HOUSE OF DRACULA (1945)

[krblack]

All good things come to an end, and when it happens, they aren't always good anymore. This was Universal's last straight film of the classic era with Dracula, Frankenstein, and the Wolf Man (each would return, however, for a last hurrah in ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN (1948)). In our story, Count Dracula arranges to have his coffin delivered to a scientist who specializes in blood transfusions. He's looking for a cure to being a vampire (I guess, although we aren't sure why and he seems to forget about that soon enough). Soon Larry Talbot, the Wolf Man, shows up for exactly the same reason, and the body of Frankenstein's monster is conveniently buried in a sea cave just at the bottom of a cliff nearby. There are a few clever touches--the doctor has a hunchback assistant, but she's a stunning young girl, except for the hump. The doctor has some nice moments late in the film after he has accidently received a transfusion from Dracula. But mainly the film is cursed by low energy, rote set ups and boring sets, as if the filmmakers had already written off the series in addition to slashing the budget.

By this time Dracula is too famous. If everyone knows about him, his weakness of having to sleep defenseless in his coffin during daylight hours makes him far too vulnerable. If the people do not know his story, however, it always plays out the same way, along the lines of Bram Stoker's novel. It doesn't seem very versatile. Maybe Hammer Horror thought of some variations in its 7-film Dracula series (1958-1974).

Universal Classic Horror Blog Series Rating:

4 - For everyone
3 - For horror fans only
2 - For classic horror fans only
1 - For Pete's sake
0 - Paging MST3K