The Ending (Spoilers) - Dracula, Prince of Darkness (1966) Discussion

[–] sandcrab91 14 years ago

They never mentioned that in this movie, did they? So I think it's not part of it's mythology. I don't think this is the only Dracula that couldn't turn into a bat.

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[–] bobquack 14 years ago

He could've turned into a bat (as he did earlier in the film)but it was the end and the script called for his death by "running water" (which I've never heard before and only in this movie).

"Klaatu barada nikto"

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[–] utfan62 14 years ago

Truly, this version of Dracula must have been the easiest to destroy. I happened to catch the part the other night where the clergyman was telling someone of all the ways to kill Dracula and he must have listed 6 or 7 different ways to do it.

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[–] HombreOfAnotherEra 12 years ago

i think this is only known in the books. but when the movies were being made, the mythology never entered it.

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[–] fuad_ramses 14 years ago

At the risk of looking like a complete dork (I prefer to think of myself as a Hammer Film aficionado), it is mentioned by Peter Cushing in Horror of Dracula that it is a common fallacy that vampires can turn into bats, wolves, etc.

So in the Christopher Lee versions, Dracula does not have that ability. I don't know why they decided to go that route, but so be it.

Incidentally, I'd never hear of the "running water" death either.

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[–] ElectricWarlock 12 years ago

Yes, but in Brides of Dracula, Baron Meinster is able to turn into a bat and Van Helsing was in that film, so that's a mystery. I think it is just a tiny plothole though. It doesn't take away from the quality of the film at all.

Come, fly the teeth of the wind. Share my wings.

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[–] [deleted] 2 years ago

Van Helsing being in the movie doesn't mean its part of the same universe.

There are many vampire movies that use those characters from Dracula, and they aren't all consistent with each other.

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[–] rgcustomer 12 years ago

I'm just going to say, without having seen most of the other Dracula films, that this must be the most ridiculous vampire death ever filmed.

Who knew we could just drown them?

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[–] BuddyLove63 12 years ago

I'm just going to say, without having seen most of the other Dracula films, that this must be the most ridiculous vampire death ever filmed.

It isn't. The film says a vampire can be drowned and cannot cross running water.

Why is that any more ridiculous than being terrified of a cross?

Who knew we could just drown them?

A opposed to what? The new mythos where they are friendly, don't even drink human blood and sit around in bars or go to school and fall in love with classmates?

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[–] TorontoJediMaster 12 years ago

I have one even lamer.

In Dracula AD: 1972, a newly created vampire is destroyed by running water...When he's trapped in a shower. Seriously.

For me, in this film, it wasn't so much the running water it was the fact that Dracula -who's supposed to be so powerful and smart- is destroyed in such a comparatively in comparison to Horror of Dracula where he disintegrated in the morning sunlight, and Dracula Has Risen from the Grave where he's impaled on a cross.

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[–] www1125 12 years ago

I believe the running water theory is mentioned in Stoker's novel as well, though never used. So it's always been part of the Dracula legend.

"Do you mind if I don't smoke?" ---Groucho Marx

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[–] TorontoJediMaster 12 years ago

In Stoker's novel, it was said that a vampire couldn't cross running water. There was nothing about it being able to destroy them.

And the two later films that had vampires being destroyed by a running shower...If they go by that precedent, all you'd need to destroy a vampire is turn a garden hose on them.

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[–] www1125 12 years ago

Right, that is true. I guess Hammer just took the not being able to cross running water thing, and turned it into a way to kill them. Yeah, pretty far-fetched.

"Do you mind if I don't smoke?" ---Groucho Marx

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[–] Philhelm (472) 2 years ago

I've heard of a vampire not being able to cross running water, so it might stand to reason if it were to fall in running water it might be incapacitated. I believe Dracula was a direct sequel to Prince of Darkness, and was awakened after being frozen in the river.

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[–] millsey72 (9530) 2 years ago

A vampire death even more ridiculous was in The Satantic Rites of Dracula. He runs into some sharp thorn bush growing right outside his home and dies in the bush

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[–] rickrowlands-34179 7 years ago

I think budgetary requirements dictated that it would of cost too much for him to turn into a bat. Shame really!

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[–] millsey72 (9530) 3 years ago

Its a plot hole

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[–] radarlove73 (109) 2 years ago

I remember watching this film as a child, and even though i was scared shitless of Count Dracula i was also in awe of his power, but how he was pathetically destroyed at the end of the film ruined all that for me.

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[–] SteveRes (474) 6 months ago

Personally I enjoyed seeing Drac getting iced.

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