Review of The Brides of Dracula (1960) by Anthony B — 09 Dec 2007

Finally on DVD, and for 13 pounds I feel I at least deserve a commentary track or mini-documentary, but no such bloody luck.

Anyway, the film: pretty damn good, on the whole, though dated insofar as it's unlikely to scare anyone in these jaded, blood-soaked days. Having said that, there is a very painful-looking scene involving Peter Cushing (still the best Van Helsing by a long shot) and a branding iron.

Cushing is the star, although there is some strong support, particularly from Martita Hunt (David Lean's Miss Havisham) and Freda Jackson as a truly deranged nurse / midwife. It isn't easy to steal a scene from Peter Cushing - even Darth Vader failed at that - but the "birthing" scene in the graveyard is entirely Freda Jackson's (You'll know it when you see it).

Production values are pretty good, minus one awful rubber bat on painfully obvious wires and some wonky prosthetic fangs. The action scenes are excellent, however, surpassing the previous film in the series and inspiring Tim Burton's "Sleepy Hollow" in the process (while simultaneously ripping off "Oh, Mr Porter", of all things...).