---

The Satanic Rites of Dracula (January 1974)
Starring Cushing. Only released in the U.S. many years later under the inaccurate title Count Dracula and His Vampire Bride and saddled with an idiotic ad campaign. The last Cushing-Lee Dracula picture, and easily the most unjustly criticized, as it is one of the series' more ingenious entries. Rarely, if ever, referred to as a science fiction film, its germ-warfare experimentation subplot nudges it into that category, for my money. This French poster features a title that may translate as something like Dracula Still Lives In London.
"...Who but Peter Cushing could continually spout those often-heard lines about evil...and say them with such sincerity and finesse that they are of interest rather than so much tripe." – Ron Borst, Photon
Buy or rent it at Reel Video or Videoflicks


---

From Beyond the Grave (February 1974)
supporting part
Buy or rent it at Reel Video or Videoflicks

---

Madhouse (March 1974)
supporting part
Buy or rent it at Reel Video

---

The Beast Must Die (April 1974)
supporting part
Buy or rent it at Reel Video or Videoflicks

---

Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires (September 1974)
Starring Cushing. His last outing as Van Helsing (the original character this time, not his descendant as seen in the last two Dracula movies). Again, this is a movie from Hammer's latter days that is usually scoffed at, but is actually a reliably entertaining thriller combining their typical gothic approach with, of all things, the martial arts genre. Midway through production, the character of Dracula was written into the film, which does provide a bit of narrative awkwardness. The change of setting from England to Hong Kong helps liven things up a little, but the financial failure of the film killed plans for a follow-up Van Helsing adventure set in India. Commercial tie-ins to the film include an LP based on the screenplay, narrated by Cushing (see audio performances section) as well as a model set of "The Vampires' Temple" built by Cushing for a proposed "Hammer Museum" which never got off the ground (see the near misses section). Shown here is the Belgian poster.
"...It would be tedious were it not for the distinguished presence of Peter Cushing...." – Dilys Powell, The Sunday Times
Buy or rent it at Reel Video or Videoflicks


---

Shatter (1974)
supporting part
Buy or rent it at Reel Video: regular or letterboxed

---

Tender Dracula / La Grande trouille (The Big Scare) (1974)
Starring Cushing. A French comedy, and, despite the English-language title, the character of Dracula does not exactly appear in the film, though Cushing plays a noted horror actor who wears the traditional Dracula garb. In their book, Del Vecchio and Johnson make quite clear their opinion that this is, by far, the all-time low point of Cushing's film career. Another movie never really listed as belonging in the science fiction genre, it should be noted that it does end with rockets taking off at the end, which were previously disguised as castle towers. Or something.
"...It's an 'odd' film, I think – and may not be to everyone's taste." – Peter Cushing
Check the availability anyway at Reel Video
If unavailable, try this source (unauthorized)
But first, read MY DISCLAIMER


on to part 14

 
Original text copyright 1998 by Michael Hoaglin.
All images copyrighted by their respective copyright holders. No rights given or implied.

Questions or comments? Email me at: mhoaglin@earthlink.net

Your current location is:
http://home.earthlink.net/~mhoaglin/sfilm/artists/petercushing/filmography13.html