NEWS: BBC FRIGHTNIGHT AIRS UNFILMED HAMMER DRACULA

Mark Gatiss directs Hammer Horror’s 'Unquenchable Thirst Of Dracula,' an unmade Hammer Horror script set in 1930s India. Lewis MacLeod (Dead Ringers) channels Christopher Lee as Dracula, whilst Michael Sheen narrates. The cast includes Nikesh Patel (Indian Summers, Midnight’s Children), Meera Syal, Kulvinder Ghir, Anna Madeley, Ayesha Dharker and Raj Ghatek and is adapted for radio by Mark Gatiss and Laurence Bowen.

Hammer Films is synonymous with horror, after defining the genre in Britain with classics including Dracula, The Curse Of Frankenstein and The Mummy. This new Radio 4 dramatisation is the first new Hammer Dracula production in 43 years and is part of Radio 4’s ongoing Unmade Movie series.

Mark Gatiss says: “What better way to celebrate Hallowe’en than with a lost Hammer movie? And not just any Hammer movie! Anthony Hind's thrillingly titled The Unquenchable Thirst Of Dracula is a wonderful, rich and atmospheric script and way ahead of its time - set in the 30s, a sort of 'Heat and Dust and Fangs'! It was nearly made in the early 70s on location in India and I was thrilled to assemble a fantastic cast headed by Nikesh Patel, Michael Sheen, Meera Syal and Anna Madeley to bring this forgotten gem to gory life.”

Michael Sheen says: "The prospect of a long lost Dracula script offering itself to me like a succulent pale neck was just too tempting. I devoured it in one sitting and cannot promise I won't strike again.”

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MAYHEM FESTIVAL BRINGS UNFILMED DRACULA SCRIPT TO LIFE : THE UNQUENCHABLE THIRST OF DRACULA

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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