SON OF DRACULA (1974)

When Count Dracula is killed by a stake through his heart, his vampire bride is pregnant with his child, half-human and half-vampire. One hundred years later, Count Downe, the son, is ready to be installed as the King of the Netherworld, reigning over other creatures of the night (werewolves, monsters, witches, mummies). But he's reluctant to take on his inheritance because 1) he wants to devote his life to making music, and 2) he falls in love with Amber, assistant to Van Helsing, the famous vampire hunter. As the time nears for Downe's coronation at a museum of the occult, overseen by the wizard Merlin, Downe convinces Van Helsing to help him become human. But his path to this goal is blocked by the evil Baron Frankenstein who wants the Netherworld crown for his own. This summary sounds like it could be a decent old-fashioned horror film or a crazy parody of horror films. Unfortunately, this is neither. Despite having Ringo Starr, Harry Nilsson, Hammer director Freddie Francis, and some respectable British actors (Dennis Price, Freddie Jones) attached, this comes off as an amateurish home movie made by the stars on a drunken weekend. 

Who’s to blame? It's easy to point the finger at Nilsson (pictured), who was on a hot streak on the pop charts led by “Without You” and “Coconut.” Starr, who also plays Merlin, produced the film and got his friend Nilsson to star. On record, Nilsson had the persona of an antic anarchist, but he almost never performed in public so doesn't have a 'live' persona and he can't carry this movie. His problem is his complete lack of affect—he comes off like he's always rehearsing. He isn't funny or scary or able to give a line reading in character. Of course, he doesn't have much of a character to play, the fault of the script by Jennifer Jayne (one of the lead women in THE CRAWLING EYE). The main ideas may be sound, but they don't come together at all. Among the plotholes: Why did the denizens of the Netherworld not have a ruler for a century? Why do they need one now? Since Downe doesn't want the crown, why wouldn’t Frankenstein just help him achieve his goal and become the ruler? What is a radioactive transfusion machine? Freddie Francis was an old hand at helming Hammer horror films but rumor has it that he quit halfway through, which couldn't have helped. However, there is one reason to watch this mess: Harry Nilsson’s music, which is used throughout. I loved Nilsson in the early to mid 70s and bought all his albums even through the 80s when they became as messy as this movie. Nilsson was a studio artist and this movie is your only chance to see him perform as he lip syncs to songs like "Jump Into the Fire" and the lovely ballad "Remember (Christmas”)." Other songs like "Without You," "Down," and "The Moonbeam Song" are played behind scenes, and a new song, "Daybreak," is quite fun. You also get to see drummer Keith Moon, sax player Bobby Keys, and guitarist Peter Frampton in the background as his stage band. But really, unless you love Nilsson, there’s no reason to see this depressing, cheap-looking film; your primary emotion is likely to be embarrassment for all involved. [YouTube]