At one point this was planned as a `Dracula-free' Dracula movie (along the lines of `Brides Of Dracula' or `Kiss Of The Vampire'), fortunately the American backers had more sense and demanded the inclusion of Mr Lee. I say fortunately, as I think that `Taste The Blood Of Dracula' is Lee's second-best outing in the role (just behind the classic 1958 `Dracula').
Peter Sasdy is a highly imaginative, but sadly unappreciated director and he makes the most of a strong script. The cast is impressive, a strong mixture of established character actors (Keene, Carson, Sallis etc) and fresh faces (Hayden, Blair, and Bates) and there is no weak links. Hayden (an iconic figure in the early seventies) and Blair in particular give memorable performances.
From the edgy, blackly comic pre-credit sequence on-wards, this movie rarely misses a step. The only exception being the climax, which seems to me to be more than slightly confusing and unclear. This however is just a minor grip, as this movie is in my opinion the last great Dracula movie (and head and shoulders above the previous film in this cycle, the very dull `Dracula has risen From The Grave') and a highpoint of late Hammer Horror.
Peter Sasdy is a highly imaginative, but sadly unappreciated director and he makes the most of a strong script. The cast is impressive, a strong mixture of established character actors (Keene, Carson, Sallis etc) and fresh faces (Hayden, Blair, and Bates) and there is no weak links. Hayden (an iconic figure in the early seventies) and Blair in particular give memorable performances.
From the edgy, blackly comic pre-credit sequence on-wards, this movie rarely misses a step. The only exception being the climax, which seems to me to be more than slightly confusing and unclear. This however is just a minor grip, as this movie is in my opinion the last great Dracula movie (and head and shoulders above the previous film in this cycle, the very dull `Dracula has risen From The Grave') and a highpoint of late Hammer Horror.