Taste the Blood of Dracula

Taste the Blood of Dracula is a 1970 British supernatural horror film produced by Hammer Film Productions. Directed by Peter Sasdy from a script by Anthony Hinds, it is the fifth installment in Hammer's Dracula series, and the fourth to star Christopher Lee as Count Dracula, the titular vampire. The film also features Geoffrey Keen and Gwen Watford. Taste the Blood of Dracula was released on a double bill alongside Crescendo, another Hammer production. It was followed by Scars of Dracula, also released in 1970. Plot In 1905, whilst travelling through Eastern Europe, a businessman named Weller is thrown from his carriage during a struggle and knocked unconscious. After regaining consciousness, he discovers it is night time. Shortly after, Weller sees a caped figure screaming in agony with a large crucifix impaling him from the back. The figure dies and disintegrates. Examining the remains, Weller finds a ring, a cape and a brooch with dried blood on it. On the brooch, he reads the name Dracula. Some time later, three gentlemen—William Hargood, Samuel Paxton and Jonathon Secker— form a circle ostensibly devoted to charitable work. In reality, they visit brothels. One night, they are intrigued by a young man who bursts into the brothel and is immediately tended to after snapping his fingers. The gentlemen turns out to be Lord Courtley, who was disinherited by his father for celebrating a Black Mass years ago.