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VAMPIRA (1973) AKA OLD DRACULA>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
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Have heard how bad this is for years, but actually found this quite enjoyable albeit silly and also noticed that 1979's LOVE AT FIRST BITE has a lot of the same plot twists. Dracula (played by a slumming David Niven) has fallen on hard times financially and has to give tours in his castle. A group of PLAYBOY models visits and Drac hopes some blood from them can revive his long dead wife. It does indeed, but one of the models is black and as a result, Vampira comes back as lovely Teresa Graves (from LAUGH-IN and GET CHRISTIE LOVE!). Can the Count return her to her normal appearance?
Am sure a lot of people would see racism in that, but to Me, it seems like Drac just wants the appearance he's accustomed to, similar to LAFB when George Hamilton is disappointed in how the woman who looks like his former love is a total party animal.
Aside from Teresa, many lovelies like Linda Hayden (TASTE THE BLOOD OF DRACULA, MADHOUSE), Veronica Carlson (DRACULA HAS RISEN FROM THE GRAVE, FRANKENSTEIN MUST BE DESTROYED, one of her last roles), Jennie Linden (Hammer's NIGHTMARE), Andrea Allan and Catherine Shirriff . Captures the flavor of early 70's London and even includes a trip to a PLAYBOY club with photos of past Playmates Janice Pennington (1971, later on THE PRICE IS RIGHT) and Marilyn Cole. ***
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