The story starts properly once he has bitten one of the young women, who is later found with massive blood lossand feasting on the family cat Count Yorga, Vampire, I remember seeing this movie as a kid and it scared the heck out of me. They take on Yorga and his harem of vampire brides, but just as it appears our modern-day Van Helsing has defeated evil once and for all, a final shock predating CARRIE by several years finds evil triumphing over good, in line with the nihilistic themes of the New Hollywood that would take over the film world throughout the 70s. A woman named Donna hosts a sance in hopes of contacting her recently deceased mother. 1970 saw Christopher Lee return as Count Dracula in not one but two Hammer entries, Before becoming a genre icon Quarry would go on to appear in, Quarry would don the cape again one year later for the studios, Pianist Bill Marx was brought on to compose the films score, arguably one of the more traditional elements in this modern vampire tale with screeching strings and creepy organs to punctuate the supernatural happening. The story is classic vampire stuff, and basically we follow Count Yorga as he involves himself with various other members of high-class society. Amazon.com: The Count Yorga Collection (Count Yorga, Vampire, & The Return of Count Yorga) [2-Disc Limited Edition | Blu-ray] : Robert Quarry, Donna Anderson, Roger Perry, Yvonne Wilder, Bob Kelljan: Movies & TV Movies & TV Blu-ray Movies $4236 FREE Returns FREE delivery Thursday, March 30 Or fastest delivery Wednesday, March 29. Tags: AIP, American International Pictures, Arch Archambault, Bill Marx, Bob Kelljan, George Macready, Horror, Judy Lang, Michael Macready, Michael Murphy, Robert Quarry, Roger Perry, Samuel Z. Arkoff, The 1970s, vampires. Yorga quickly kills him by choking him to death, then having his servant Brudah (who has seemingly supernatural strength himself) break his back. Count Yorga continues to prey on the local community while living by a nearby orphanage. Before long, Quarry has nibbled on Lang and enticed her to his side while Murray and pal Macready prepare to do battle with him. Anderson plays a young lady who holds a sance with her boyfriend and two other couples along with Quarry who leads the event. America was not to be left out, and Bob Kelljan's 'Count Yorga, Vampire' is a great little movie that is often unfairly overlooked. The film begins by showing us a coffin being removed from a ship, then trucked out to an estate in modern day (circa 1970) Los Angeles. For a low budget flick that's coming up on its 45th anniversary, 'Count Yorga, Vampire' looks practically flawless with this 1.85:1 1080p transfer. But I loved it so much, this was just such a scary film to me, well, I'd say I grew up since then, so just giving a review from a new perspective. At the beginning of the film, not long after the seance. This time, the Count (played by Robert Quarry), having purchased an old mansion in California, is terrorising the nearby Westwood Orphanage. Falling into a suit of armor, Baldwin grabs a metal mace and knocks Brudda out with a violent blow to the face. with some remnants of the original plot left in. He praised the acting as being "of a generally high standard" and the castle set as "skilfully utilised to give the impression of a labyrinth of Borgesian proportions," though he criticized "a totally unnecessary and feeble attempt to make the Count into a sympathetic figure through such lines as, 'The most fragile emotion ever known has entered my breast.'"[7]. Quarry would don the cape again one year later for the studios THE RETURN OF COUNT YORGA, as well as the foil to Vincent Prices Dr. Anton Phibes in 1972s DR. PHIBES RISES AGAIN (its rumored that early in the production of the PHIBES sequel, Phibes was to take on Count Yorga himself). "[6] David Pirie of The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote that Count Yorga had been resurrected "with considerably more enterprise and panache than before." | Tired of the same old vampires? They duck into a darkened hallway, but when Baldwin turns on the lights, he finds himself confronted by all the brides (including Ellen and Mitzi) with Yorga behind them who calls Cynthia over to his side. Bob Kelljan's 'Count Yorga, Vampire' is often unfairly overlooked in an era dominated by English and European vampire movies. Lang becomes intrigued by Quarry, a recent transplant from Bulgaria who lives in a musty castle on a gated estate. We soon find out that Count Yorga is one of the most blood-thirsty and ruthless vampires we've seen on screen in years. As such, The Return of Count Yorga is a film with a good beginning and ending - alas the bits in between are often a drag. One would think a movie called the best horror film of the year by Gene Siskel of the Chicago Tribune would end up on countless greatest horror films lists. Meanwhile, Yorga goes to claim Mitzi, killing her boyfriend near their boat house before feeding on her once more, draining her completely and adding her to his vampiric harem. Count Yorga (Robert Quarry) finds himself with a bit of a quandary on his hands. Really, the film is an update of the classic Dracula story, only with more of a seventies horror swing to it. Yorga returns to the manor, awakens his brides and unleashes them through the household as he psychically calls Cynthia to him. See production, box office & company info, Cool horror bits, add up to a strange mix, but a fun film, Elvira's Movie Macabre: The Return of Count Yorga. Michael and Hayes switch places to keep Yorga off his guard, but Yorga becomes increasingly insistent that it is late and his guests must leave. He also grimly adds they might have to kill Paul and Erica too if they have become vampires, since the vampire curse will make them evil and loyal to Yorga. [2] The disc was a double-feature release, pairing the film with Count Yorga, Vampire. Notable exceptions include Universals SON OF DRACULA, which transported the action to 1940s Louisiana, and 1957s proto-feminist teenage horror shocker BLOOD OF DRACULA which featured Sandra Harrison as an adolescent atomic-age vampire cast away to an all-girls boarding school. Perhaps best of all is the wholly credible reaction of the guys (Michael Murphy and Michael Macready, the latter also serving as producer, and whose father, hissable character actor George Macready, provides the wonderfully dreary intro narration to the film) to the horror that has entered their lives. The film was originally slated to be a s. By the time the police arrive, all of the evidence has been cleared away. YORGA was a surprise hit for AIP in the summer of 1970, appealing to both audiences and critics. The film ends with the ominous implication that Cynthia has joined them, Baldwin now their new leader and the surviving vampires are resting within the manor, where they will proceed to spread the vampirisim to the unwitting orphanage and soon to the rest of the town. Baldwin splits from the detectives to expand the room-by-room search, and upon opening one door discovers Jason's corpse, covered in bloody bite marks with an IV draining remaining blood from his neck into a glass-bottle on the floor beneath him. this one is played quite seriously. Count Yorga, Vampire (also known as The Loves of Count Iorga, Vampire) is a 1970 American vampire horror film written and directed by Bob Kelljan and starring Robert Quarry, Roger Perry and Michael Murphy. We first meet Count Yorga at a seance he holds for a group of friends, one of which has just lost her mother. Sure, it's done on a shoestring, but director Kelljan gets the most out of the cavernous mansion interiors and clever camera set-ups. Some good suspense, especially in the stranded van awaiting something to happen, but what? it's a your typical horror film. Youll receive instant access to exclusive insider movie content, member only deals, first dibs at limited editions, and more. The Return of Count Yorga 1971 Directed by Bob Kelljan Synopsis The DEATHMASTER is Back from the Grave Count Yorga continues to prey on the local community while living by a nearby orphanage. Copping the ending of Dance of the Vampires, Count Yorga climaxes with a flurry of vampire-fighting action and an apparent escape only for the heroine to reveal her newly-sprouted fangs and pounce in a much-imitated shock punchline. Hayes, Michael, and Donna go to the mansion themselves to inquire about Paul's whereabouts and keep Yorga active until sunrise. The 1970s produced acclaimed horror films like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The Exorcist, Jaws, Carrie, and Halloween. The result is a pretty silly show. Count Yorga, Vampire (1970): Near the end of the film, two of Yorga's female vampire try to ambush Micheal. The following day when Paul and Erica return to the city, Paul tells Michael about the attack. From her window, Tommy can be seen walking away from the house. Indie sleeper thanks to Robert Quarry's absolutely commanding performance as the lead blood-sucker. Some good surprises, too. Distributed by Scream Factory. After taking the Count home, Paul and Erica are waylayed, and next the day, a listless Erica is diagnosed by their doctor as having lost a lot of blood. Count Yorga was something of a departure for vampire films in the seventies due to the fact that it's star isn't a bloodthirsty maniac, but rather a dapper and respectable rich bachelor, who happens to be a vampire. He makes one of the wittiest vampires in film. When a weakened Mitzi stumbles into the room, Yorga leaves as the others attend to her. It later was released on DVD by MGM in 2005 as part of its Midnite Movies series. There's even a henchman who's (apparently) a werewolf! One of them is Donna's mother, whom he made into an undead servant. Meanwhile, memories of the attack on her family slowly start to resurface in Cynthia's mind as she stays within Yorga's manor. With his last breath, Hayes tells Michael where Donna is. That made this film surprisingly effective. While mulling over his options, Hayes' girlfriend suggests involving the police, citing an eerily similar case of a baby being found in the woods, drained of its blood with bite wounds on the neck. Perry gives a skilled, knowing performance as well, obviously aware that a blend of seriousness mixed with levity was called for in the production. The rest of the cast are pretty much unknown to me apart from Michael Murphy, an Altman semi-regular who also later appeared in 'Manhattan' and 'Magnolia'. O'Connor to join him in a rescue-mission at Yorga's mansion. This is listed as Count Yorga, Vampire, but the opening title thinks it's going to be called "The Loves of Count Iorga"; the explanation in the Trivia section gives us the full story on why that is. Count Yorga, Vampire Special Effects . Paul (Michael Murphy) and Erica Landers (Judith Lang) drive Count Yorga home in an isolated manor and in the return, their Kombi gets mysteriously stuck in the mud. ; Gratuitous Rape: Does this to Donna in the first movie, much to Yorga's displeasure. The Return of Count Yorga ups the ante and sees the sardonic Count on the streets of San Francisco, his sights set on an . and apparently eats the family cat, but that scene seems to have been removed from the version I saw on Comet channel. Alterations to the movie's soundtrack were also required to lessen the impact of violent scenes that remained in the film. That film did not fare as well with critics, despite being a favorite of this writer. His performance and demeanor as a Bulgarian Count in this film is truly outstanding. He becomes infatuated with Cynthia. An opening grave yard is truly beautiful and spooky. Count Yorga, Vampire was shot on location in Los Angeles, CA, where the story is set. After sex they settle in to sleep. By the end of the 1960s the boom in Old World gothic horror had begun to wane in the face of present day terrors like the Vietnam war. The film contains some truly startling moments (such as the count's toothy grimace as seen through a van's window), restrained but effective use of gore, a deliciously downbeat ending, and even a nice little shocker as a final capper. It's a classic vampire feel with a typical plot and silly actors, but that is what makes a fun horror movie. He also intends to take a new wife, while feeding his bevy of female vampires. 1970 : 5 (0) Gas-s-s-s Sound/Sound Designer . The early 70s were a great period for vampire movies. Will their boyfriends be able to stop him? Yes, this little horror flick, despite an underlit fight scene with the count's lupine manservant Brudah, is a pretty perfect outing. Now, Arrow Video have brought it, and its sequel, to Blu-ray for new audiences to discover. If that's your bag, you should like this. They transported Christopher Lees Count and Peter Cushings Van Helsing to swinging London, sinking his fangs into a modish group of attractive young people (including Caroline Munro) in DRACULA A.D, 1972. The film consists of Donna's friends trying to learn more about, and subsequently finding themselves further and further into trouble with, Count Yorga. Primaries have the right amount of pop to them allowing for rich blues, strong yellows, and . They enlist the aid of blood specialist Perry, who acts as a sort of modern day Van Helsing, trying to come up with ways to combat the vampire. and feral (his creepy dashes for prospective victims, seemingly out of nowhere, with blood-red eyes and arms outstretched actually gave me a jolt on a couple of occasions!). She is trying to connect with her recently deceased mother, who was also the lover of Quarry from three weeks prior to her death. It was followed by a sequel, The Return of Count Yorga . Stephen Farber's 1972 book, The Movie Rating Game, details the problems that the film's distributor American International Pictures had in securing a GP rating (formerly known as M, later renamed to PG) from the Motion Picture Association of America, which initially was divided as to whether to give the film an R or X rating. He also intends to take a new wife, while feeding his bevy of female vampires. the only other name i recognize is the narrator, George Macready; he was the nightclub owner in the awesome film Gilda, from 1946. pretty good. Everyone at the seance agrees that the Count is refined, well-mannered, and eloquent. Starring Robert Quarry, Mariette Hartley, Roger Perry. This movie is about what most vampire movies are about cool confrontations with the undead, spiced with some lightweight eroticism. Quarry plays the Count with a charm that is both amiable and yet caustic. The concerned men drive to her home where they find the place in disarray, and a hysterical Erica eating her kitten. The film was released on VHS home video (full screen format) in 1993 by Orion Home Video, which once held home video distribution rights to many titles in the American International Pictures catalog. As I said, an entirely realistic series of responses that really aids the viewer in buying in to the story. 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