4.7 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
In this spoof of the Transylvanian legend, Count Dracula, sinks his fangs into a bevy of Playboy Bunnies in order to find the right blood type to resurrect his dear-departed wife, then after a mix up in the lab, he finds he has a different kind of uh.. "problem".
Starring: David Niven, Peter Bayliss, Jennie Linden, Nicky Henson, Linda HaydenComedy | 100% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio Mono
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region free
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
“Old Dracula” (which is the North American title, released elsewhere as “Vampira”) is Britain’s answer to “Young Frankenstein,” with director Clive Donner aiming to pants the vampire genre with a mild comedy starring David Niven. While it seems like a farce, and initially plays like one, the production elects to mute its silliness with a semi-horror take on bloodsucker business, trying to be a little bit scary while maintaining gentle yuks. It’s an oddly restrained offering, with Donner perhaps unprepared to take the material where it needs to go, while the whole endeavor seems a little out of time, dealing with swinging sixties playful in 1974.
Billed as "Newly scanned & restored in 2K from its 35mm interpositive," "Old Dracula" receives a very appealing refreshing for its Blu-ray debut. The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation has plenty of detail to share as the action visits ornately decorated rooms and showcases all sorts of gothic and party outfits. Clarity is sustained throughout, picking up on fibrous textures, while skin surfaces are sharp, capturing Niven's advanced age and the parade of youthful models. Colors are equally compelling, delivering distinct reds with blood samples and costumes. More varied hues are found with period style choices and street visits, which provides hotter signage. Delineation handles well with shadowy interactions and dark clothing. Grain is fine and film-like. Source is in excellent condition.
The 1.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix supplies a basic but clear listening experience, handling dialogue exchanges without distortive extremes. Accents and attitudes are protected. Scoring is comfortable, managing changes in mood with decent instrumentation. Sound effects register as intended. Some mild hiss is periodically detected.
What "Old Dracula" does very well is provide some visual highlights, keeping the movie away from low-budget oddity as Donner invests in large sets and bright lighting, showcasing some interesting technical achievements. Costuming scores as well. And there's Niven, an old pro who knows his way around a punchline, committing to the whole experience with welcome timing, supported by a cast willing to get lively for a feature that doesn't know what to do with such energy. There's tremendous potential in "Old Dracula," which provides a premise ripe for explosive ridiculousness, pitting the vampire against a changing world of evening entertainment, sexual gamesmanship, and black power. Cruelly, the film doesn't have enough bravery required to really go for the…um, throat.
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Slipcover in Original Pressing
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