MovieChat Forums > Dracula A.D. 1972 (1972) Discussion > I just invited 'The Stoneground' - I've ...

I just invited 'The Stoneground' - I've no idea who these people are!

posted 20 years ago by velvoofell
8 replies | jump to latest

Pythonesque, outlandishly stylish in parts - criminally battered out in others - 'AD, 1972' is a hugely enjoyable film. It is an excellent party movie - both in terms of subject matter and as an accompaniment to one - bearing repeated viewings.
Christopher Lee has often said that 'the Wicker Man' was his best film, but I disagree. He says he resents the Dracula character now. The British film cognoscenti laud that film because of its chronological signposting of the beginning-of-the-end of the British film industry. That film is funny in places too, but 'Dracula: AD 1972' is the old-men-of-Hammers' idea of what youth culture was like in the 1970s. Loads of RSC twits pretending to be cockney - Ben Elton, Damon Albarn and Jamie Oliver must have studied this film intensely.
Stephanie Beecham's character - to the squirming of female viewers and the anger of male audience members - dates the ugliest man in christendom in this movie. Van Helsing should have killed him first then made up an excuse: "He was an . . . ug . . . yes, that's right an ug-monster!"
'The Stoneground' - a kind of 'Mungo Jerry meets the Doors at Kenny Lynch's House' - achieve celluloid immortality - though I can find none of the tracks found here in their (only?) eponymous album.
It is true that, had the filmmakers made a cardboard standee of Lee in costume instead of including the actor no-one would have noticed. Lee does not so much "phone-in" his performance as be photographed without his knowledge and have that photograph put on the internet then beamed back in time.
Peter Cushing is the bedrock of the movie. The maestro portrays Van Helsing with calm dignity and a conviction unworthy of the manure that is the script.
The above could be taken as advice not to see the film - but don't avoid it, you'll have the time of your afterlife.

[–] 20 years ago

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[–] BijouBob8mm 20 years ago

Alas, Lee had to appear on the set rather than let the cardboard standee do all the work. I know he was rather upset with the film from the outset, especially given some of the outlandish titles for the film under consideration during preproduction. However, I have to admit to considering the two "mod" Draculas that Hammer did as guilty pleasures. It was the last time we'd see Cushing and Lee square off in these roles and, just taken on their own away from the previous pictures, they are fun...maybe not quite in the way the studio intended, but I've seen a lot worse popping up on the screen in recent years. We do get Cushing, Lee and the lovely Caroline Munro all on one bill. I was under the impression that Stoneground may have already put out their album prior to this film, which is why we don't find the tunes from here on there. (Wish there had been a soundtrack album for this film, to have had their two songs on it. Anyone remember the Amen Corner's two songs for SCREAM AND SCREAM AGAIN?)

[–] bok602 15 years ago

I just read your post and agree about Lee's embarrassment, but also want to add that AD 72 includes one of the all-time BEST images of him as Dracula in full-on animal-fury mode.

I refer to the scene in the church at the end where he comes around the altar at VH, snarling and fang-bearing. To me this is one of the most overlooked, yet iconic, images of Lee as the Count. It is surely one of the most genuinely frightening.

"If you don't know the answer -change the question."

[–] philliejack 20 years ago

Stoneground was a local favorite in the Bay area. They had three or four albums with the original lineup. Four great female singers shared lead vocals with the great Sal Valentino of Beau Brummells fame.

[–] BijouBob8mm 20 years ago

Had no idea there was a connection between The Stoneground and Beau Brummells! Thanks for the info!

[–] rmcap965-982-388208 7 years ago

Laugh,Laugh,I thought I died????

[–] LightningLad 14 years ago

Haha, yeah, it's fun.

[–] ModernDayWarrior (114) 4 years ago

Good call on the party aspect of the movie.. it's always been for me what I'd call a fun time movie. I can put it on whenever and have a good time with it and it never gets old. It's a fun vampire movie with gore and darkness but it has some 70's style and is quite fun. It's aged really well considering what all the issues they had making it.

Lee was growing tired of being forced into making them but I think he did come around to enjoying making this one.. how could he not? It's so damn fun. Plus he had some incredibly beautiful women victims to act with.. a prime era Caroline Munroe and Stephanie Beacham and her enormous.. yeah lol.

Getting Cushing back was a major coup they woulda been dumb not to do. Granted the final battle is kind of a disappointment the fact they got back together was awesome.