Glad to see you back, litter-mates! I am also glad that none of my cinematic recommendations from our last meeting scared you away. To anyone who may be just joining, this is number four in a series of articles called Scaredy-Cat Club Presents! They feature my top three film choices to watch during the spooky season. In case you or someone you know is like me and may not enjoy horror movies. The topics we have covered so far are It’s A Mystery, Vicious Vegetation, and 3 Werewolf Movies With A Bite!
The topic for this meeting is another fanged creature who roams the night known as a vampire! I hope you all remember to eat something that has garlic. When I hear the name Dracula, the first actor that comes to mind is the one who sets the standard for all others to follow. That name is Bela Lugosi! Since 1931, there have been many variations and retellings of Dracula’s story. Two of the films recommended feature Count Dracula. However, if it wasn’t for Mr. Lugosi’s iconic portrayal, no one would know who Dracula is or what a vampire is. Thank you, Mr. Lugosi!
I Love The Nightlife, I Like To Boogie!
This romantic comedy with a twist was directed by Stan Dragoti and was written by Robert Kaufman, Mark Gindes, and Bram Stoker (uncredited). It stars George Hamilton (Count Dracula), Susan Saint James (Cindy Sondheim), Richard Benjamin (Dr. Jeffery Rosenburg), and the very interesting Arte Johnson (Renfield).
Plot:
The year is 1979, and Count Dracula has lived 712 years, and the people of Transylvania have had enough. Both he and his servant Renfield have been evicted from his castle. The Count decides that they will fly to New York City to find Cindy Sondheim, a high fashion model he believes to be his one true love and that they will be together for eternity. Unless Cindy’s boyfriend/shrink, Dr. Rosenberg, puts an end to the couple’s bliss by driving a wooden stake into the Count’s heart!
This is just fun from start to finish! As you can tell from the trailer, there are a few cameos! The stand-out performance for me is Arte Johnson. His Renfield is an impersonation of the character played by Dwight Frye in the 1931 classic.. I’m not one for rom-com, but this doesn’t feel like it; it’s more like a sexy slap-stick! Yes, I’ll admit, even though I was a preteen when I first saw this on TV, I was and still am quite smitten with Mr. Hamilton, and after you watch this, you will be too.
It’s Good To Be Dead!
I know a few contributors at Couch Soup who would be quite cross with me if I did not add this film to the club’s watchlist simply because of the name of the writer/ director. His name is synonymous with his outrageous, over-the-top comedic style; his name is Mel Brooks! Yes, this man, who gave us such films as, Blazing Saddles and Robin Hood Men In Tights. Did it again in 1995 with the film Dracula: Dead And Loving It! It was also written by Rudy De Luca and Steve Haberman. It stars Leslie Nielsen, Mel Brooks, and Peter MacNicol.
Plot:
Count Dracula is a reclusive, mysterious aristocrat living in a Gothic castle nestled in the mist-clad mountains of Transylvania. Thomas Renfield, a lawyer, arrives at the castle to make the final preparations for the sale of Carfax Abbey. Once in the Count’s domain, Renfield finds himself a helpless slave to a blood-sucking creature of the night, who is imbued with unimaginable power! As the new owner of Carfax Abbey, he plans to spread his reign of terror throughout England.
Starting with his neighbor, Dr. Seward, his lovely daughter, Mina, and her friend, Lucy Westenra. As Dracula’s power grows, Dr. Seward calls upon his colleague Professor Abraham VanHalsing to put an end to this curse!
Similar to the Robin Hood film, this is a spoof that combines the two well-known film adaptations of Dracula’s story. First Is Dracula from 1931, and second is Bram Stoker’s Dracula from 1992. With a Mel Brooks film, you know it’s going to be great. When you add Leslie Nielsen, it’s absolute purrfection! So, watch it and see for yourself!
Being A Teenage Vampire Just Sucks!
My Best Friend Is A Vampire (aka I Was A Teenage Vampire) is a funny twist on the challenges of being a teenager. It was directed by Jimmy Huston and written by Tab Murphy. It stars Robert Sean Leonard, Evan Mirand, LeeAnne Locken, and Rene Auberjonois (as Modoc).
Plot:
Jeremy Capello was your average high school student until one day while making his usual grocery deliveries, he meets a mysterious woman named Nora who persuades him to return at midnight. What was supposed to be an exciting new experience would change Jeremy’s life forever! For it seems Jeremy has spent that night with a vampire! As if life wasn’t hard enough just being a teenager! He now has to come to terms with being living dead and drinking blood to survive. It is good that he has Modoc as a mentor, and the vampire handbook to guide him. However, will that be enough to save his best friend and his budding romance with Darla!
This is a 1980s teenage romance comedy. I loved it as a kid, and I love it now! It is fast-paced and not sappy-sweet! Rene makes a fang-tastic Obi-Wan type vampire! I really wish he’d gotten more opportunities to play one. This movie hits all the Halloween nostalgia buttons for me. I hope it does for you, too.
Oh, would you look at that! The sun’s about to rise; I guess it’s time to say goodbye! Don’t forget your shades, kitten!
Did you enjoy these picks? Are there any you would add?
