A Taste of Blood
Encyclopedia
A Taste of Blood is a 1967
American film, directed and produced by Herschell Gordon Lewis
. It is a horror movie that stars, among others, Bill Rogers, and Elizabeth Wilkinson. The movie was also known as "The Secret of Dr. Alucard" .
containing two old bottles of Slivovitz brandy
from his recently deceased ancestor and after drinking both bottles, becomes a vampire
. Stone uses his newfound vampire powers to keep his wife, Helena, in a trance as he travels to England to kill the descendents of Van Helsing that murdered Count Dracula
. Meanwhile Helsing's distant relative, Howard Helsing, pursues Stone with the intent to put the re-born vampire to rest for good.
1967 in film
The year 1967 in film involved some significant events. It is widely considered as one of the most ground-breaking years in film.-Events:* December 26 - The Beatles Magical Mystery Tour airs on British television....
American film, directed and produced by Herschell Gordon Lewis
Herschell Gordon Lewis
Herschell Gordon Lewis is an American filmmaker, best known for creating the "splatter film" subgenre of horror...
. It is a horror movie that stars, among others, Bill Rogers, and Elizabeth Wilkinson. The movie was also known as "The Secret of Dr. Alucard" .
Plot
A Miami businessman, John Stone, receives a parcel from EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
containing two old bottles of Slivovitz brandy
Brandy
Brandy is a spirit produced by distilling wine. Brandy generally contains 35%–60% alcohol by volume and is typically taken as an after-dinner drink...
from his recently deceased ancestor and after drinking both bottles, becomes a vampire
Vampire
Vampires are mythological or folkloric beings who subsist by feeding on the life essence of living creatures, regardless of whether they are undead or a living person...
. Stone uses his newfound vampire powers to keep his wife, Helena, in a trance as he travels to England to kill the descendents of Van Helsing that murdered Count Dracula
Count Dracula
Count Dracula is a fictional character, the titular antagonist of Bram Stoker's 1897 Gothic horror novel Dracula and archetypal vampire. Some aspects of his character have been inspired by the 15th century Romanian general and Wallachian Prince Vlad III the Impaler...
. Meanwhile Helsing's distant relative, Howard Helsing, pursues Stone with the intent to put the re-born vampire to rest for good.
Cast
- Bill Rogers: John Stone
- Elizabeth Wilkinson: Helene Stone
- William Kerwin: Dr. Hank Tyson (as Thomas Wood)
- Lawrence Tobim: Det. Crane
- Ted Schell: Lord Gold
- Otto Schlessinger: Dr. Howard Helsing
- Eleanor Vaill: Hester Avery
- Gail Janis: Vivian
- Herschell Gordon LewisHerschell Gordon LewisHerschell Gordon Lewis is an American filmmaker, best known for creating the "splatter film" subgenre of horror...
: The Limey Seaman / Voice of Baron Khron (as Seymour Sheldon) - Judy Waterberry: Ida, the maid
- Dolores Carlos: Sherri Morris
- Roy Collodi: Delivery Man
- Karl Stoeber: Man walking dog
- Thomas Rowland: Detective
- Sidney J. Reich: Arthur Morris (as Sidney Jaye)
- Barrie Walton: Telephone Operator
- Cal Bowman: Hank's golfing friend
- Doug WestonDoug WestonDoug Weston was an American nightclub owner. He established and owned The Troubadour in Los Angeles, California, USA, which in the 1960s and 1970s was particularly responsible for promoting many successful singer-songwriters in the early stages of their careers.Weston founded the club as a coffee...
: Police photographer - Jake R. Pawlson: Policeman
- Bill Kozak: Man running from tomb
Production notes
- During filming there were some errors in geography. In the nighttime scene on the ship docked in London's East End, lights from Miami Beach's high-rise hotels and apartment buildings can be glimpsed in the background.
- Lewis appears as a British sailor.
- Lewis considered this his masterpiece, which may account for the film's relatively long running time of two hours. (Most of Lewis's films run no more than 80 minutes.)