A POST SHARED YESTERDAY @ the Facebook PCASuk Fan Page!
#RalphBates as Lord Courtney, lies dead on the floor of the site of the unholy ceremony in #Hammerfilms
'Taste The Blood of Dracula' (1970) ... but there's is something in
this rare colour publicity photography... that wasn't used in promotion
in the US and Europe...that doesn't fit this scene in the released
movie.... spot it? Answer / theory you'll find below -Marcus
DURING THE 1980'S PCASuk were very fortunate to meet and interview actor RALPH BATES several times. It was Ralph back in 1979, that first broke my innocence and laughed bringing attention to what he called #Hammerfilms 'Continental Version' of 'Taste the Blood of Dracula'. An alternative edit of the film for Japan and other regions, contained more violence and nudity. Ralph told us about shooting a scene at the brothel, near the end of the day. A few shots and cut aways, reaction shots, he was told. Come the fifth set up, Ralph though he was done for the day, he left his postition in his chair, gathered his things, until the floor manager called out for 'Alternatives, now please!'. Ralph was sat back down, as girls repositioned themselves, while blouses flew off in haste, ready to reshoot several set ups's minus some costumes but plus ample breasts and thighs. 'Taste' was his first film for Hammer films, and he felt he was in the process of being groomed as the latest 'face' in their lead roll roster, which for many, had proved a potential springboard for future ggod things.
THE FILM was originally not going to feature Dracula at all, much like The Brides of Dracula (1960), due to Christopher Lee
becoming increasingly reluctant to reprise the role and the producers
not expecting to be able to convince him to do so. Lee's increasing
salary demands were also a factor. Ralph Bates would have played the
lead. Sadly, the script was re-written to include Dracula after the producers were
finally able to coax Lee back to the role after "Warner-Seven Arts"
refused to back this movie without the actor's participation.
SO, now within the re-written script, lay the solution of the despatching of his what was once key player, out of the plot! The framework of Lord Courtney's gory ceremony which transformed him in Count Dracula remained, but rather than Ralph changing costume, Lordship to Count ... and dentures, to what would no doubt would have been an interesting and no doubt regal 'Prince of Darkness', Bates was instead beaten into a broken and bloody mess! It was decieded three distinguished Victorian English gentlemen taking part in the ritual would take offence to his goading, rude manners and bad form .. and beat him to death with their walking canes! Even watching this strange twist in the plot seems a weird U-turn, leading also to being Count Dracula's main plot drive to seek revenge for his dead servant, as contrived and clumsy in an otherwise quite entertaining film. Lee though sadly looks to be on casters, as he stands on the side-lines, being wheeled out of the shadows, in gardens, balconies' and from around pillars. The body count in this film six, Lee vocally tots-up four of the death total, as the wrap to each of his murder appearances! It's just weird, but kinda works, but was a terribe waste of Christopher Lee's screentime and talent.
AND SO, come the end of the ceremony, an exit of drama and horror was needed. Understand, this is just my theory although there is photographic evidence to support it. Being presented their very own goblet of Dracula's very own blood, re-hydrated almsot like a 'Pot-Noodle' using Lord Courtney's own blood, the gents who after all were there to be entertained by 'something different, exciting and jaw-dropping' refuse to drink, sample and 'taste the blood of dracula'. They in the great tradition of thugs, sadists and kinky-old men, disguised as dignified pillars of society, chicken-out. Courtney then fearlessly, knocks back his goblet contents, soon falling to the ground wrought with pain and screaming in agony. The gents angry and panicking jointly decide to do the right thing, and set about beating him to death, with their canes, to put him out of agony.
NOW AS A SCENE of frenzied violence, in Hammer's full repertoire, pardon the pun, it takes some beating! As this if this wasn't enough, and maybe this final act was also included in the script, Geoffrey Keen's character Harwood, the most frustrated, unpredictable and violent of the bunch, as seen in several on set photograps, taken at the time of shooting this scene, raises the blade of his sword stick, positions it above Courtney's heart and with force, plunges it in! Now, it could be that during the beating the other gents, Paxton played by Peter Salis and Secker played by John Carson, also contributed to the stabling and poking. There is no photographic stills or contact sheet right now, to prove that, but being just a little on the right side of meeker-man type, who through out this 'little planned titilation', has been pushed and coaxed by Harwood, to join in. All said, it woud have given a full, violent and unexpected climax, to the scene. But come May 7th 1970 on the release of 'Taste the Blood of Dracula', that scene and all, is not we see.....
THE FATAL AND VIOLENT sword stick stabbing pieces are missing! 'Taste' was one of the few Hammer Dracula films that was R-rated, Hammer were not only able to push the envelope with its depiction of
nudity, and violence, and also its dark themes. . . but only the inclusion of three elderly gents kicking, thrashing made it in the final edit of Lord Courtney's demise... stabbing with a sword, for our censors, was OUT!
-Marcus Brooks
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