The Brides of Dracula (1960)

Might be the most original of the Hammer Dracula's, 20 September 2005

A young teacher on her way to an all-girls school in Transylvania becomes stranded and must accept the hospitality of the Baroness Meinster. Although the Baroness tells the girl that she lives alone, the young teacher discovers the Baroness' son chained to a wall in another part of the castle. The naive teacher is smitten by the Baron and helps him to escape. What the girl doesn't realize is that she has unleashed one of Dracula's disciples.

What Works:

- Peter Cushing. I'm beginning to sound like a broken record when talking about some of these Hammer films. I should just simply make a blanket statement that Cushing is marvelous in almost everything he ever did. The Brides of Dracula is certainly no exception. While watching Cushing's performance, I was reminded of an interview I heard with Christopher Lee where he discussed Cushing's acting idiosyncrasies and the fact that Cushing was never at rest in any scene. Just watch the movements Cushing goes through to remove a pair of gloves. Most people don't go through that kind of movement to get completely undressed. The man was like one of those perpetual motion machines.

- The Plot. Of all of Hammer's films with the word "Dracula" in the title, I've always felt that The Brides of Dracula might be the most original when it comes to plot. The whole notion of having to chain your son to the walls of a castle because you fear what he might do as a vampire if he were allowed to go free yet you bring him young women to feed upon is something you just don't see everyday in a horror movie.

- The Look. The Brides of Dracula is Hammer at it's finest when it comes to the look of the movie. The rich, vibrant colors were never better displayed than in this movie. In addition, the Meinster Castle is among the best sets I've yet to discover in a Hammer film. Instead of looking cheap and ready to fall apart if touched, this one has a substantial look to it that makes it all the more believable. It's amazing what the people at Hammer were able to accomplish given the size of the budgets with which they worked.

What Doesn't Work:

- Yvonne Monlaur and David Peel. I doubt Hammer ever made a movie with two leads that I found as unappealing as Monlaur and Peel. Neither actor works for me and both only serve to distract me from what is an otherwise incredibly enjoyable film.

- Chains? I realize this is a minor plot point, but it has always bothered me. The film makes it clear that Baron Meinster has the ability to assume the form of a bat at will. How then does his mother keep him chained with a leg bracelet meant for a human leg? Couldn't the Baron just turn into a bat and fly out of his shackle?

This is a film that all fans of Hammer should see. The film is absolutely beautiful and Cushing is as good as you would expect. If it weren't for what I consider some poor performances, I would easily rate The Brides of Dracula among my very favorite Hammer films.

7/10