Christopher Lee was still riding high from his revival of Count Dracula for Hammer in the early ’70s. Theaters across the country were always looking for a good horror film to run on the screen to keep the scared teens buying popcorn. The owners desired a bit of production budget and maybe a little more sizzle to make the R-rating. The Spanish import Count Dracula’s Great Love (El gran amor del conde Drácula) had the feel of a Hammer Horror with ladies willing to bare more than their neck to the Prince of Darkness.
Two delivery men arrive at an formerly abandoned sanitarium in the Carpathian Mountains to deliver a giant crate. A doctor is moving into the recently purchased place. Instead of just dumping and running back home, one of them wants to open the crate to see if any valuables were left inside. All they find inside is a coffin with a skeleton. The greedy delivery guy looks around the place for stuff to steal. However he runs into a caped figure who takes him out. The nice delivery guy gets the ax anyway. A little later, a coach is riding past the sanitarium. Passenger Imre Polvi (Vic Winner) explains to the four ladies surround him about the foreboding history of the place. Karen (Kaydee Politoff), Senta (Rosanna Yanni), Marlene (Ingrid Garbo), and Elke (Mirta Miller) act like these are made up stories. However things get frightening when a wheel flies off the coach. Adding to being stuck, the coach driver dies while trying to fix things. This leads the passengers to seek help at the sanitarium. They knock at the door and meet a rather kind Doctor Wendell Marlow (Paul Naschy). He brings them in and lets them use his guest rooms while they figure out a way to get them to their destination. Imre isn’t in a rush as he works his magic with one of the ladies. The doctor also doesn’t mind flirting with the ladies since he’s in the mood for a bride to share his huge estate. Except she’s not going to be Mrs. Marlow. Her legal name would be Mrs. Dracula. Will anyone survive the bloodletting of his evil courtship.
Naschy was the Spanish version of Christopher Lee. He played all the legendary monsters including many werewolf movies. He doesn’t try to copy Lee’s version of Dracula as a seducer. Naschy plays his as a rather business-like creature who has issues trying to do more with women other than suck their blood. He’s like an English businessman who loses his wife to the carnal temptations of Dracula. Part of this inept nature is that he can’t use his vampire magical charms to seduce a wife. She has to give herself willingly to him. So he is a bit of a fish out of water with emotions. Director Javier Aguirre and crew make the film feel like the sets and costumes were borrowed from a Hammer production. The topless blood sucking action does let you know that this is different. Count Dracula’s Great Love is a passionate undead pick for your spooky season video fun.
The video is 1.85:1 anamorphic. The transfer brings out the wispy nature of the cobwebs and the shiny dresses of the ladies. The 2K transfer is rather sharp. The audio is DTS-MA HD mono in both English and Spanish. Either version is fine for viewing. The movie is subtitled in English and Spanish.
Commentary Track with director Javier Aguirre and lead actor Paul Naschy, moderated by Angel Gomez Rivero is done in Spanish. There are subtitles in both English and Spanish to help you understand their memories of the production.
Interview with actress Mirta Miller (8:22) covers her journey from a model in her Argentina to become an actress in Spain. The interview is subtitled.
US theatrical trailer (3:04) hints at hot women in nighties around blood. There’s a promise of horror and romance between Dracula and the women.
Still gallery (2:16) contains various posters and production stills
8 Page Booklet by Mirek Lipinski covers the history of the film.
Vinegar Syndrome presents Taboo. Directed by: Javier Aquirre. Screenplay by: Javier Aguirre, Alberto S. Insúa & Paul Naschy. Starring: Paul Naschy, Rosanna Yanni, Haydee Politoff, Mirta Miller, Ingrid Garbo. Running Time: 83 minutes. Rated: R. Released: September 27, 2016.
