Dracula: Prince of Darkness
| Dracula: Prince of Darkness | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Terence Fisher |
| Produced by | Anthony Nelson Keys |
| Screenplay by | Jimmy Sangster |
| Story by | Anthony Hinds |
| Starring |
Christopher Lee Barbara Shelley |
| Music by | James Bernard |
| Cinematography | Michael Reed |
| Edited by | Chris Barnes |
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Production
company |
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| Distributed by |
Warner-Pathé Distributors (UK) 20th Century Fox (US) |
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Release date
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9 January 1966 (UK) 12 January 1966 (US) |
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Running time
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90 min. |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Budget | ₤100,000 (approx) |
| Box office | $364,937 (North American) 854,197 admissions (France) |
Dracula: Prince of Darkness is a 1966 British horror film directed by Terence Fisher. The film was photographed in Techniscope by Michael Reed, designed by Bernard Robinson and scored by James Bernard. It stars Christopher Lee, Francis Matthews, and Barbara Shelley.
A prologue replays the final scenes from Dracula, in which Dr. Van Helsing (Peter Cushing) destroys Dracula (Christopher Lee) by driving him into the sunlight. These scenes are accompanied by voice-over narration that describes how Van Helsing, a scholar of vampirism, was able to end Dracula's century-long reign of terror and destroy his cult; only the memory of Dracula's evil remains.
The main story begins as Father Sandor prevents local authorities from disposing of a woman's corpse as if it were a vampire. Sandor chastises the presiding priest for perpetuating the fear of vampirism, and reminds him that Dracula was destroyed 10 years previously. Sandor visits an inn and warns four English tourists – the Kents – not to visit Karlsbad; they ignore his advice.
As night approaches, the Kents find themselves abandoned by their fear-stricken coach driver two kilometres from Karlsbad, in view of a castle. A driverless carriage takes them to the castle, where they find a dining table set for four people and their bags unpacked in the bedrooms. A servant named Klove explains that his master, the late Count Dracula, ordered that the castle should always be ready to welcome strangers. After dinner the Kents settle in their rooms.
Later that night, Alan investigates a noise and follows Klove to the crypt, where Klove kills him and mixes his blood with Dracula's ashes, reviving the Count. Klove entices Helen to the crypt, where she becomes Dracula's first victim.
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Wikipedia