Blacksploitation at its best
Added 10/28/2009
My parents were very active in the civil rights movement in the 50s and 60s, and my mother thought that a) Wm Marshall was very hot, and b) this was a very funny campy movie, and suggested that I watch it. I can't say that I resonate with a), but b) is definitely true.
THis movie is not serious drama, but very funny, camp, laden with stereotypes, and a lot of fun. Did I mention that it was fun? I suppose that serious students of 70s sociology could use this for source material on how the better-off segments of black america cavorted and dressed in period, but it's just planin fun (that word again) for sci-fi and vampire movie fans.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
Excellent Genre Film
Added 7/31/2009
Other reviews in this thread have thumb-nailed the history of the very interesting "Blacksploitation" films of the late 1960's - early 1970's, and there is no need to rehash that history here, nor navigate the well-turned plotting of this film. While modern audiences will find the film dated and perhaps even "cheesy," this would be unfair. As historical artifact, it is a product of its time and genre, and unarguably one of the superior contributions to "Blackspoitation" theatre. But especially noteworthy is the performance of the late William Marshall in the title role. Like Boris Karloff in "Frankenstein," his performance is not only layered, but in no way campy or overblown. His regal vampire prince, Mamuwalde, is a being who feels pain and desires redemption but who cannot transcend his monstrous condition. Marshall's restrained and even elegant imagining of the classical vampire allows the viewer to empathize with him even as they realize that his existence is a tragedy and that he must be destroyed. And the metaphors for slavery equalling vampirism are subtly woven through a generally well-written script which makes no apologies for presenting the viewer with any number of such paradoxes without offering any pat answers.
A superior film for the early 1970's, a superior example of "Blacksploitation" cinema at its very best, and a brilliant performance by the late William Marshall make "Blacula" excellent viewing still.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
Cheesy and SOOOOOOOULtastic!
Added 7/1/2009
I first saw "Blacula" when I was about 9 years old at the drive-in. Being a horror movie fan, I really didn't care much about the story as long as I got to see William Marshall change into Blacula! Watching it again 37 years later brings back great memories. I also find that the story line is actually a pretty ingenious one. "Blacula" was originally an African prince (and a really good man) who went to Transylvania to meet with Dracula, seeking his help to stop the slave trade in the late 1700's. What a big mistake! I wonder how he came up with that great idea ("Hey honey...I hear this Dracula cat is pretty cool with some clout - maybe HE can help...let's go visit him - it'll be a nice getaway!")! When the prince thought Drac was trying to put moves on his wife, the good prince tried to fight back to defend her honor and to escape the castle. That's when the evil Dracula decided to turn the African prince into a vampire. The corniest part of the movie (to me) was how he actually got the name "Blacula". 200 years later, the vampire prince makes his way to America to start his reign of terror! The story is a good mixture of camp and classic horror. It also has campy, comic-book like African American characters inspired from prototypes seen in previous Dracula movies, including Blacula himself sporting the traditional formalwear and an African American version of Van Helsing. The nightclub scene was pretty funny - with the old school Soul Train look and dancing! There was no nudity or extreme usage of any profanity in the movie, so other than a little blood here and there, it's safe for kids over 10 to watch (it is a PG movie). I enjoyed the movie, expecting some degree of corn along with it. If you go into this movie expecting nothing but good clean cheese and a little corn, you'll enjoy it too!
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
blacula= pointless.
Added 6/6/2009
this is a cheezy flick, pam grier is the only reason to watch, other than that this movie and its sequel is better to watch on cable.
0 out of 1 people found this helpful.
|
Funkadelic Vampirism
Added 3/27/2009
In "Blacula" the great William Marshall plays Mamuwalde, a debonair African prince, who visits Dracula for help in ending the slave trade. Unfortunately for Mamuwalde, Dracula does not see eye to eye with him, bites his neck and curses him to thirst eternally for blood in a coffin as Blacula. The coffin is unearthed several centuries later and taken to Los Angeles, where Blacula is finally freed and the carnage ensues. The remainder of the plot is an odd gothic romance with unique cultural elements. The film is an excellent example of early 1970's blaxploitation films, featuring prototypical clothes and hairstyles, language, and even a cameo by The Hues Corporation singing songs by Waldo Holmes who wrote their signature smash "Rock The Boat."
The film itself obviously owes much of its substance to the traditions of Dracula films, but Marshall is an excellent actor, and far from being merely a stereotype, provides an excellent performance. Unfortunately, the other actors are not in his league, and some of the supporting performances leave a bit to be desired. Marshall has an amazing emotional range, and the genuine sense of sadness over the loss of his wife is far above the standards of the genre.
The DVD has a trailer and multilingual subtitles, otherwise there are no extras. I would have loved a commentary track (although sadly Marshall passed away in 2003) or a historical documentary putting "Blacula" into cultural focus. While the film is good humored, it has a captivating mixture of genuine horror and camp value that I enjoyed. "Blacula" can be enjoyed on several different levels, and I recommend it.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
|
Scream,Blacula,Scream. only good thing is pam. pretty bad movie.
Added 6/6/2009
this is a cheezy flick, pam grier is the only reason to watch, other than that this movie and its sequel is better to watch on cable.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
"You Will Never Imagine The Pain I Offer: Unendurable, Everlasting Agony!"
Added 5/22/2009
William Marshall returns as Blacula (and his alter ego Mamuwalde) in this epic piece of 1970's filmmaking. During his diverse career Marshall (who passed away in 2003,) a brilliant classically trained actor with an amazingly rich voice, played everything from Othello to Dr. Richard Daystrom in "The Ultimate Computer," one of the better original "Star Trek" episodes. It's ironic and a bit sad that a man of such talents is best known as a vampire in the Blacula series.
This film deals with the powers of voodoo versus the powers of vampirism. The film opens with a voodoo ceremony and a dispute about the rights of successorship in a modern voodoo cult. Before long Willis, an arrogant but whiny hood, accidentally brings Blacula back to life with a some bones and a bunch of chanting. There are some explanatory flashbacks to the first film ("You shall pay, Black Prince!") and Mamuwalde quickly bites Willis, and lays down his rules, rules that Willis has a hard time dealing with.
Mamuwalde, ever the social creature, attends a party given by Justin, a policeman who is investigating some unusual homicides. Justin has a large collection of African artifacts (including some of Mamuwalde's former possessions,) and after the two talk, Justin becomes suspicious. He already believes voodoo to be involved with the murders, but quickly opens his mind to the possibilities of a vampire component as well. Later, while walking down the street Mamuwalde is apprehended by two thugs trying to rob him. I won't tell you what is said, but the exchange is a real treat (especially with Marshall's booming voice,) and the ensuing fight is short and supremely satisfying. Before it's all over Justin has some more work and more clues to deal with. During this investigation Justin looks at crime scene evidence under a microscope and determines that there is "bat pelage" present at the scene, furthering his vampire hypothesis.
Blacula tells Lisa (Pam Grier,) a voodoo practitioner that he wants her to exorcise the vampire within him. As this long (and frankly slow) ceremony starts Justin and other police officers raid the house and put stakes through the hearts of the other vampires Blacula has created, and eventually burst into the exorcism room. There is a huge brawl during which Blacula kills some police officers, all of which leads to a climax of epic proportions: Blacula is about to bite Justin, which Lisa can't tolerate, so she puts a stake through her Mamuwalde voodoo doll killing Blacula. At least that's what I figured out after re-watching it a couple of times; the actual ending is somewhat ambiguous and confusing. After a bit of writhing, the movie abruptly ends with one of the worst closing credit theme songs ever recorded.
The DVD has subtitles and a trailer, which screams for you to see "Blacula: Dracula's soul brother!" I would have loved a commentary track (especially from Marshall,) but that's only a dream. This film doesn't live up to the original in the areas of script, direction, pacing, or concept, but the acting, especially from Marshall and Grier is great, and it is a piece of 1970's movie history that any horror fan should see.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
fun old film
Added 5/19/2008
well this is a lot of fun the acting is not bad just simple it is a camp but Willaim Marshal does a good job as the Black Vampire Pam Grier is good also ther is not a lot of blood the picture quility is good no exstra,s just trailers just enjoy what it is good fun and entertainment.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
