Plots(1)
Made in Spain while General Franco was still in power and shown clandestinely, Pere Portabella's extraordinary Vampir Cuadecuc ostensibly follows the filming of Jesús Franco's shocker El conde Dracula starring Christopher Lee, Herbert Lom and the exquisite Soledad Miranda. This experimental 'making of' documentary and investigation into the myth of the vampire, becomes a powerful political metaphor for bloodthirsty fascism epitomised by Franco and tyrants like him, a witty allegory with Dracula as the dictator whose demise is certain. Dispensing almost entirely with dialogue, Portabella utilises an abstract, fabulously idiosyncratic soundscape created by renowned Catalan artist and musician Carles Santos. The effect is surreal and wondrous to behold. (Second Run)
(more)Cast
Christopher Lee
UK
Best movies:
Herbert Lom
Austria-Hungary
Best movies:
Treasure of Silver Lake (1962)
The Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976)
Spartacus (1960)
Jesús Franco
Spain
Best movies:
The Diabolical Dr. Z (1966)
The Awful Dr. Orlof (1962)
Paroxismus (1969)
Emma Cohen
Spain
Best movies:
Cry, Onion (1975)
Cut-Throats Nine (1972)
The Cannibal Man (1972)
Soledad Miranda
Spain
Best movies:
Sugar Colt (1966)
Le avventure e gli amori di Miguel Cervantes (1967)
100 Rifles (1969)
Jack Taylor
USA
Best movies:
Cleopatra (1963)
1492: Conquest of Paradise (1992)
Conan the Barbarian (1982)
Paul Muller
Switzerland
Best movies:
Marco Polo (1982) (series)
El Cid (1961)
Purple Noon (1960)
Maria Rohm
Austria
Best movies:
The Call of the Wild (1972)
Treasure Island (1972)
Five Golden Dragons (1967)
Jeannine Mestre
Best movies:
Un papillon sur l'épaule (1978)
Le Massacre des morts-vivants (1974)
Un train pour Petrograd (1990) (TV movie)