Love at First Bite (1979)

67% of critics liked it
(21 reviews)
54% of users liked it
(6,366 ratings)

George Hamilton confounded his detractors by turning in a first-rate comic performance in Love at First Bite. Hamilton plays Count Dracula, who is evicted from his Transylvanian domicile when the Communist government decides to nationalize his castle. With faithful toady Renfield (Arte Johnson) at… More George Hamilton confounded his detractors by turning in a first-rate comic performance in Love at First Bite. Hamilton plays Count Dracula, who is evicted from his Transylvanian domicile when the Communist government decides to nationalize his castle. With faithful toady Renfield (Arte Johnson) at his side, Dracula heads for the Big Apple, where he finds the vampire pickings radically different from those on his home turf: for example, ol' Drac suffers the mother of all hangovers when his sinks his fangs into the neck of a wino. Klutzy Cindy Sondheim (Susan Saint James) falls in love with Dracula, not fully aware of his colorful background. But Cindy's stuffy fiance Dr. Jeff Rosenberg (Richard Benjamin), a descendant of Dracula's perennial foe Professor Van Helsing, knows what Dracula's up to and does his best to thwart the vampire's plan. This proves very difficult, since such time-honored remedies as the stake through the heart are frowned upon by the New York City authorities. So successful was Love at First Bite that Hamilton was encouraged to have a satiric go at another literary icon in 1982's Zorro, the Gay Blade. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 36 min.
Directed By: Stan Dragoti
Genres: Drama, Comedy

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1979 Wide
On DVD: Jul 12, 2005

Critic Reviews

Richard Schickel, TIME Magazine
The production's genially tatty air enhances its anarchical mood and encourages one to go with its goofy yet often shrewd comic flow.
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
Casting Dracula as the Last Romantic, Scott Fitzgerald-style, was a clever idea, but nothing clever remains in the film's hodgepodge of flat one-liners and graceless slapstick.
Variety Staff, Variety
What would happen if Dracula was victimized by life in modern New York City? It's a fun notion and George Hamilton makes it work.
, Entertainment Weekly
If you haven't smoked any wolfsbane you might wonder why you have such fond memories of this one.
Janet Maslin, New York Times
A coarse, delightful little movie with a bang-up cast and no pretensions at all.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
A mostly likable and spirited Dracula pic, played as a silly spoof.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Although much of this is pretty funny, the film is a scattershot affair that tries to milk laughs out of the most mundane and tired gags.
, Time Out
See it when you feel at your silliest.
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...hopelessly dated...
James Plath, Movie Metropolis
There are killer lines and exchanges, but not the overall consistency you'd hope for, or the kind of energy that could drive a stake through our ennui.
MaryAnn Johanson, Flick Filosopher
[C]lever, funny commentary on a new era of interpersonal relationships when no one knew what they wanted or how to articulate it.
, Film4
Hamilton is great as the count with a heart, and an endless stream of jokes ensures that at least a good handful are spot on.

Read all 12 critic reviews

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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

Another Dracula movie, in this one the count moves to NY. It is pretty funny for the most part, but it's predictable. It could have been better.
Nicki M

A bit stupid and not up to the standards of a more recent vampire movie, (this was made in 1976), but harmless enough. I could no way in hell believe Susan Saint James as a model, though.
Phil H

George Hamilton is actually ok here. He is a good Dracula and quite amusing. The rest of the cast works well and its looks good. The usual story of course but its funny. Surprising really.
jay n

silly but cute
Tom E

First rate humor!!!!!
Dr Blood

Some of the situations are a bit forced and Richard Benjamin is more irritating than usual but overall the comedy does work and the story isn't too bad either.
Leo L

Hilarious but cute!

Read all 7 featured audience ratings

Cast

            George Hamilton as Count Dracula

            Susan Saint James as Cindy Sondheim

            Richard Benjamin as Dr. Jeff Rosenberg

            Dick Shawn as Lt. Ferguson

            Arte Johnson as Renfield

            Sherman Hemsley as Rev. Mike

            Isabel Sanford as Judge

            Paul Barselou as Bloodbank Guard

            Bob Basso as TV Repairman

            Stanley Brock as Cab Driver

            Jacque Lynn Colton as Lady with Cat

            Danny Dayton as Billy

            John Dennis as Motorcycle Cop

            Robert Ellenstein as VW Man

            Barry J. Gordon as Flashlight Vendor

            Alan Haufrect as Photographer

            Michael Heit as Bellboy #2

            Basil Hoffman as Desk Clerk

            Dave Ketchum as Customs Inspector

            Lidia Kristen as Commissare Woman

            Ralph Manza as Limo Driver

            Tiger Joe Marsh as Citizen Outside Castle

            Rose Michtom as Elderly Lady

            Bryan O'Byrne as Priest

            Lavelle Roby as Mourner

            Merrie Lynn Ross as Lady in Apartment

            Whitney Rydbeck as Male Commissare

            Beverly Sanders as Lady in Elevator

            Ronnie Schell as Gay in Elevator

            Rolfe Sedan as Maitre d'

            Hazel Shermet as Lady in Elevator

            Susan Tolsky as Model Agent

            David Landsberg as Morty

            Eric Laneuville as Russell

            Michael Pataki as Mobster

            Charlie Dell as Busboy

            Robert Nadder as Bellevue Doctor

            Jerold Pearson as Hippie in Customs

            Cicely Walper as Grandmother

            Joe Medalis as Istera
See full cast