The Brides of Dracula (1960)

The Brides of Dracula (1960) is generally acknowledged as the finest of Hammer's Dracula movies, with the exception of the original Dracula aka Horror of Dracula (1958).

Christopher Lee declined to appear in this sequel, so it is rather curiously a Dracula movie without a Dracula. The never-less-than-wonderful Peter Cushing makes a return as Dr Van Helsing, however. The little-known David Peel plays Baron Meinster, a disciple of Count Dracula, and the pretty Yvonne Monlaur is his unwitting victim. There is also an appearance from the great Martita Hunt, with more than a shade of her earlier Miss Havisham (in David Lean's 1948 sub-horror Great Expectations).

The movie's success with the critics can generally be attributed to the high production values. Bernard Robinson's sets never looked more lavish, and Jack Asher's lighting and photography is stunning, the picture filled with lush, fantastical greens, reds and purples. (Incidentally, this method was costly, and Hammer were soon to replace Asher with the more restrained Arthur Grant.)

Regular Hammer composer James Bernard is missing from the ensemble; the score is by Malcolm Williamson. It's fine music in its own right, but in the film it comes across as overblown: Every time a crucifix is whipped out, the orchestra thunders in like Indiana Jones has just discovered the Holy Grail.

Still, this is a very neatly crafted and enjoyable horror film laden with memorable moments and striking images, a great testament to Hammer's capabilities.

My rating? * * * * *