The Satanic Rites Of Dracula (1973)

Starring Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing, Michael Coles, William Franklyn, Freddie Jones
Directed by Alan Gibson
(actor & director credits courtesy IMDB.com)

Lorrimer Van Helsing is brought in to assist the authorities in investigating a house where several British officials have been participating in satanic rites, and finds Count Dracula is involved.

Lee, Cushing, Coles, and director Gibson return for another modern day Dracula film after Dracula A.D. 1972, with the focus less on the "satanic rites" of the title, but a scheme by the Count to decimate the Earth.  Lee is his usual foreboding self and even gets to do a Bela Lugosi impression, while Cushing has some memorable scenes showcasing the character's fiery determination.  Van Helsing's granddaughter is recast with Joanna Lumley, who certainly looks beautiful, but lacks the personality Stephanie Beacham brought to the role in the previous film.  I liked the mystery angle of Don Houghton's story, but thought Gibson's direction of it gave the film a more plodding pace than previous efforts, and found many of cinematographer Brian Probyn's camera setups lacking in building excitement or suspense.  John Cacavas' score has a wonderfully evocative main title, but I was a little disappointed by the rest of it.  The climax of the film which has Dracula largely subdued by a disappointing new idea for a vampiric weakness is also disappointing, but it's still Cushing and Lee, and there's some memorable images and scenes, and I wouldn't want to be trapped in that basement with all those vampire ladies.

Dracula A.D. 1972 (1972)

Starring Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing, Stephanie Beacham, Christopher Neame, Michael Coles
Directed by Alan Gibson
(actor & director credits courtesy IMDB.com)

In modern day London, a young man succeeds in bringing about the reincarnation of Dracula, but a descendant of the vampire's greatest foe is ready to challenge the monster.

After their remarkable success at creating quality period productions in their horror films, the British Hammer studio tried something new, bringing the classic Dracula character into modern times.  Some purists might have been offended by this tactic, but this is a hard film to dislike with a number of winning elements, including the return of Peter Cushing who plays two Van Helsings in the film, again providing a dynamic counterpoint to Christopher Lee's evil count.  Absent from the Hammer Dracula series for 12 years, while a number of blander leading men filled in, Cushing is wonderful to see back, and though he's aged and not the man of action he was in Horror Of Dracula and Brides Of Dracula, he gives a dextrous contemplative performance in keeping with his age, and cinematographer Dick Bush does a masterful job of capturing Cushing's still piercing blue eyes and the intelligence behind them.  While Christopher Lee does not have a whole lot to do, he's fierce and elegant at the same time, and Neame is quite good as the young rabble-rouser who covets Dracula's immortality and power.  Don Houghton's screenplay should be credited with introducing the count to 1972 without changing the character or relying on culture shock humor, and Michael Vickers' rock-tinged score adds catchy accompaniment and excitement while still heightening Dracula's menace.