portray the evil, diabolical Count Dracula. Standing at 6 feet and four inches, the handsome Lee gave Dracula a very strong, charismatic, and sensual presence that no other actor could. This double feature from Anchor Bay proves that both Dracula and Lee have survived the test of time. . . . Throughout the decades, they have remained ever popular.

Made in 1966, "Dracula: Prince of Darkness," is a strong sequel to 1958's "The Horror of Dracula." Ten years have passed since Van Helsing caused Dracula to disintegrate into ashes. Now, a faithful servant has waited patiently to kill an innocent traveler and use their blood in a Satanic ritual to resurrect Dracula. This movie has an intriguing plot but its not quite as engaging as "The Horror of Dracula." The fact that Lee doesn't speak a word is irritating. I enjoy listening to his deep, commanding voice. Dracula as the strong, silent type didn't impress me. Also annoying were his bloodshot eyes. Favorite scene: When Alan Kent is stabbed in the back, hung upside down above Dracula's ash filled coffin and his neck slit open. His poor wife Helen wanders into the cellar and discovers him hanging in this manner.

Most fans and critics will probably disagree with me when I say that "The Satanic Rites of Dracula" is the more enjoyable. Made in 1974, and set in modern London, this feature is more violent and bloodier than "Dracula: Prince of Darkness." Dracula plans on destroying the world with Black Death. He will rule over a dead world and become the true Prince of Darkness. Peter Cushing returns as Van Helsing whose daughter has been kidnapped by the vampire who wants her as his bride for all eternity. This feature is more enjoyable than "Dracula A.D. 72," which also starred Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing (the buxom Stephanie Beacham played Jessica).

"Dracula: Prince of Darkness/The Satanic Rites of Dracula" from Anchor Bay is loaded with numerous extras, especially for "Dracula: Prince of Darkness," which has audio commentary, a behind-the-scenes home movie, and a theatrical trailer for a double feature consisting of "Dracula: Prince of Darkness" and "Plague of the Zombies." Both discs contain a "World of Hammer" episode entitled "Dracula and the Undead;" this is an enjoyable feature which is hosted by Hammer icon, Oliver Reed. This double feature is a must have for fans of Dracula, gothic horror, Christopher Lee, or Hammer films.