Dracula in Discotheques: Love at First Bite (1979)

I have never seen this before but I needed a 1970s film and thought it sounded interesting. It’s supposed to be horror comedy version of Dracula, takes Dracula from Victorian themed and sets him in the modern world, and was for many years the the highest-grossing independent film of all time.

This film was inspired by the hit Young Frankenstein spoof by Mel Brooks and aspired to be as good. Let’s see if is worth the hype.

We start off with a rock song and a coffin slowly opening. I really like this music, pretty sweet.

From Bones

We are in a castle, candles lit and a piano plays while dogs (or werewolves?) howl in the background. Our Dracula (George Hamilton) is playing and drinking alone. He calls to Reinfeild his servant who brings him nude-y magazines. But that’s not what Dracula wants as he tosses them in their trash. He only wants fashion magazines.

Okay 🤷🏻‍♀️

On the cover of one of the magazines is a model who is his “true love”, the reincarnation of his one true love he bit back in Warsaw in the 1800s, and in England in the 1930s, etc Looking at the magazine articles that Dracula reads off the cover of the magazine, these are jokes that would no longer hit. That’s something you only to be found in a 70s film.

Dracula’s castle has been taken by eminent domain of the Romanian government and they are going to use it as a training facility. They only have 48 hours to clear out and he can move to government housing or leave the country. He forgoes the apartment (if I was a Count I would too in Soviet Union Romania.)

Dracula calmly leaves, and I’m surprised he didn’t go Vlad the Impaler on them, but I guess it wouldn’t be comedic. When the crowd does try to swarm on them he releases some strange breath and they all move away. One old lady tried to get a shot in by hitting him with a bat but of course it does no damage. Dracula leaves with a parting shot, but the joke falls flat.

The two fly to America with Dracula in his coffin trying to get up to date on American slang and but the book he’s reading is from 1932.

At customs, Reinfeld brings Dracula and goes on about this sob story about his father dying in Africa on safari and being in pieces. It’s so good, the agent starts crying. But it turns out that he accidentally swapped coffins with another family.

Hey Sherman Hemsley is in this movie. He’s the minister at the funeral of the family that they accidentally swapped coffins with. In the middle of the service Dracula wakes up and opens the coffin with everyone taking off frightened.

Now Dracula is lost and alone on the streets of New York looking for the Plaza Hotel or a taxi. He runs into some African American people and doesn’t understand exactly what they are saying to him, but when they try to fight he takes them out and even bends a metal switchblade with his mind, and uses telekinesis to throw one right through the window.

Eventually Dracula finds his way to the plaza. And gets Reinfeld on the job to return the other body, get Dracula’s coffin, and find the model from the magazine, Cindy Sometime.

I do! Ands that’s all I’ve found funny so far in this film.

Reinfeld is dressed in horrible suit (that’s supposed to have him blend in) and heads to the model agency to try and arrange a date with Cindy. When the agency won’t tell him anything, Reinfeld threatens her with his lunch, a King a cobra.

With the address in hand and the sun having gone down, Dracula heads to the photo shoot to meet his Cindy…but first a man has gotta eat.

Dracula turns into a bat and roams the city. First he tried to feed on a woman who is in the middle of making love, but is scared off by the guy who thinks the bat is his first wife. The second family is hungry and try to capture and eat him. The third is a drunk homeless man who gives the bat alcohol. I think these scenes are supposed to be funny but they all fall flat. While I’m not really into the film I do think the makeup of Dracula is good. They actually had the same make-up artist as Dracula (1931), William Tuttle.

So Dracula is sad as he is lonely, can’t eat real food, and unable to be a part of any holiday. Imagine if Stephanie Meyer saw this, in this version being a vampire absolutely sucks. Reinfeld tried to cheer Dracula up and gives him the address of where Cindy would be, a discotheque.

Dracula sees Cindy and tries to talk to her, but she thinks he is a waiter and ignores him. Dracula uses his vampire magic to end Cindy’s phone call and tries to make his move, but she’s not really into it.

The two dance and I really like this scene. Cindy enjoys the dance so much that she invited Dracula home to her apartment which is a mess. The two make are together with Dracula biting her neck.

Later, Cindy is talking to her therapist and boyfriend Jeff Rosenberg.

Yeah Cindy is dating someone and she picked up another guy. When she tries to explain it to her boyfriend/therapist…

I know, I can’t believe she is dating her therapist, he should totally lose his license. Anyways Cindy sounds super crazy trying to explain her cheating. Like seriously Jeff, you shouldn’t be dating her, but I’m sure you’ve guessed how he rolls.

Jeff thinks that Cindy might be making it up but Cindy shows him the hickey and Jerry recognizes the teeth. Turns out his grandfather was Fritz Van Helsing-the Van Helsing. Jeff warns her that she shouldn’t dare Dracula again as if she gets bit two more times she will become a vampire as well. Cindy walks out as she thinks he’s crazy! I’m sorry, Jeff is crazy? You’re the one who said your low blood sugar made you cheat. That the FBI is adding things to your feminine hygiene products that make you cheat. You’re crazy!

That night tbe Count crashes Cindy and Jeff’s date. Jeff gives Cindy a garlic necklace but she tosses it. Jeff reveals his true identity, and Cindy is trying to figure out what is going on. Jeff tried to use a Jewish Star of David on Dracula but it has no effect. The two men try and hyponitize each other, but that also doesn’t work. Cindy gets mad and leaves, Dracula later following her and going through her balcony.

I fell asleep twice during this movie. It was really boring and I’m not sure why it was such a big hit and helped make George Hamilton a star. After the second time I was done and ended up just looking up the ending online.

So how it ends is Dr. Jeff tried to kill Dracula but is thwarted, and Cindy and Dracula run off to Jamaica. I was very disappointed as I was hoping Dracula in modern times would be more funny, like in Hotel Transylvania when they run into the humans at the end. Definitely give it a miss.

So annoying

For more on Dracula, go to Something’s Out There and It’s Killing People! And If It’s Monsters, Nobody’s Going to Do a Thing About it Except Us!: The Monster Squad (1987)

For more vampires, go to Creepy Baby, Vampire Worldwide Tour, and Psych Ending. At Least it Has Lee Pace: Twilight Saga, Breaking Dawn, Part II (2012)

For more horror-comedies, go to All Right, We Got No Choice. Call the Ghostbusters.: Ghostbusters 2 (1989)

Munster Masquerade: The Munsters (1966)

So you know what that means: Horror TV episodes Tuesday

I know this is a little odd, TV episodes on a Tuesday instead of Friday as I’ve been doing for the past few years?

Well this year October 1st started on a Friday and it just doesn’t seem right for Horrorfest to start with a review of a TV episode.

So instead we will be reviewing TV episodes on Tuesdays, TV Tuesdays.

And we are starting our TV episode pick with a Munster episode!

I used to watch The Munsters all the time on TV Land growing up and it still is one of my favorite shows. Every time I rewatch it I am amazed at how funny it is.

Although, one thing I don’t like was that later on there were some changes to Herman’s character, the writers making him be jealous all the and not so bright, really pretty childish in fact. I didn’t care much for that change.

So the story is of your classic middle class American family living in Southern California (they mention the Dodgers and there are a few other clues), the Munsters. The thing that makes this family different from the others is that the Munsters are monsters.

Herman Munster is a Frankenstein like creation, he was built in a lab and has an evil twin brother. Lily (Dracula) Munster is his wife and is both vampire and werewolf, although predominantly vampire. The two have a son, Eddie, who is also predominantly vampire, but has wolffish tendencies. There’s grandpa, Count Dracula, who is also predominantly vampire, but can also change into a wolf. And rounding out their family is Lily’s niece, who’s been adopted into the family, Marilyn Munster. Marilyn isn’t a classic monster but a beautiful blonde who the family pities because she is “ugly” (i.e. not a monster).

The Count’s son, Lily’s brother, is the wolf man and they also have a cousin Gill (the Creature from the Black Lagoon). But those monsters don’t live with them. We’ve got almost all the Universal Monsters.

This episode is one of my favorite episodes and it is the pilot, which is odd as usually the pilot episode is not as good. I do enjoy other episodes , but this is a fav with all its Munster-y goodness.

So the episode starts off with Marilyn and her boyfriend Tom. She wants him to meet her folks, but he’s not interested-he just wants to make out. He’s super disrespectful and does not take her seriously at all. I’m like dump him and find another.

Tom decided to placate Marilyn and convince his parents to invite her aunt and uncle to their Masquerade party.

I love the Munster house, I wish I lived there.

If only!

They also have one of the best themes, many of you will recognize it from “it was Agatha all along” from Wandavision or tiktok but it was cool before then.

It turns out Tom’s parents are super snobs and don’t want to invite the Munsters over at all. Tom pleads with them as he really wants to “get with” Marilyn and knows this is the only way to get her to “move forward” with him. Tom is so rude and just a major jerk. Marilyn deserves better.

Ugh…this guy

Grandpa Dracula is mad that he isn’t invited to the party and refuses to stay home and babysit Eddie. When he threatens to either change into a bat, go anyway, and make a scene; they call Tom’s parents, Agnes and Albert Daly, and ask if he can come too. Tom’s parents agree, but while they are calm and sweet to the Munsters, they talk badly about them behind their back.

The night of the party comes and with thunder, lightning, and rain. Eddie loves it and wishes the lighting would hit their house.

But this storm and sudden downpour funny is only happening over the Munster’s home, every where else it is beautiful sunny CA. Aw, I wished I lived in the Munsters house!

Soooo cute!!!!

Since all the adults are going out, Marilyn has the parent of a friend coming over to babysit. Marilyn dresses as Priscilla Alden (to go with Tom’s John Alden), Herman is King Arthur, Lily as Little Bo Peep (seen as scary to the Munsters), and grandpa is Napoleon. I think it is weird out of all the different things they could have dressed up, Tom wanted them to be two pilgrims from the Mayflower. What a boring costume. That lack of imagian should be a real clue to Marilyn to not get involved with him anymore.

I like how their clock is The Raven. when it tells what the bell rolls, it screams out Nevermore, such a good touch.

Lily warns Herman to be on his best behavior for Marilyn’s sake and he promises to be a gentleman.

Herman: I’m every inch a gentleman…several gentlemen

Over at the Daily’s house, Mr. Daley has decided to go as Frankenstein’s monster. You know what that means, hilarity and possibly mistaken identity!

Mrs. Morton comes over to babysit and is shocked at what she sees. I don’t know why people always act weird, I wouldn’t really think twice about a lot of things they say. For instance, Mrs. Morton thinks it is weird that Lily says not to let Eddie’s pet in as last time it ate the whole sofa, I wouldn’t be surprised but think it was a dog that liked to chew couches.

They get to the party and grandpa almost bites Mrs. Daley, but as she is a terrible person I actually wouldn’t mind if grandpa did it!

Eddie stays upstairs in his room and talks to his babysitter through a radio set. How cool is that? And Eddie is such an easy babysitting job. Although Mrs. Morton isn’t as into the macabre setting as I am. I like it dark and spooky.

Marilyn asks grandpa to dance with Mrs. Daley and he doesn’t want to. I’m with grandpa as Mrs. Daley is annoying. Grandpa brings up his dead wives (over a hundred) and says he still visits them. Mrs. Dailey thinks he’s drunk, but I would think he was exaggerating and just goes to the cemetery a lot. But whatever.

Marilyn tries to get Herman to meet Mr. Dailey but he’s not interested as the host should introduce himself. I’m with Herman, they should have been greeted at the door or Tom should have brought his parents over. Another sign that these Daleys are just rude and terrible people.

Herman meets Mr. Dailey, who is dressed like Herman’s real face. Herman tells Mr. Daley he looks familiar and thinks it is sad he couldn’t get a costume as Herman thinks that is his real face. Haha I love it. My favorite scene!

Back on Mockingbird Lane, Mrs. Morton hears wolf howling noises and gets freaked out, but it’s just Eddie-howling at the moon. We also see that he has a pet dinosaur, Spot.

Tom comes over to Marilyn and just tries to make time with her. She’s not having it as her aunt and uncle are not having a good time.

At the masquerade they are giving out a prizes for the best costume, a “little prize” which is a giant bottle of something. Herman gets nominated and when he takes his helmet off everyone is amazed at his “second costume” and he wins.

All seems great, but Lily decides it is time to go. She heard their comments about his “second costume”, “the mask” he is wearing and says she does not want to spend another minute there. They all storm off along with Marilyn following as she is upset with the Daleys for insulting her family. Good for you girl, family is more important.

Tom follows Marilyn as he doesn’t understand why she is made and doesn’t want to lose the groundwork he spent all night making. understand why she is upset.

Later Lily and Herman are decompressing when Tom and Marilyn arrive. Marilyn is done with him, but Tom won’t take no for an answer. He follows her in the house and unfortunately Marilyn is convinced to hear him out, going to the kitchen to make coffee.

Tom goes into the other room and sees Lily and Herman for what they really look like and gets so scared, his wig stands on end. This show has wonderful special effects, so goofy!

He runs off and Marilyn is sad to have scared another man off, but also a bit glad. I’m glad too, Tom was not for you girl. You deserve better than that.

So rewatching this series the Munsters, Herman, Lily, and Grandpa- make me think a lot of the Bennet family. They are so eager for Marilyn to be married, but at the same time their behaviors scare off a lot of the men and ruin her chances. It’s hilarious.

For more films/TV shows with all of the classic monsters, go to Scooby-Doo and the Ghoul School

Bella Becomes Obsessed With Edward and Won’t Leave Him Alone Until He Dates Her: Twilight (2008)

So I’m 29 and I remember when these books and movies came out. People were going crazy over them, girls would get in fights in the halls over team Jacob or team Edward. People would camp outside theaters to get tickets to go and see it. It was a crazy time.

I was never a fan but one of my best friends was obsessed with it, so I had a front seat view to the craziness and all the drama on and off screen.

I have never actually ever watched these films, I mean I have seen a clip or two of them but never actually watched or read them as they never appealed to me. I’m a Dracula vampire lover and want something more like that or even Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

But my niece was visiting this summer and she really wanted to watch them, so I thought why not give them a look over. And do #twihardsaturdays for Horrorfest X.

Plus people are always saying that if Catherine Morland existed today she’s be all over this series, so it is Jane Austen related. Sort of.

So this film is sooooooo bad!!! Like who, where, what, why??? Just what is this?

It is just horrible and dumb and the people they picked do an awful job. Like why did they pick Kristen Stewart to be the lead in this? She is so horrible. When she talks she pauses so much that I zone out and when the sentence is finished I’m like what were you all talking about again? What just happened?

Huh

Like ugh.

Ugh

So the film starts off with Bella moving from Arizona with her mom to Forks, Washington although the movie never makes it clear why. I know her mom is in a relationship wint a minor league baseball player (not sure if married or dating) but minor league times are pretty stagnant in one area and then just go for away games. Why couldn’t she go with them?

She gets back and meets people who she doesn’t remember except Jacob and Billy Black, Jacob’s dad. Her dad also gives her, her own truck and she’s not the nicest about it. Hey I would have loved to have my own vehicle for free instead of having to work and save up for one.

At school everyone is all about Bella although I don’t know why. She’s not friendly, she’s not stunning, she’s not witty, she’s not articulate, she isn’t super intellectual, she’s isn’t a jock, her clothing choices are extremely questionable…but everyone wants to talk to her and be her friend.

What the heck?

Like all want to be her friend-from popular girl Jessica played by Anna Kendrick, to nerdy Angela played by Christian Serrantas, the popular jock, and the newspaper editor. What’s weird for me is loooking at this film the most attractive boy isn’t Edward or Jacob but the boy who runs the school newspaper. Justin Jitae Chon portrays Eric Yorkie.

But back to the film. So everyone is salivating over Bella (I guess they don’t often get new people) including Edward the vampire. Although when he first sees her he is pretty rude and looks like he is in pain at the sight and smell of her. It’s weird that Bella wants the one guy who isn’t trying to be up in her space, but trying to stay far, far away from her…what no-Bella has a lot of issues that makes sense she would want the one guy who isn’t acting like she the hottest thing ever.

Hmm…

So Edward is “out sick” a few days and comes back and is very polite but she’s incredibly rude.

One day a car is coming toward Bella and Edward run and saves her. He tries to pretend it was nothing but Bella knows his speed isn’t normal. It is kind of a weird action to be honest, like how did he really think he would explain that?

The guy who almost hit her is a horrible driver as later he isn’t paying attention when he is parking and looks as if he will hit some other students. Maybe he needs glasses.

Hmm…

Then they go on a field trip to a nursery to look at compost. I can’t believe that a town of about ~1000 people would be willing to waste what little budget they had to go look at compost, but whatever.

I really haven’t been paying much attention to the dialogue as Kristen Stewart pauses so often between her words that I seriously start to zone out. By the time she reaches the end of the sentence I can’t recall what she started with.

Huh

They then all go surfing where Bella runs into Jacob again. She had invited Edward but he stood her up. She then gets told the Cullens can’t go on the reservation.

Bella wants to go to a “special bookstore” to get more information and when she hears her friends are dress shopping at that town she goes with them. She doesn’t try on any dresses, but you know in the end she will have a “stunner”.

To be honest this movie is really boring. I don’t really follow what is happening right now. Bella is followed by Edward and he helps save her. She also has dreams about him and is convinced they should be together. But Edward gives off MAJOR RED FLAGS.

Edward Cullen: All superhero stuff right? But what if I’m not the hero? What if I am the bad guy

Uh, girl run! He’s warning you! If a guy says this, then run run far away. But does she? No instead she does what unfortunately a lot of women do, she stays convinced that is just a wall he is putting up to protect himself. Even though he told her he is not safe or to be trusted, she decides to put all her time and effort into convincing Edward to be with her, completely ignoring him telling her that he doesn’t want to.

This really drives me crazy as Bella refuses to listen to his rejection. If the roles had been reversed and this was a woman being harassed by a man it wouldn’t be seen as romantic, the guy would be creepy. And Bella is creepy.

Then Bella does research and discovers that Edward must be a vampire, although that conclusion is pretty weird. I mean all she knows is he runs super fast, put otherwise he hasn’t exhibited any “vampire qualities”. I would be more likely to believe he is a superhero or his doctor father experiments on his foster children then to assume he is a vampire. I mean she has seen him walk around in daylight, he goes to school, he never drinks blood or has ever bit anyone. I don’t quite understand why she jumps to that conclusion.

And when I typed in cold blooded and super speed all that came up was cold blooded reptiles. Then I added reads minds and two books titled cold blooded popped up- the first is about a superhero and super villains and the second is about vampires. So vampires are not the first thing that pops up.

Edward tries to warn her off, again! He admits he is a vampire and says multiple times that she isn’t strong enough to stop him if he ever attacked her and that she could never outrun him and also mentions other very scary things about his relationship with her. Like huge giant red flags! She should just run away too!

Edward Cullen: Beautiful? This is the skin of a killer, Bella… I’m a killer.

Isabella Swan: I don’t believe that.

Edward Cullen: That’s because you believe only the lies… the camouflage. I’m the world’s most dangerous predator, Bella. Every thing about me invites you in. My voice, my face, even my smell. As if I would need any of that… as if you could out run me… as if you could fight me off. I’m designed to kill.

Isabella Swan: I don’t care.

Edward Cullen: I’ve killed people before.

Isabella Swan: It does not matter.

Edward Cullen: I wanted to kill you at first. I’ve never wanted a human’s blood so much, before

Like Bella don’t be dumb run away from him and this!

Isabella Swan: Why did you hate me so much when we met?

Edward Cullen: I did, only because of wanting you so badly. I still don’t know if I can control myself.

Uh no! This is dangerous behavior and she should stay far away.

“Edward Cullen: [to Bella] You are my life now.”

Again, no! This is one of those things that sounds romantic but isn’t really. No one should be your whole life. Having been in an abusive relationship, this dialogue really brings up some bad memories.

What Love Bombing looks like

So Edward has given in and starts doing “vampire behavior” in front of everyone which is weird. Like can you not jump on my car. And just because Bella knows doesn’t mean you should tell the whole neighborhood.

He then takes Bella to his house where his dad cooks for them Italian food as they think Bella is Italian. That’s a really weird assumption to make as Bella is just a popular name. I once had a class with three Bella’s in it, one was African-American, one was Mexican, and the other white (non-Italian).

Anyways Bella doesn’t eat and Rosalie throws a tantrum. Weird! Edward then shows her his room and house. On one area they have framed graduation caps to show all the high schools they have graduated from and again I wonder why? I mean I get they go to school for interaction so they aren’t bored at home living on and on but why high school? I mean they are 17 not 10. They could go to college and just learn a lot or get jobs like in The Highlander? Why don’t they be like in The Highlander, and just move around and have different businesses, sell them and move elsewhere. Like he had the antique shop, the boxing club, then he does antiquities again. If I was a vampire or immortal I would do antiques/antiquities or get into restoration work (like in The Age if Adalind).

It’s also weird that Edward doesn’t have a bed and he never sleeps as every single vampire legend has a time when Vampires have to rest, but whatever.

The other thing that is super weird is how Bella has not only hounded Edward into dating him but how she really, really wants to be a vampire. Like she is constantly beinging it up to him all the time trying to convince him to turn her. It’s really annoying how obsessed she is.

Meanwhile there are three vampires running around killing people. Every time I see them all I can think of is Vampires Suck

“You know who we are don’t you?”

“You’re the Black Eyed Peas?

“Why does everyone always think we are the Black Eyed Peas?

Vampires Suck! (2010)

They are roaming around and they run into the Cullens when they play baseball in a storm. Yes this scene is really weird as they are running and leaping and using their super speed. I just can’t believe the editor and then later those in the writing room thought this was a good idea.

“Rogue” vampires ruin the game, one being obsessed with Bella as all the men in this film are and wants her. They won’t give up so Edward tells her she needs to leave and go away with them, and she agrees to protect her dad.

The two stage a huge fight with Bella freaking out and yelling that she is so upset she decides to go with her mom in Jacksonville. Her dad is stunned and she just takes off. Edward hitches a ride with her and they go to Arizona where Bella goes to her old ballet studio, a room filled with mirrors when vampires can’t have their reflection seen. Like that makes zero sense Bella?!!

So I guess they can be seen? Whatever?!! This film follows no vampire lore and the lore they do have makes no sense. I’m over it and this girl.

I’m done

James attacks Bella and acts like he is going to kill her, but just bites her as if he is going to turn her-but doesn’t.

Edward comes and saves the day, but Bekka is pretty bad with a broken leg and her femoral artery has been cut. Edward’s dad tries to save her, offering to turn her vampire but Edward won’t. Instead Edward decides to suck out the vampire poison/venom. He “saves” the day, but this next scene is really troubling to me.

So Bella’s Mom arrives and Bella is at the hospital asking what happened. Bella’s mom tells her she ran off to Arizona and Edward and his dad followed her to convince her to come back to Forks, Washington. She tells Bella that Edward and Dr. Cullen found her after she fell down two flights of stairs and through a windows taking her to the hospital. They saved her life and all she has is the broken leg and the cut artery although she is okay.

I don’t know why her mother and father aren’t freaking out over that. I have never been to a hotel, and I have been to some fancy ones, where there is a window by the stairs. Usually they don’t have that. And if they did have one, why wasn’t it safety glass? And the fact she fell down two flights of stairs, yet has no other bruises or any other marks on her body to verify that? In fact this whole thing sounds like Edward is abusing her and I can’t believe her father a cop isn’t thinking that. From his point of view she and her boyfriend got into such a terrible fight she wanted to leave the state, he and his father followed her to try and get her to come back, she “fell” down two flights of stairs and a window and broke her leg and cut her femoral artery. To me it sounds like Edward followed her to try and force her back, she didn’t want to come so he threw her down the stairs. Like this story sounds like he is abusing her.

And if they do believe this story, why aren’t they asking which hotel and going down there to sue or get some recompensation for their daughter’s accident.

But in this they all go back home and everything is happily ever after.

Watching this I feel like Stephanie Meyer really liked some boy and he rejected her so in her story her main character is desired by all and convinced that everyone loves her.

All I know is this is bad and the characters are supposed to be “romantic” but all are just horrible. As this is domestic abuse survivors month, I just wanted to drop this here:

And even though this is not a film I enjoyed, the obligatory Facebook cover pic:

The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew Meet Dracula, Part II: The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries (1977)

So yesterday I reviewed part one and now we are on to the second part of The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew Meet Dracula. Before we start Part II, let’s do a quick recap. So in the ’70s they had the show The Hardy Boys/ Nancy Drew Mysteries. Each week would alternate with an episode featuring The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew. When season two came out someone had the fantastic idea to do a crossover, and they ended up doing three more. These crossovers were my favorite as I ship Nancy Drew and Frank Hardy.

So Frank and Joe’s father is missing. They start searching for him and following his notes, running into Nancy Drew who was supposed to meet Mr. Fenton Hardy (the boys’ father). It turns out that Fenton was on the track of an art thief and had connected it a rock ‘n roll star, Allison Troy, who is playing at a rock festival, the Dracula Festival. Nancy and the Boys argue about who’s investigating, the boys going undercover by joining a band and Nancy and her friend Bess travel out to Transylvania.

Inspector Stavlin, friend of Fenton Hardy, does not like the way everyone is treating Dracula and warns everyone to watch out.

Joe is on stage singing, while Frank is searching the castle and gets trapped in a cell with a person who has two pinpricks on his neck Nancy and Bess just found them. What will happen next? Is Dracula really hiding in the castle or is there a human murderer running about? Who is the art thief? And will they ever find out what happened to Fenton Hardy?

Frank tells them to hurry and get a Doctor, Bess runs while Nancy picks the lock to get him out Frank is extremely impressed.

Oh, wow…

That’s another reason why I ship Nancy and Frank over Ned. Ned in this series was just so narcissistic and always talking down to Nancy. Frank was amazing as he liked Nancy and her skills. They are just so perfect together!

So the man in the cell isn’t dead but has a weak pulse-Frank tells him he met him earlier as he is part of the town’s council and the hotel owner. Nancy spots his neck and sees the bite marks…like a vampire bite.

Meanwhile, Joe continues singing. I think Shaun Cassidy is so adorable, and as much as I like David Cassidy, he’s my favorite of the brothers.

Stavlin comes and sees the bite maks and he gets one of the police members to get an ambulence while other people help carry Berger out.

Nancy: I think it is about time we started working together.

Frank: I think so too.

Nancy and Frank leave the caverns and head back upstairs to the party. Joe is at first upset to see Nancy (he’s still not over her harpooning their waiter) but Frank tells him about their new partnership-all working together. Nancy reveals that she came there specifically to look for them, Frank is pleased (oh Frank, he has a crush on Nancy) and she shares she has some info on their father. She thinks she might have found him.

She started searching not for Hardy, but Fredricks and found him in a monastery. Some Monks found him and tried to find his family, but the only ID he had on was Fredricks.

Found in a monastery? That sounds a lot like Dracula when Jonathan Harker was discovered in a convent, having been found by nuns. I love little touches like that.

The boys are relieved he isn’t dead, but wish he was doing better. Frank leaves to speak to the monk about his father’s care and what should be done next, while Joe stays with dad. Aw, Joe cries, Joe is so cute. Shaun Cassidy is a great actor, you forget that he is acting

The monk tells frank that one day his father did recover consciousness and for a brief moment said something about caverns, but the monk does’t know what that means. He too had a vampire-like bite.

From Horror of Dracula

Nancy says what they are all thinking, Dracula. Frank is amazed she could believe that, but Nancy states she doesn’t really think a vampire has arisen, but that someone wants them to think that.

You know, in the previous post I said that these brothers were the Dean and Sam Winchester, from Supernatural, of the ’70s and now that I think about it-this episode has some similarities to “Monster Movie“.  The brothers investigating a strange occurrence at a a festival happening, the older brother trying to get with the pretty girl, and a “vampire” running amuck…interesting.

Hmm…

The boys return from their visit and drop Nancy off at the hotel, then return to the castle to search the caverns. A bat flies by…Dracula?

Back at the castle the secret passage in the “crypt” moves and someone is stalking the night. It is the person we before…could it be… Dracula?

Frank is set on it being Allison Troy as that is the track his dad was on, but Joe isn’t sure. I mean Allison is cold and a diva, but the vampire dress up and “bite” seems a it farfetched for a rock star? But then again, I already reviewed two movies about Ted Bundy and both clearly showed that you never really know people as well as you think you do.

Hmm…

The boys leave the caverns deciding to sleep on it and resume the investigation in the morning. They just narrowly escape he who stalks the caverns.

The next day the townspeople are worried about Dracula and are hanging up garlic everywhere. The detectives decide to continue searching the next day when Troy is preoccupied with the concert.

Joe takes Allison Troy’s car, but finds nothing. Meanwhile, Nancy and Frank search Troy’s room. Hmm…wonder who picked that split. I’m sure Frank is trying to be like Fred and Daphne Nancy Drew.

Nancy and Fred find a lock-pickers kit under the bed, Frank thinks they are on the right track, but Nancy isn’t so enthused…she’s thinking.

Frank wants to go to Stavlin with the information, but it seems too easy. If he is such a great criminal with these art thefts why would he do something so stupid like leaving the lock-picks under the bed.

Hmm…from The Wolfman

Everyone in town are freaking out as they think Dracula has risen. They think they should stop the concert as it is their fault that Dracula has risen again. Others say they should burn the castle.

Grab your torches and sharpen your pitchforks!

People be crazy, but Stavlin comes and starts yellling Dracula isn’t real and calms the people down and warning them that if they break any laws or abuse a guest they will be arrested.

So was it my imagination or did he previously seem to be saying Dracula is alive? But now he is telling everyone there is no Dracula…hmm. Does he believe or doesn’t he?

Hmmm…

Frank approaches Stavlin to tell them about Troy, but he is busy with the mayor. The mayor invites them to join them and share. He also gives them all steaming cups of cider.

Stavlin talks about the attacks of the last two days of two strong men being highly suspicious. But how did he know about Fenton being bit. When he spoke to the boys before he was clueless as to what had happened and Frank and Joe haven’t had a chance to talk to him yet. Hmm.

Hmm…treasure?

Stavlin warns the mayor that he might be the next victim and Frank questions why. Thanks for asking Frank as I was wondering the same thing. Stavlin says it parallels the Dracula story that has been passed on for generations, while that has nothing to do with the book Dracula, what is he talking about?

Frank brings up his father who has nothing to do with the Dracula legend. So yes, here it sounds as if he believes in Dracula being alive. Hmmm….

Hmm…

Frank and Nancy share their discoveries and what they found in Troy’s room. Nancy also shares that it feels like a frame job. Stavlin isn’t too surprised and brushes them off saying he will look into it.

He warns the mayor that he must guard his life, that the other men survived but the next, the mayor, will die.The mayor laughs him off, but I’d be worried about Stavlin.

SUPER creeped

That night the mayor locks himself in his office while Frank walks Nancy home oooohhhh

Nancy sleeps fitfully, while in his room Frank paces the room and He (the guy from the cavern, possible Dracula) stalks the night.

Someone creeps through the window watching Nancy, someone who looks very Dracula like.

Joe and Bess return, what have they been up to?, while a bat flies in to attack Nancy, a bat or vampire?!! Joe, Frank, and Bess hear her and Frank breaks the door down and picks up Nancy carrying her to safety in the hallway, leaving Joe and Bess fight it.

Nancy is understandably freaked at this vampire bat attacking her and clings to Frank ooooooooooohhh

Frank realizes the room was locked from the inside, so someone hid the bat in the room…or Dracula exists.

From “Monster Movie” from Supernatural

The group are talking in the restaurant and Stavlin overhears them. He questions them but believes Dracula is real. The Mayor’s housekeeper comes to Stavlin for help as she cannot get the master and he wont answer. All the men break the door down and find him…dead! Bite mark on his neck!

Oh, he’s not dead. He’s still alive.

Frank is trying to figure this out but the room is locked from the inside, the window has bars, the fireplace has a high fire…what, how, uh?

Wow!

So while the first episode was good, they also had a lot of setting up to do with the meet cute, them getting to Transylvania, etc. This one is far more thrilling as we either have Dracula arisen from the grave or a crazy person wanting everyone to think he’s Dracula. Either way I am stone cold invested.

The next day Troy is arrested and the concert stopped. All the townspeople cheer and wish they had listened to Stavlin about not having the rock concert in the first place. They ask about evidence and Stavlin shares about the lock-picks and that he found a map in the trunk of his car. Here Joe speaks up as he searched last night, remember and found nothing.

Bess also speaks up that she was watching Troy and his group all night and they never left the castle. Stavlin is upset but as there are all these contradictions he decides to let Troy go.

Stavlin tells the detectives that if it isn’t Dracula attacking or Troy and there was no one else could the mayor have hurt himself?

Hmm…

The mayor is offended that Stavlin could suggest it, but Stavlin ignores him and Stavlin has him arrested. Stavlin explains as a political move, which makes no sense to me. Why would he do that? How does it help him? I’m so confused. These people don’t question Stavlin but ask him to take over until they have an election.

Stalin refuses at first but at their urges acquiesces to do as the council wishes.

So after all that excitement they head back to the hotel. Frank and Nancy are doing a sort of “you hang up first” routine, making it beyond obvious to Bess and Joe that they hav feelings for each other. Joe decides to show up his brother, like always, and makes a move on Bess getting a kiss.

I can’t believe any of these guys are really going to bed. I mean I have read a lot of these books, after that exchange of Stavlin and the townspeople, they should be investigating.

Frank and Joe head back to the castle as Frank doesn’t believe in the explanation given by Stavlin, and it is really thin. How does bringing “Dracula” help his career? He’s been doing horrible ever seen Dracula “arose from the grave”. Frank wants to search the castle and Dracula’s grave.

The boys search the caverns which are spoooky.

Creepy…

Frank takes Joe to Dracula’s “grave” which reveals the secret passage, Frank goes into it, Joe following. Inside it has all the paintings from all the robberies. Joe wants to leave, he’s a bit creeped out, but Frank won’t let them as he wants to jeep searching. He finds the coffin and can’t stop as he has to open it to reveal……………………………………………………………………..

Bones!!!!!!! So yeah bones not a vampire.

Stavlin interupts them dressed in vampire clothing. Yes it was Stavlin who was stealing the art. You see they are forcing him to retire due to his age so he started stealing to create a little nest egg. He always spend all his time in the castle and used it as a special place to reenact his desire to be Dracula.

Yes, he uses the room and castle to pretend to be Dracula. That’s why he didn’t want the rock group there. Someone might go poking around and find his little secrets.

The Hardy Boys figured out how he attacked the mayor. He must have drugged the mayor’s cider, and he knew that the maid would come to him for help. He was the first on the scene and when he checked the mayor and blocked him from view to  “protect” the housekeeper he must have made the wound.

He tried to frame Troy but Joe and Bess foiled it, so he had to blame the mayor.

Stavlin locks the door and they are locked in the castle with a madman, only stopped by Nancy, Fenton, and Bess. Stavlin is surprised and he falls into the trapdoor he set up for the boys and is arrested. He’s no Dracula, if anything he’s crazy old Reinfeld.

Renfield from Dracula (1931)

Stavlin is taken away and says these crazy things like he might escape, Joe sees him pass by a mirror and doesn’t see Stavlin’s reflection.

Could he be Dracula arisen from a the grave, a real vampire, or a trick mirror?

Hmm…

It doesn’t answer that and I like that.

These are always my favorite episodes of the series and so much fun. I highly recommend checking them out.

For more Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries, go to A Haunting We Will Go: The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew Mysteries (1977)

For more Nancy Drew, go to Those Men Are Not Going to Stand for Nancy Drew Poking Her Little Nose Into Their Affairs: Nancy Drew, Detective (1938)

For more Dracula, go to Count Dracula the Propagator of This Unspeakable Evil Has Disappeared. He Must Be Found and Destroyed!: Horror of Dracula (1958)

For more Detectives, go to It’s a Weird Case from the Start. A Case With a Hole in the Center: Knives Out (2019)

For more mysteries, go to One Day You’ll See Something You Shouldn’t: Rear Window (1954)

The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew Meet Dracula, Part I: The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries (1977)

So I love Nancy Drew.

Time to get on the case!

I grew up reading The Nancy Drew Case Files and loved it-my favorites being the crossover mysteries with the Hardy Boys. Now I know Nancy and Ned are meant to be together, but I have to admit-I really want Frank and Nancy to end up together. They are just so cute together!

So this episode is from the TV series, The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew Mysteries. This show came out in the 1970s, the first season alternating every week between the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew. The second season saw four crossover episodes, and only three Nancy Drew as the actresses playing her left the series. Season three was reworked to be just the Hardy Boys. I first discovered this show when I bought an old VHS with an episode on it, “A Haunting We Will Go“, at a library book sale.

It was a good series while it lasted, I just wish there had been more. If you are interested in watching, all these episodes are currently on youtube, here’s the link if you want to watch this one. I actually preferred the Nancy Drew episodes to the Hardy Boys, I mean I love Parker Stevenson and Shaun Cassidy but the Hardy Boys always solved CIA, Interpol, spy mysteries and I liked that you never knew what you were going to get with Nancy Drew-embezzlement, theft, murder, etc.

But my favorite of all the episodes were the crossovers episodes, this being the first of them, in fact the very first time any Hardy Boy and Nancy Drew crossover happened. So enough intro, let’s get on to the review:

Mystery, you say?

At the beginning of every episode we see the Universal logo. I’ve always wondered why they haven’t remade it, I would watch it. But then again they would probably mess it up like they did with Nancy Drew (2007) film.

So to start we have the awesome intro and amazing intro music.

I love the setup, and I espechially love the book covers in the background and that music. Ooh! It sends shivers up an down my spine and gets me in the mood for a mystery.

Creepy…

We start off with Fenton Hardy (father of the Hardy Boys) driving up to Dracula’s castle in a taxi, the driver complaining about the American Rock singer using Dracula’s castle.

The taxi driver/caretaker warns Mr. Hardy not to go inside-its very old and possibly cursed. The caretaker won’t stay as he s too afraid, and tells Mr. Hardy he will wait for him at the bottom oft hill. Good-bye.

See ya!

Mr. Hardy goes into the castle and a bat flies at him, Dracula?

He looks round but doesn’t spot anything, hmm.

Hmmm…from The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.

But we see that someone is behind him. Mr. Hardy drops his flashlight and lights a torch finding a skeleton in the passage of the castle he is searching, but before he can look further the person following him knocks him out cold.

That’s not good.

We move to Paris 5 days later. Joe (Shaun Cassidy) and Frank (Parker Stevenson) have arrived to the morgue as they lost contact with their dad and was notified of a body that fit his description. They go to to see if it is their father but it isn’t him, thankfully. They are happy he isn’t dead, but that begs the question what happened to him, and where is he?

Can I stop and talk about how adorable these guys are. I love both of them and their portrayal is spot on. They are not only entertaining but completely believable as brothers-at times I forget they aren’t really siblings. They are the Dean and Sam (Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki) of the ’70s.  Okay, now we can go back to the episode.

They go the hotel their father had rented a room in and spot a band playing outside, The Circus.

They go to their father’s room, but someone is inside searching it, it is Inspector Stavlin (Lorne Green) of the Romanian police. He was working with their father and trying to solve the case of art thefts occurring throughout Europe. Mr. Hardy called Stavlin to join him in Paris as he had a lead, but after that Stavlin hasn’t heard from him since.

That’s not good.

Stavlin encourages them to give up and go home, Obviously, he doesn’t know the Hardy boys very well as they are totally going to continue to go after their father. Stalin leaves as he has to return to Transylvania.

Joe is more superstitious and that perks him up right away, Transylvania as in Dracula?

The boys search the room and find their dad’s notebook in his usual hiding spot.

There is a list of dates on the art thefts, and something else was booked at the same time. There is a meeting note, which the boys intend to keep:

Munich

Meet at the Ritz

June 11 5:00 pm

Book Rm 301

Name Fredricks

There is also another note on about a Dracula Festival on June 12th. That sounds awesome.

They pay the band they spotted earlier, to join them. Of course the band is down for it as they will be making money. Joe is going to sing and first he is upset that Frank threw him out into it like that- but of course he can sing, he’s a Cassidy after all. And it turns out they are headed to the same Dracula festival-fantastic. They boys head to Munich and arrive on June 10th, just in time for the meeting. Frank sweet talks the concierge and gets the room. The boys leave their stuff and stop to get something to eat.

Meanwhile, Nancy Drew (Pamela Sue Martin) has arrived and is shock to hear there are a group instead of a man in Rm 302. She is traveling with Bess which is odd, as Nancy never brought her friends with her on “serious” cases, usually they were with her when things turned into a case.

Hmm…

Nancy is upset to hear that there are young men in the room instead of a 40-year old man. They send the suitcases back to the desk. Bess questions how does Nancy know that she hasn’t sent the contact away, but as they aren’t an older man so she doesn’t care.

From Mean Girls

I’m with Bess, that doesn’t seem like a good idea Nancy. What if your contact sent someone else in his place? What I would have done was stayed in the room and ordered room service until I could talk to the guys.

Frank spots the bellman and grabs their luggage sending them back up in the room. Meanwhile Joe is still trying to get the attention of a waiter, but no dice. Frank questions if it is his father, but finds out it is ladies. He sends the girls’ stuff down.

Joe tries to order but his waiter is stolen by Nancy. This exchange is hilarious and as Frank comes back in a bad mood because of the luggage, and it develops when there is no food on the table. Him being upset with Joe was so realistic, like real siblings. No joke, this is me and my sister.

From The Awful Truth

Meanwhile, Nancy has spotted her bags being taken down and sends her bags upstairs. She’s had enough and leaves Bess downstairs to eat while she heads up to the room. Frank and Joe also decide to go upstairs as they are tired of this too. Sharing the elevator, Frank is very into Nancy and tries to talk her up-but she’s in a hurry and Nancy brushes him off. Joe is upset with her as she stole their waiter. Frank is hurt to lose a chance with a beautiful girl, but Joe consoles him as he’ll see her again-she has the same room as them.

Nancy: What do you want? What are you doing in my room?

Joe: We want our waiter back

Frank: Joe!

Hilarious!!!! If I was Nancy I think I’d be a freaked out that this boy has diner rage to follow me my room. Like, this guy is crazy.

You are crazy From The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

Frank tells her this is their room. Then he threatens to take the bags out himself if Nancy doesn’t leave and when he tries to touch her luggage-Nancy does a Judo flip on him. I love how Frank and Joe are impressed with Nancy’s skills, as for Frank he likes her even more.

Of course they hash it out and discover that Nancy is the one supposed to meet their father.The boys share that he is missing and they are searching for him.  Nancy tells them she got on the case through her father. She and her friend were in Paris taking a summer class (that’s why Bess is with her) when one of her father’s client’s painting was stolen. It turned out to be one in a series and Nancy started to investigate it and came across Fenton Hardy. She spoke to Fenton 10 days ago, and he told her that he discovered that the rock group Allison Troy was always in the city that the art was stolen from. They believe it to be either Allison Troy or a member of his entourage. Nancy is set on taking over the case herself, but Frank and Joe aren’t letting go. As they have an in with the Dracula rock concert, they think Nancy should stay behind.

Nancy won’t be left behind as she is heading to Transylvania as well. She storms off to collect Bess.

Nancy Drew: Come on we have an appointment to keep.

Bess Marvin: With who?

Nancy Drew: Dracula

So the boys arrive at the castle a day early and it is a dark, spooky, rainy, and chilly night, of course it is as it is the Dracula’s castle. The band is too freaked that they head down to the town to relax.

Inspector Stavlin is at the hotel with the town council and is not happy about this concert and them using Dracula is such a way. No one else heads his warnings of troubles coming as everyone else is happy with the money coming in. Hotel’s almost sold out, restaurants packed, shops are doing good, etc.

The boys spot the Inspector and meet the mayor and the rest of the council. Stavlin continues to share his disgust at the idea of the Dracula festival. The mayor is making fun of him and asks who he fears…Dracula, coming for revenge? Stavlin states he isn’t afraid, but that the others should have more respect…Dracula desires it or else.

Frank shares that they found their father’s notebook and that their father had written about the festival. Stavlin thanks them for sharing and tells them if they find anything else to come to him.

When the boys sign in Joe spots that a B. Fredricks registered at the same hotel. So if his father came and was such good friends with Stavlin, why didn’t he meet him there? Is their father still there? Kidnapped? Dead?

Hmmm…

June 12th arrives and so starts the rock concert. Allison Troy is dressed up in a Dracula style outfit and has a party with many people dressed up as monsters. This looks so cool, I wish that it was real so I could go.

From Scooby-Doo and the Ghoul School

The boys arrive and Troy and his people have the contracts and costumes. They warn the band to watch out for the crumbling castle and to treat the house with respect as it is a national treasure. One area they are not allowed to enter, it is forbidden. Of course the boys perk up on this and plan to investigate it later.

Stavlin is obsessed with Dracula, calling the castle a cemetery and acts like he believes Dracula is real and will rise again. The mayor hates Stavlin and is happy he’ll be gone soon he’s at the retirement age (they are forcing him to retire). The Mayor and the rest of the council are taking a tour of the castle as they haven’t been in there before.

Joe goes on to perform while Frank plans to search the castle. On of the running gags on this show is that every time Joe sings, Frank always misses it.

Frank starts searching the spooky castle, and someone is following him as we can see their boots.

That’s not good.

Meanwhile, Bess and Nancy have arrived in costume. Bess doesn’t want to search  the castle but stay and listen to Joe, but Nancy insists they need to search the cavern.

As the Mayor and friends are looking through out the castle, they find a large seal that says Dracula. This is supposedly his grave and the rest of the group and the caretaker/guide of the castle are all deeply frightened.

The mayor is the only one who has no fear and feels the Dracula story is just a lot of hooey. However, after they leave the “grave” we see it move aside and that someone resides in the chamber…or some monster. The black boots we have seen earlier come out. Is it Dracula having risen from the grave?

From The Horror of Dracula

One of the members of the group falls behind, its Berger the hotel owner, and is taken.

From the Cat and the Canary

The mayor and his people finish their tour and Frank is also searching passing by the seal. Nancy and Bess as well poke around the caverns. Bess is no help at all in this story as she just complains about being there in the cavern. As the girls pass by Dracula’s grave, the wall opens again and whoever it is (Dracula? ) starts following them.

From Return of the Vampire

Frank spots Berger in a cell and runs in to see if he is okay when he is locked in as well. Frank checks Berger and sees the vampire bit marks on his throat:

Nancy and Bess see them and Bess screams.

So typically Fridays are the days that I review TV episodes but as I couldn’t see waiting a whole week, I will post part II tomorrow.

So the second half of this episode I think is actually better. This one was a lot more set up with the detectives meeting up, getting them to Transylvania-more exposition. Tomorrow’s episode will have a lot more action to it.

The first time I saw this episode I was soooo into it I just had to find out what happened next. Where was their father? Would Nancy and Frank and Joe get along? Is it really Dracula or is it someone who thinks they are Dracula/pretending to be Dracula? As this was done by Universal I could see it going either way. We’ll find out tomorrow.

Until then….

For more Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries, go to A Haunting We Will Go: The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew Mysteries (1977)

For more Nancy Drew, go to Those Men Are Not Going to Stand for Nancy Drew Poking Her Little Nose Into Their Affairs: Nancy Drew, Detective (1938)

For more Dracula, go to Count Dracula the Propagator of This Unspeakable Evil Has Disappeared. He Must Be Found and Destroyed!: Horror of Dracula (1958)

For more Detectives, go to It’s a Weird Case from the Start. A Case With a Hole in the Center: Knives Out (2019)

For more mysteries, go to One Day You’ll See Something You Shouldn’t: Rear Window (1954)