Mayhem Film Festival are to present a live stage reading of an unfilmed
Hammer script as part of their 11th edition this October. The
Unquenchable Thirst of Dracula was written by legendary Hammer
writer/producer Anthony Hinds in the late 1960s but never adapted for
the screen.
Actor and film historian, Jonathan Rigby, author of the indispensable
guide to British horror English Gothic: Classic Horror Cinema 1897-2015
and Christopher Lee: The Authorised Screen History, will act as the
narrator and be accompanied by a group of actors to bring to life this
never-seen-before Hammer Dracula story, in a unique immersive ‘screenless cinema’ experience. Lying firmly in the tradition
of the classic Hammer Dracula films, The Unquenchable Thirst of Dracula,
sees Count Dracula escape to India where his evil influence is just as
insidious and powerful.
Anthony Hinds who wrote the script was the son
of Hammer Films co-founder, Will Hammer, and was famous for his work on
The Curse of the Werewolf (1961), The Phantom of the Opera (1962) and
The Evil of Frankenstein (1964). The script would have been written for
Christopher Lee at the time.
We at PCAS are wondering if this could be the script for Hammer films unproduced India themed outing for the Count, entitled Kali Devil Bride of Dracula?? With a suggested cast, loking at the poster of both Lee and Peter Cushing. See pre production development artwork for proposed above and below....
“This is a completely unique event for Mayhem, explains festival
Co-Director Chris Cooke, and a great pleasure to work with horror expert
and film historian Jonathan Rigby. He’s also a talented actor and will
be perfect as our narrator, taking a live audience by the hand and
leading them into Gothic darkness. Hammer Films have never felt more
important to the history of British cinema, so this is a
great opportunity for an audience to imagine a piece of classic cinema
that sees Count Dracula resurrected before their eyes.”
The one-of-a-kind event is made possible thanks to Hammer Films, CATH
(Cinema and Television Research Centre) and the De Montfort
University. Mayhem Film Festival takes place on 15-18 October at
Broadway, Nottingham with the support of the BFI Film Festival Fund,
awarding funds from The National Lottery.
Early Bird passes are available at discounted price of £55. For more information and to book your passes please visit: http://www.broadway.org.uk/mayhem
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