OT: Canadian DRACULA, early 1970s

Here’s a true rarity that has surfaced on Youtube—an early Seventies TV version of DRACULA produced in Canada.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLNrRITJKi4&feature=youtu.be

I first heard about this several years ago on the “Monster Kids” board, but some people have been looking for this one since the original decade.

The video looks surprisingly good given the age.  I wonder if this has been prepared for an official release or if they simply decided to distribute for free online.

The first scene in the video (which starts after a pre-story segment with celebrated author Robertson Davies) is a shot through a brandy-glass--it does make me wonder if the director was a fan of DS, but our show never aired in Canada during this period.

G.

The Youtube edit is missing some scenes, possibly due to copyright issues; I am not sure about this. 

A complete synopsis with some shots from the missing portions is here:

http://taliesinttlg.blogspot.com/2015/06/dracula-1973-i-review.html

G.

According to IMDb, Blair Brown is in it. It doesn't say who she's playing though, which is odd.

In the novel there is no portrait of Dracula hanging in the castle. The inclusion of a young Dracula in armor apparently suggests to Harker that the subject of the painting is the ancestor of the Count rather than Dracula himself. I can only conclude that this is influenced by DS.

Harker, Dan MacDonald, was in Strange Paradise as the Reverend Matt Dawson.

Good one, Doctor!  I didn't even recognize Dan MacDonald in that role, and I'm a dyed in the wool Strange Paradise fanatic!

cheers, G.

How long does it last?

Patti

I made a comment about IMDb not listing Blair Brown's role. The review that was posted reveals that she was Mina. It was obvious as well when I finally watched it last night.

I started to watch it last night but got interrupted by a long phone call and didn't get back to it. But I hope to get back to it today.

What I did see (only up to the point of Dracula's reaction to Harker sucking the blood from his finger) I did enjoy...

Strange thought it may seem, I think the WB pilot is the only thing I've ever seen of Blair Brown's work.  I keep telling people I am a film illiterate but nobody believes me...

Patti, the Youtube DRACULA tape is a 35 minute or so edit.  I think the original show must have run around 52 minutes.

G.