Dracula Prince of Darkness/The Satanic Rites of Dracula

Customer Reviews:

Great film (DPOD), outdated transfer. Inserts?.......2006-10-11

I had been seeking this OOP set for a long time. I am pleased to have found one from a third-party seller at a decent price. But I can see why this set was discontinued. The two films are obviously the earliest that Anchor Bay ever put on DVD. No time/track read-out, not anamorphic (still unknown obviously), slightly faded looking and rather damaged print used for "Dracula, Prince of Darkness"; "Satanic Rites..." looks good, but who cares since it's such a poor film. Accident-prone double-sided discs for both even though these discs don't have enough extras to be dual-layered single-sided!

Also, to anyone reading this: I got a factory-sealed copy on October 10, 2006. It has no inserts. Has anyone gotten one recently with no inserts? This is the only Anchor Bay DVD I have ever seen without them (they always have reproductions of the theatrical posters), and I'm trying to figure out whether it's a mistake in the packaging of my copy, or if AB ran out after a certain point while still pressing this short-lived set, and didn't bother to print any more. Comments from owners very much sought--especially if you remember *when* you got your copy! (I have also started a discussion below to try getting information on this.)

More Bang For The Buck.......2006-07-30

Prince Of Darkness is technically the third Hammer Dracula film, the second being Brides Of Dracula. This seems to play out a bit like a direct sequel to Horror Of Dracula considering the film begins with the finale of that film. Ten years after Van Helsing put the kabash on Dracula, the community is still living in fear, so much in fact that it's now standard practice at funerals to pound a wooden stake through the corpse, bite marks or not. Four sightseeing travellers come through Dracula's old stomping grounds and are warned to stay away from his castle, so naturally this is where they end up. They're lured there by a Dracula disciple who plans to use them for both Dracula's resurrection and lunch. After Drac comes back, and wipes out one of the couples, a deadly game of bat and mouse ensues as the remaining couple try to destroy Dracula with the help of a vampire killing priest. Good stuff. Lee once again turns in a heavy performance without uttering a word(but hissing and yelling once in a while). Not as good as the first film and Van Helsing's presence is missed, but a very good Hammer flick nonetheless.
Satanic Rites is the last we'd ever see of Lee as Hammer's Dracula. Folks are split on this one. Dracula's still in early 70s London, but it's quite different from Dracula A.D. 1972. No hippy kids, no Stoneground, no "far outs", "groovies", "dig the music kids" or running from the "fuzz". It deals with Dracula(who apparently has been resurrected yet again, but we really don't know how this time) running a big operation that plans on manufacuring a virus that'll bring about a second Black Plague on the earth. Apparently Dracula's tired of his existance and wants to go out with a bang. Guess who's on board to stop him? Van Helsing's back too, and he's gonna save the entire world by whippin' some vampire ass with the help of the police inspector from the previous film as well as his grandaughter(this time played by Joanna Lumley). Satanic Rites has a bit more blood and breasts than the early films. It isn't fantastic, but I certainly wouldn't say it's as bad as some try to make it out to be. It's certainly better than alot of the vampire crap on the new release wall of your local video store, that's for sure. And of course both Lee and Cushing excellent and keep it interesting.

Warning!!!.......2006-05-14

For owners of high-definition televisions, be warned that this is merely presented in widescreen format and NOT anamorphic widescreen format.

Because this is out of print, some private sellers are asking for exorberant amounts for this. Be forewarned. I purchased it from a seller who offered it at a reasonable rate. I'm trying to complete my Hammer Films collection and "Dracula: Prince of Darkness" is a must. (I'm not a big fan of the "Satanic Rites of Dracula," but it's nice to have that, as well.) But I thought it was enhanced for widescreen televisions before I bought it and I was wrong.

I give this four stars because Anchor Bay didn't offer these films in anamorphic widescreen. While that is very disappointing, I'm still happy to own it.

lee returns as the count in "prince" and said goodbye to him in"rites".......2006-04-27

after years of not playing dracula mr lee finaly came back for "prince of darkness" and it is a better film because of it. even though he is off stage most of the time you feel his evil in every frame and this once again has a novel way to kill? our count.
rites is the last hammer dracula movie and isf not for peter cushing returning as van helsing this one wouldn't be as good. lee is good but ouly comes to life(no pun ment) when old friend cushing joins him. a very sad ending to the series.

I Bought this For "Prince of Darkness".......2006-01-02

I'm under the Review "How is this oop" I have finally got one note to "good deal with some flaws" review the print on DPOD is not that bad the widescreen looks the same as my old VHS version and the jumping bit with Diana getting out of the Carriage wasn't bad either or maybe that's not what part your talking about also the 2 world of hammer episodes being the same look at the "Mummy's Shroud/Plague of the Zombies" DVD it's 2 world of hammer episodes are also the same. All I know is that I have finally got "Dracula Prince of Darkness" on a Region 1 DVD

As for "Satanic Rites of Dracula" the only thing I like about that was the print anchor bay used for this edition waaay better than all those cheapo DVDs If your gonna have "Satanic Rites of Dracula" on DVD go for this or if you can find the oop DVD of this version

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