The Brides of Dracula Movie

The Brides of Dracula
Rating:
Run Time: 86 min
MPAA Rating:
Released: 1960
Directors: Terence Fisher
Genre/Type: Horror
Costume Horror
Producers: Anthony Hinds
Plot Synopsis by Cavett Binion
Hammer Films and director Terence Fisher followed the excellent Horror of Dracula with this well-made, richly-colored sequel which suffers only from the conspicuous lack of Dracula himself -- since Horror's Christopher Lee had declined participation in further Dracula sequels for the time being. In his stead, we have young, blond Baron Meinster (David Peel) providing the requisite vampiric threat. Though imprisoned in the family estate by his mother, Meinster is released from his silver chains by an unsuspecting French teacher (Yvonne Monlaur), through which he gains access to a veritable smorgasbord of nubile wenches at a girls' school. Fortunately, master vampire killer Dr. Van Helsing (Peter Cushing) is on the case. Besides featuring some of the best acting, photography and period detail of the Hammer Dracula series, this is also one of the first to delve into the more sexual aspects of vampirism, with implicit suggestions of incest, sadomasochism and homosexuality.

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In the novel Dracula by Bram Stoker, the brides have no names. However, in later films they were given various names. For example: in the 2004 film Van Helsing, the brides were called Verona, Marishka and Aleera.
Vampire hunter Van Helsing returns to Transylvania to destroy handsome bloodsucker Baron Meinster, who has designs on beautiful young schoolteacher Marianne. full summary | full synopsis
Well, we didn’t see enough of them! In any movie adaptation, ever! Funny, because in Bram Stoker’s classic novel, still even with limited presence, the participation of this trio of brides (or slaves?) of Dracula’s is incredibly erotic in...

Cast

Actors Character Born
Peter Cushing Dr. Van Helsing May 26, 1913 in Kenley, Surrey, England
Martita Hunt Baroness Meinster Jan 30, 1900 in Argentina
Yvonne Monlaur Marianne
Freda Jackson Greta Dec 29, 1909 in Nottingham, England
David Peel Baron Meinster
Miles Malleson Dr. Tobler May 25, 1888 in Croydon, England
Henry Oscar Herr Lang
Mona Washbourne Frau Lang Nov 27, 1903 in Birmingham, England
Andree Melly Gina Sep 15, 1932 in Liverpool, England
Victor Brooks Hans
Fred Johnson Cure
Michael Ripper Coachman
Norman Pierce Landlord
Vera Cook Landlord's Wife
Marie Devereaux Village Girl
Harold Scott Severin

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Review by Craig Butler
Dracula fans should be warned that the good Count appears nowhere in The Brides of Dracula. But the legendary vampire's absence does not prevent Brides from being a crackling good horror yarn, a vintage Hammer scarefest that may not be a great film but nevertheless is great fun. The flaws are typical of the genre, namely that the screenplay often sacrifices credibility for expediency. Characters behave as they only do in horror films, neglecting basic rules of safety and common sense so that the plot can move along. But if one can accept these shortcomings, one can have a very fine time, as the screenplay is structured along well made lines and provides plenty of marvelous scenes. Director Terence Fisher plays to the script's strengths, making all of the "money" scenes pay off and downplaying the weaker segments so that they come across more as welcome respites than as "screen waits." True, Fisher's florid style may not please all who appreciate subtlety, but it's just what is called for in Brides. And he makes those key scenes -- Van Helsing's self-cure of a vampire bite, the Baroness' plea, the escape from the grave and the climactic sequence -- quite memorable. David Peel can't compare to Christopher Lee in the vampire department, but he's more than adequate, and Peter Cushing is very welcome as Van Helsing.
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