It\u2019s considered one of the worst movies ever made \u2014 a \u2018Plan 9 From Outer Space\u2019 of the \u201870s. But as many B-movie fans know, \u2018Dracula vs. Frankenstein\u2019 has some, uh, merits.<\/p>\n
The movie was released in 1971, and directed by the late Al Adamson, who was considered the Ed Wood of the \u201860s and \u201870s. A lot of B-movie directors like Adamson had long careers where they created a legacy of schlock and never came near the levels of A-list filmmakers.<\/p>\n
Adamson was responsible for some of the genre\u2019s most notable movies, like the insane biker film \u2018Satan\u2019s Sadists,\u2019 \u2018Blood of Dracula\u2019s Castle,\u2019 \u2018Hell\u2019s Bloody Devils\u2019 and many others. \u2018Dracula vs. Frankenstein\u2019 is probably his best-known work, and boasts among its legion of fans Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett.<\/p>\n
\u2018Dracula vs. Frankenstein\u2019 was supposed to be something different at first. It was called \u2018The Blood Seekers,\u2019 and it was so bad, it couldn\u2019t be released. So Adamson\u2019s longtime producer, Sam Sherman, decided to add Dracula and Frankenstein to the film \u2014 which ended up being a mix of monsters, hippies, bikers, a musical number, an incredible LSD sequence and lots more.<\/p>\n
Dracula here is one of the weirdest-looking vampires in cinema history, sporting a \u2018fro and goatee. He\u2019s played by Sherman\u2019s stockbroker, Roger Engel, who was given the incomprehensible screen name Zandor Vorkov for the movie.<\/p>\n
Adamson also cast his wife, Regina Carroll, who was in most of his movies, along with classic horror stars Lon Chaney, Jr. and J. Carrol Naish in their last roles, Russ Tamblyn (\u2018West Side Story\u2019), Jim Davis (\u2018Dallas\u2019), Famous Monsters of Filmland founder Forest J. Ackerman and others, as well as the original lab equipment from 1931\u2032s \u2018Frankenstein.\u2019<\/p>\n
\u2018Dracula vs. Frankenstein\u2019 probably has more bang for the buck than any other classic B movie, and it\u2019s one of the most entertaining bad movies you\u2019ll ever see.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u2018Dracula vs. Frankenstein\u2019 is fairly well known among horror-movie (and late-night) fans because of its numerous TV airings throughout the \u201970s and \u201980s. Before infomercials took over the after-hours dial, these sorta movies played all the time, and they were a great way to spend a night.<\/p>\n
So true B-movie fans know just how exciting oddities like \u2018Plan 9\u2032 and the original \u2018Little Shop of Horrors\u2019 can be. Adamson\u2019s various disasterpieces \u2014 from \u2018Satan\u2019s Sadists\u2019 to \u2018Dracula vs. Frankenstein\u2019 \u2014 rank among the finest the genre has to offer. Despite its occasional ineptitude, the movie\u2019s flawed charm fights to win you over in the end. And it nearly succeeds.<\/p>\n