Okay, Hammer experts.....come forth!

[crabapple]

Here's a photo that supposedly shows Jonathan Harker in "HORROR OF DRACULA." (Or at least, that's how I've read it in a few magazines.) Looks more or less like Harker, so that seems right. Now we all know the Hammer films were released in different versions (with different levels of graphic gore) depending on the country.

Here's the question, now. Van Helsing stakes the sleeping body of Harker in the film, which presumably would turn him into a dessicated husk like you see in the photo here. But there's no stake in the dummy's chest, as you can see. And although this is a really gruesome and wonderful looking dummy, I don't know for a fact that it ever appeared in the film. In the American version, Harker's demise occurs basically offscreen.

Was this built for HORROR OF DRACULA and never used? Is this something that ended up being a publicity still but was never featured? Is there a version of "HORROR OF DRACULA" out there that features this prop?

Or, am I totally crossing wires and is this from some other Dracula film entirely?

[alkytrio666]

I'd love to help you, pal.

Unfortunately, I'm not as familiar with the Hammers. :(

[VampiricClown]

I'm familiar with Axes, Shotguns and Wrenches. Not hammers though sadly. :(

[crabapple]

When someone steps forward and answers this question, that person will then be respected as a TRUE EXPERT OF THE FILMS OF HAMMER. Moo ha ha. I told you it was a tough one!

[zwoti]

as far as i know, there aren't any different versions


but i have no idea where my copy is :(

[Roderick Usher]

i got nothin, but I just came across this really cool one-sheet for the Horror of Dracula. It's playing as part of a vampire film fest at the Egyptian Theater in LA

[ManchestrMorgue]

Hammer seems to have had a few difficulties with the censors for this film:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A793721

However no mention of the existence of this scene.

[crabapple]

That's some fascinating reading there, thanks!

[ManchestrMorgue]

Not a problem

[crabapple]

It's nice to see that we have a few Dracula fans posting here and sharing their knowledge and stuff. I've loved this film ever since I first saw it on Halloween evening, I think it was in 1975. Still a rather scary flick, too, and lovely to look at.

[ManchestrMorgue]

Horror of Dracula was a film that always eluded me until a few years ago. I remember it being played on TV a long time ago in Australia (before VCR's were available) and unfortunately I missed it.

It became one of the films that I most wanted to see - it was never available locally on VHS (as far as I am aware) even though many of the other Hammer Dracula films were.

So I finally got to see it when it got a DVD release. I had built it up a lot in my own mind, but I wasn't disappointed. I still think it is one of Hammer's best, and so different to the Dracula films that came after it.

[crabapple]

Same for me with Amicus' "The House That Dripped Blood"--I was unable to see it until it came out on DVD. When I did get to see it, it was as good as I was hoping it was.

[ManchestrMorgue]

Amicus made excellent portmanteau movies, and The House that Dripped Blood is no exception. Then again, it's hard to dislike anything that Ingrid Pitt is in..

[crabapple]

Well, how to I sum this up really simply...okay. That movie would've been okay had Ingrid Pitt not been in it. But Ingrid Pitt definitely did not hurt that movie!

[crabapple]

Aha, I think the question is partially answered. Apparently, that IS supposed to be Harker in the photo, and the dummy was made for a shot that was in the film originally but cut from all English-language releases. So there may be, say, a Japanese print of the film out there that has this...somewhere...

[mictlan]

Crabapple, I think you have the answer. I read in an old Hammer interview (many moons ago) that Hammer did slightly different edits for the UK, US, and Japan.

The example given was the staking scene. In the UK, Dracula was bloodlessly staked and, sleeping, turned to dust. In the US, he'd bleed a bit and wake up while they hammered it in, then turn to dust. In Japan, he'd get staked, jump up, fangs bared and blood spurting, then they'd hold him down and pound it in.

I remember being very disappointed the first time I saw Horror of Dracula that the Jonathan Harker scene in the photo wasn't in the film.

I wonder if there is a Japanese version on DVD?

[crabapple]

I was thinking the same, that a Japanese copy might feature perhaps more than one scene we didn't see in the US or the UK. I would like to see a bit more or Harker's demise or Dracula's demise.

The scene with the Harker dummy was supposedly very brief, to very quickly show a basic idea of what happens to a vampire when you kill it; a second or two. This gives us some idea of what will happen to Dracula when Van Helsing vanquishes him...

Dracula's disintegration scene still survives in the English language versions but trimmed down; there is at least one long juicy shot of Lee as Dracula with his skin starting to disintegrate-- as we have seen in photos but not in the movie.

[zwoti]

Originally posted by mictlan

I wonder if there is a Japanese version on DVD?

http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-ad-77-a-49-en-15-dracula-70-1bd2-43-9.html

[crabapple]

AWESOME. thanks!!!!!

although I have my concerns that this video is the English speaking cut...and not mastered from Japanese prints. The running time in this ad says 81 minutes--a minute shorter than the American DVD. Very weird...

I wonder if, for example, there is an old Japanese laserdisc out there, or better still, a faded old theatrical print of the movie...

[crabapple]

This is really my favorite Dracula film by the way and always has been. Dracula: Prince of Darkness was a good sequel, and it looked great, and it was in widescreen...it was really NICE, but Lee had no dialogue, and he did very little besides attacking a few people...he is not the vengeful, plotting Dracula from Horror of Dracula. The first Hammer Dracula is very solid.

The thing I liked abour Dracula: Prince 0f Darkness was Philip Latham as Dracula's evil right-hand guy, Klove. That guy was flipped out. In another movie he would have been the main baddie, in this one he's sort of Dracula's opening act.

[DraculaInDallas]

Originally posted by ManchestrMorgue
Then again, it's hard to dislike anything that Ingrid Pitt is in..

You got that right!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:D

[evildemontoo]

Wow! You folks are awesome! I've never seen the movie, in any version and can't wait to get it!

Thank you!

[crabapple]

Hey there evildemontoo...from Baltimore no less! The land of Don Dohler and John Waters!

You can't go far wrong with "Horror of Dracula." It's a satisfying horror flick, even nearly half a century since it was made!

[Karras]

I've just noticed this thread.Hammer often filmed some more blood & gore for foreign markets especially Japan .The photo in question is from the Japanese version of Dracula (aka Horror Of Dracula ) which also featured a more grisly death scene for the Count .It does not exist anymore and all that remains are some grainy black & white images.
Hammer also filmed a topless Hazel Court for the European version of The Man Who Could Cheat Death .I saw it again recently at a special screening in London .Miss Court was present and appeared to be very proud .And so she should be.

[evildemontoo]

Wow Karras! I'm impressed! What do you do for a living? Are you in the horror movie biz?

- evildemontoo

[Karras]

Originally posted by evildemontoo
Wow Karras! I'm impressed! What do you do for a living? Are you in the horror movie biz?

- evildemontoo

Gee thanks .I'm a cop but my main hobby is Hammer Horror .I've been very lucky over the years and have spent time with many of the stars and directors .

[evildemontoo]

Wow that is awesome! How did you run into the stars and actors? Do you do security at shoots? You sound like a very interesting person Father Karras! lol

[Karras]

Originally posted by evildemontoo
How did you run into the stars and actors? Do you do security at shoots?

No I don't . Over the years I've managed to make many contacts through book signings , film festivals and the like .It's given me the chance to spend time with my boyhood heroes .Something I could only have dreamed of growing up in the 70's.
My most memorable encounter was with Christopher Lee at a private function .Being able to shake his hand and tell him how much his films have meant to me was simply amazing .I'm off to London in January to take part in Hammers Celebration of 50 years in the horror buisness.Brides Of Dracula & Kiss Of The Vampire are being shown on the big screen plus a new documentary and book .All that and guest stars as well .I can't wait .Detalis below.

http://www.unofficialhammerfilms.com/news/

[DraculaInDallas]

Originally posted by Karras
I've just noticed this thread.Hammer often filmed some more blood & gore for foreign markets especially Japan .The photo in question is from the Japanese version of Dracula (aka Horror Of Dracula ) which also featured a more grisly death scene for the Count .It does not exist anymore and all that remains are some grainy black & white images.
Hammer also filmed a topless Hazel Court for the European version of The Man Who Could Cheat Death .I saw it again recently at a special screening in London .Miss Court was present and appeared to be very proud .And so she should be.

I agree, Hazel Court was quite HOT for her day :D

[horrormad]

im not sure but perhaps he shoved the stake in but took it out.
then ,because all the other dracula films ho against that, they desided to take tha shot out and put a satke in his heart.
i dunno but that might be the case.

[crabapple]

I hate to be such a "houuuunnnd dawwwwg" but...

Hazel Court = Really Gorgeous.