"Blacula" was released during the film-making era of the 1970's known as "blaxploitation," in which films targeted African-American audiences. This film gives the Dracula myth an interesting twist.
Centuries ago, Mamuwalde (William Marshall) and his bride Luva (Vonetta McGee) visit Count Dracula (Charles Macaulay) in Transylvania to protest the slave trade and to ask for his support. Turns out that Dracula not only dietary issues, but he's a bit racist, too. He even tries to put the moves on Luva. Mamuwalde gets a bit angry and tries to leave, but Dracula puts a stop to that. Cursing Mamuwalde with eternal damnation and a lust for blood (As well as the cool new name Blacula), he entombs him in a coffin and leaves Luva to die a lingering death at her husband's side.
Soon, we're in present day ( The present being 1972, anyway). 2 interior decorators (who really milk the gay stereotype for what it's worth) find Dracula's stuff and decide to bring it back to the good Ole USA (Specifically, Los Angeles). They also unknowingly bring along Blacula, who wakes up and has them for dinner (Literally being the first bite he's had in a long time).
Getting back into the swing of things, he sees Tina (McGee again), who looks like his late wife. At first she is frightened and thinks he's a bit nuts, but she then falls in love with him, even though he tells her the truth about himself.
Of course, Blacula's secret can't be contained. Tina's friend, Dr. Gordon (Thalmus Rasulala) and his girlfriend Michelle (Denise Nicholas) soon begin to suspect that the undead are in town and that they must be destroyed.
The film is very dated now (Looking at some of the fashions may make you blind), but the saving grace was (And is) the late William Marshall, who gave Blacula some dignity and grace despite his surroundings and ridiculous situations: When he attacks one woman, you swear he's on skates! Despite the fact that time has not really been kind to the film, the film is still a classic to me and a must have to your collection. One of the more interesting films of the blaxploitation era and an interesting entry into the vampire mythology.
Centuries ago, Mamuwalde (William Marshall) and his bride Luva (Vonetta McGee) visit Count Dracula (Charles Macaulay) in Transylvania to protest the slave trade and to ask for his support. Turns out that Dracula not only dietary issues, but he's a bit racist, too. He even tries to put the moves on Luva. Mamuwalde gets a bit angry and tries to leave, but Dracula puts a stop to that. Cursing Mamuwalde with eternal damnation and a lust for blood (As well as the cool new name Blacula), he entombs him in a coffin and leaves Luva to die a lingering death at her husband's side.
Soon, we're in present day ( The present being 1972, anyway). 2 interior decorators (who really milk the gay stereotype for what it's worth) find Dracula's stuff and decide to bring it back to the good Ole USA (Specifically, Los Angeles). They also unknowingly bring along Blacula, who wakes up and has them for dinner (Literally being the first bite he's had in a long time).
Getting back into the swing of things, he sees Tina (McGee again), who looks like his late wife. At first she is frightened and thinks he's a bit nuts, but she then falls in love with him, even though he tells her the truth about himself.
Of course, Blacula's secret can't be contained. Tina's friend, Dr. Gordon (Thalmus Rasulala) and his girlfriend Michelle (Denise Nicholas) soon begin to suspect that the undead are in town and that they must be destroyed.
The film is very dated now (Looking at some of the fashions may make you blind), but the saving grace was (And is) the late William Marshall, who gave Blacula some dignity and grace despite his surroundings and ridiculous situations: When he attacks one woman, you swear he's on skates! Despite the fact that time has not really been kind to the film, the film is still a classic to me and a must have to your collection. One of the more interesting films of the blaxploitation era and an interesting entry into the vampire mythology.