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| Scars of Dracula | 
 enlarge | Director: Roy Ward Baker
Actors: Christopher Lee, Dennis Waterman, Jenny Hanley, Christopher Matthews, Patrick Troughton
Studio: Starz / Anchor Bay
Category: DVD
List Price: $24.97
Buy New: $5.34
You Save: $19.63 (79%)
New (30) Used (6) from $5.34
Avg. Customer Rating:  66 reviews
Sales Rank: 9901
Format: Anamorphic, Color, Dvd-video, Widescreen, Ntsc
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: R (Restricted)
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 95
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 7.6 x 5.3 x 0.6
MPN: D11466D
UPC: 013131146691
EAN: 0013131146691
ASIN: B00005KHJP
Theatrical Release Date: December 23, 1970
Release Date: August 7, 2001
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: Brand New and Factory Sealed Item Fast Shipping
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| Customer Reviews: Read 61 more reviews...
 Terrific DVD package for lukewarm Hammer Dracula flick February 28, 2002
21 out of 21 found this review helpful
For Scars of Dracula, Christopher Lee's 5th outing as the Count, Lee gets more screen time and dialogue than usual, but for most of its length SoD is only mildly diverting. The film has a drab, low-budget aura, and the script is composed mostly of recycled ideas. Roy Ward Baker (director of a number of fine genre movies, e.g. Quatermass and the Pit, Asylum, Vampire Lovers), was apparently shocked by the sadism of Anthony Hinds' screenplay, and cynically decided to give Hammer what they wanted, accounting for the even greater emphasis on bloody violence than usual for a Hammer production. Unfortunately, the overall results don't come close to Baker's usually high standard. The normally sumptuous Hammer sets are cluttery and chintzy-looking and Moray Grant's cinematography is flat and TV-like; the whole movie really looks too bright and clean to generate any real gothic atmosphere. The miniature of Dracula's castle is fairly convincing (until it's set on fire), but the splatter makeups are simply wretched, and the mechanical bat might be more effective were it not so overused and overlit. Dennis Waterman and Jenny Hanley generate little chemistry or charisma as the hero and heroine, and Patrick Troughton as Klove is just sort of there with no explanation whatsoever (though it's nice to see Michael Ripper in a bit larger part than usual as the innkeeper). Also on the plus side: a few effective action sequences and shocks, Hanley and Anouska Hempel are gorgeous, and Delia Lindsay reveals her derriere early in the film (the only bit of nudity in a movie that could've used more, if only to liven things up). Surprisingly, just when you think the movie's a goner, things pick up at the climax: Dracula's eyes glowing through his eyelids (a very eerie effect), a brief shot of Lee crawling up the castle wall as in Stoker's novel, and a rousing pyrotechnic finale. But it's pretty much a case of "too little too late." Scars really makes me appreciate the freshness and style of Freddie Francis' Dracula Has Risen from the Grave (so far MIA on DVD). While not as disastrous as some have described, Scars of Dracula just barely aces Prince of Darkness for least of the Hammer Draculas (up to that point anyway). Check out Anchor Bay's excellent Dr. Jekyll & Sister Hyde or Quatermass and the Pit DVDs to see what Roy Ward Baker can do with a well-written, original script and decent production values.
Hammer completists, Chris Lee fans, and Dracula/vampire cultists will no doubt want this for their movie collections anyway and for those hardy souls Anchor Bay once again delivers the goods. The source print for the 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer is virtually flawless, with excellent brightness, contrast, detail, and sharpness, and richly saturated, well-balanced color. There are virtually no noticeable physical defects. Extras include a very clean 1.85:1 letterboxed British release trailer, rather shabby-looking letterboxed American release combo trailer (with Horror of Frankenstein), poster/still gallery, talent bios for Lee and Baker, and an audio commentary by the star and director, moderated by Hammer historian Marcus Hearn. Erudite and opinionated, Lee tends to dominate the discussion, but all three contribute plenty of interesting information about the film and many other topics (mostly Hammer-related) as well. My copy of this DVD also came with a special `limited edition' bonus disc featuring a 1995 documentary "The Many Faces of Christopher Lee." Rather than the expected tired rehash of Lee's film appearances, the hour-long program is actually a pleasant surprise, as Christopher Lee literally invites us into his home, displays prized memorabilia and photos, relates personal anecdotes (on such wide-ranging subjects as his operatic ancestors, Bela Lugosi's ring, Rasputin, Vincent and Peter, and Fu Manchu), and even gives brief lessons on fencing and gunfighting, all interspersed with numerous clips from his films. The bonus disc also includes two lame music videos by some really cheesy lounge act co-featuring Mr. Lee (he duets on O Sole Mio/It's Now or Never in one). You'll probably view these once out of curiosity and never look at them again. In total another fine package from Anchor (unfortunately one that makes you wish the movie itself was as meticulously crafted). Three stars for the movie, five for the DVD.
"He's evil...he's the embodiment of all that is evil." June 3, 2005
19 out of 20 found this review helpful
As an ardent fan of Hammer films in general, this purchase was pretty much a no-brainer...I mean Christopher Lee reprising his role as Dracula? Color me there...and even though the film is ultimately flawed, I still had a really good time overall given this was the last time Lee would play Dracula in a Hammer film set within the period of prior films (the following incarnation would be titled `Dracula A.D. 1972', featuring a more contemporary setting). Directed by the renowned Roy Ward Baker (Quatermass and the Pit, The Vampire Lovers, The Monster Club), the film stars, as I mentioned, Christopher Lee (The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers), along with Dennis Waterman (School for Unclaimed Girls), and Jenny Hanley (The Flesh and Blood Show). Also appearing is Patrick Troughton (The Gorgon, The Viking Queen), Michael Gwynn (Jason and the Argonauts), Christopher Matthews (Scream and Scream Again), and perennial English character actor Michael Ripper (X the Unknown, The Plague of the Zombies, The Reptile).
The film opens on an ominous miniature...er, I mean an ominous castle, and we see a cape covered with red dust (the immortal remains of Dracula). With a little help from a winged friend, we witness a bit of the old reconstitution, proving once again you can't keep an evil bloodsucker down. The residents of a nearby village soon learn their nightmare begins anew, decide to take matters in their own hands by torching the castle (I wouldn't have thought stone could burn, but hey, what do I know?), despite warnings from the priest who fears that what goes around comes around...and perhaps they should have listened to him as when they return to the village, well, it's not a pretty sight. It's at this point we meet three young people, two brothers in Paul (Matthews), the philanderer type, and Simon (Waterman), the goodie-two shoes type, along with the comely Sara (Hanley), the object of Simon's desires, whereas Paul, well, his desires tend to vary, not being restricted by that whole `monogamy' nonsense. After a series of events (or as I like to call them `the dalliances of Paul'), Paul ends up at the partially charred castle (the renovation seems to be going well), not realizing the nature of the danger he's in until it's too late. Soon afterwards, both Simon and Sara come looking, and their search also leads them to the castle, to which they meet Dracula (Lee) and his less than savory, heavily eye browed (he's got the Abe Vigoda eyebrows) manservant Klove (I actually didn't learn his name until the end, and thus referred to him throughout as Uni-brow, due to the fact his two eyebrows had since merged into one, gigantic hairy entity on his forehead). The Count's hospitality soon turns to bloodthirsty lust, which leads to a climatic, almost biblical ending...
As I mentioned, while I did enjoy this film, the overall sense was that it was somewhat lacking and unfocused. The story starts off really strong, but then drops off for about the next 45 minutes or so...but that didn't really bother me much as even a half-baked Hammer film is still a lot of fun. The one thing that did annoy me a little was the introduction of so many characters that really had little to do with story as a whole. I didn't mind them being brought forth, but there was a sense within their presentation that they would be more integral than they actually were...a perfect example is that of the character of Paul, who is the primary focus as the film begins, only to disappear (we actually do see him later on hanging around the castle) about 20 minutes in basically turning into a plot device. In terms of the characters, since there were so many of them packed into this 95-minute film, there wasn't a whole lot of room for development and, as others have mentioned, chemistry was lacking between Simon and Sara. I did find it interesting how much attention was given to Dracula's manservant Uni-Brow aka Klove...talk about being used and abused (his relatively minor indiscretions elicited some very harsh punishments) . His character did have a role within the story, but not one that would warrant the amount of screen time he had...although he was featured in one of my favorite scenes as he found himself in the position of having to clean up one of the Count's `messes'...using a hacksaw, meat cleaver, and other various implements. As far as Lee, his screen presence is definitely menacing and authoritative, and has a comparatively copious amount of dialog compared to his previous cinematic appearances as Dracula...and then there are those red eyes as the bloodlust overtakes the character soon followed by the baring of the bitey fangs. The special effects ranged from so-so (the goofy looking bats) to very effective (Dracula's eyes glowing through his lids as he slept). Some have mentioned the film lacking the `gothic' feel of previous movies, and I would also agree, but while the atmosphere may not have been suitably oppressive, it still worked well for me to create a certain cinematic sense appropriate to the material. Perhaps they didn't have the budget of previous films, but it did feel whatever they did have went towards the overall production, making the most of what they had...and that's one element I've felt generally consistent with Hammer productions is while they may have been restricted in one way or another, there never seemed to be a short supply of effort and heart put forth towards the material, along with a sense of a wanting to entertain audiences...but then that's just my opinion.
The widescreen anamorphic (1.85:1) looks sharp and clean, and the Dolby Digital 2.0 audio comes through clearly. With regards to special features, there are plenty, enough to fill two discs, which is why a 2nd DVD is included. On the DVD that contains the films is featured both a UK and US theatrical trailer for the film (the US trailer is actually a combo), poster and still gallery, talent bios, and a commentary track with Christopher Lee, director Roy Ward Baker, moderated by film historian Marcus Hearn. On the 2nd disc is a 57-minute piece titled The Many Faces of Christopher Lee produced in 1995 featuring a reflective Lee in a personal setting talking about his lengthy career and providing all kinds of interesting details. This is interspersed with clips from his films, behind the scenes footage, and still photographs. He does come off as a little pompous at times, but he's certainly earned that right...also included are two music videos (?!) with Lee performing duet with someone named Gary Curtis...actually, the first video, featuring the songs `O Sole Mio/It's Now or Never, is a duet while the 2nd video, featuring a song titled `She'll Fall for Me' has Curtis doing most of the singing and Lee providing dialog within the song rather than singing. Curiously interesting, to be sure...
Cookieman108
A Must-Have for Christopher Lee fans! August 16, 2001
15 out of 15 found this review helpful
Fans of Christopher Lee and/or Hammer Films, don't wait on this one. Get the "Limited Edition" and you'll be treated to a superb bonus disc, that includes an hour-long documentary hosted by the man himself, plus two MUSIC VIDEOS featuring Mr. Lee singing! A rare treat which makes the DVD worth buying. As for SCARS OF DRACULA, it's neither the best nor worst in the series. Widely reputed as the most violent Hammer Dracula, the film has not been viewed favorably (detractors include Lee himself---check him out on the commentary track!). But if you can avoid comparing the film to the studio's earlier, superior films (particularly those helmed by Terence Fisher), you might just find a decent horror movie waiting to be discovered. As expected from the nice folks at Anchor Bay, the picture and sound quality are top-notch, surpassing DRACULA PRINCE OF DARKNESS (in my opinion). But the extras really overshadow the beautifully-transferred, but flawed film. Sink your teeth into this one, horror fans!
The Prince Returns! August 22, 2001
12 out of 12 found this review helpful
Anchor Bay has just released Hammer Dracula film No. 5 on DVD. Christopher Lee starred in 15 Dracula epics, 7 for Hammer Films. Released in 1970, shortly after "Taste the Blood of Dracula", "Scars of Dracula" is violent and sadistic, with a rapid pace throughout. An attractive young couple spends the night at a gloomy old castle, and well...guess what! Right out of Bram Stoker, the Count crawls straight up the tower wall. But rubber bats and night and day scene jump cuts damage the final result. "Scars" was the first "R" rated Hammer release in the U.S.. A clear, crisp DVD from an excellent source, the print is presented in the original aspect ratio of 1.85:1. "Scars" has an audio commentary with the director and Lee himself. The horror star looks back on his years at Hammer and plugs his new book. But there's treasure here! If you're a true Lee fan, you must have the extra DVD, "Many Faces of Christopher Lee(not available on all releases)". The 65 minute film, made by the BBC in 1995, is a masterful walk down the Christopher Lee career, and narrated by the star himself. It includes clips from many of his 250 film roles. Lee started in 1948, with a bit part as a spear carrier in "Hamlet", and will appear in the 2002 release of "Star Wars: Episode II-Attack of the Clones". In the documentary, he examines Dracula and Bela Lugosi, comedic moments from the Fu Manchu films, and memories of SNL and John Belushi. 2 videos are included; giving you scenes of Lee dancing and singing 3 songs. Towards the end, with a tear in his eye, he mentions the passing of 2 close actor/friends. They were both very noble human beings. They're names were Vincent and Peter...
 "Open the door! I've something for you!" September 12, 2004
12 out of 12 found this review helpful
"Scars of Dracula" is a sort of 'odd man out' in the series of films released by Hammer Studios in that it has no place in the continuity (rather like the final film in the series, "Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires"). Basically, it re-writes the series as a sort of alternate "part one" ... therefore, it's a good place to start for anyone who hasn't seen any of these movies before.
"Scars" opens unpromisingly, I must begin by saying, but a lame resurrection for Our Favorite Vampire is compensated by some unforgettable moments immediately following it ... there's the torching of Dracula's castle following his murder of a young girl by the frightened townspeople, who are then led by their priest to the church where they discover ... well, I can't really tell you, but you'll certainly never forget. Some time passes following this incident, and we're soon introduced to a pair of brothers, the nice Simon and the naughty Paul (who's given a most amusing introduction), our protagonists for the remainder of the feature. Paul finds himself, as a result of his high spiritedness, at Dracula's doorstep and up to his kneecaps in a sludge full of trouble, only to be followed soon afterward by Simon and the lovely girl both brothers are sweet on in an effort to save him.
Though the plot is rather thin, the film succeeds thanks to a number of striking images/scenes ... Drac gets a lot of lines, which is great because Christopher Lee has such a fantastic voice, there are some nice sets, particularly the bedroom where the stabbing occurs (love the red candles and curtains ... I want a room like that! and the stabbing, though unexplained in the movie, is certainly unforgettable). There are also some nice moments like Paul's escape from that bedroom to Dracula's resting place in a virtually inaccessible crypt hollowed into the side of the mountain ... the mere idea of being trapped there with no way out, knowing it would be just a matter of time till Dracula wakes up and having no where to hide is just awful. The sight of the former "Doctor Who" himself, Patrick Troughton, hacking up the corpse of Dracula's stabbing victim is hard to shake (I particularly like the way he whistles cheerfully to himself as he gets ready to do it, laying out his tools and setting down drop clothes in case any blood splatters). Memorable too are the sight of Dracula's iris's glowing red from beneath his closed eyelids, along with the sequence featuring him spiderclimbing up the cliffside (which we also got to see in Francis Ford Coppola's version in 1992 ... but this movie did it first!). The music is excellent, especially the violins we hear when Dracula mesmerizes his young female victims. The climax of the film too is pretty nifty, with the cross-stealing bat (helpful friends, eh?), and a final act of God that helps Simon to put a stop to the vampire's mischief at the end (this isn't a spoiler ... don't tell me you really expected Dracula to win!).
"Scars of Dracula" was the last of the Gothic Dracula films ... from the next film on, the films of the series would either be set in budget-saving modern-day England or turn of the century China (seriously!) It works very well as an introduction to the series, as I said already, as it basically re-writes the back-story, making any of the previous films irrelevant, and as it was the last of its kind it works also as a nice stand-alone Dracula tale.
The DVD I purchased here at Amazon back in 2001 boasted some great extras, all of which were greatly enjoyed by me. There are extensive biographies of both star Christopher Lee and director Roy Ward Baker (both containing a lot of "Scars" specific comments from both of them), trailers, nicely, NICELY animated menus a slideshow style photo gallery that lets the pictures float by automatically while some creepy music accompanies the images in the background, and a highly informative and critical commentary by both Mr. Lee himself and the director (who are not afraid to voice their dissatisfaction with parts of the film). But the best extra of all comes in the form of a bonus disk ... it's a retrospective look on the career of Christopher Lee, given to us by the man himself as he looks into the camera and tells us about the various roles he was privileged to play over the years. The best part comes at the end when he mentions his fellow horror film co-stars "Peter" and "Vincent". Very sweet.
"Scars of Dracula" is not a perfect movie (as several things are never explained and the bats still look fake), but it's a lot of fun, and the things it does right are done so well that they more than compensate for the things that aren't. Do yourself a favor and buy a copy today. This film and it's extras will keep you entertained for hours.
Carry on Carry on,
MN
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