The Brides of Dracula (1960)

71% of critics liked it
(14 reviews)
61% of users liked it
(2,853 ratings)

Hammer Films and director Terence Fisher followed the excellent Horror of Dracula with this well-made, richly-colored sequel which suffers only from the conspicuous lack of Dracula himself -- since Horror's Christopher Lee had declined participation in further Dracula sequels for the time being. In… More Hammer Films and director Terence Fisher followed the excellent Horror of Dracula with this well-made, richly-colored sequel which suffers only from the conspicuous lack of Dracula himself -- since Horror's Christopher Lee had declined participation in further Dracula sequels for the time being. In his stead, we have young, blond Baron Meinster (David Peel) providing the requisite vampiric threat. Though imprisoned in the family estate by his mother, Meinster is released from his silver chains by an unsuspecting French teacher (Yvonne Monlaur), through which he gains access to a veritable smorgasbord of nubile wenches at a girls' school. Fortunately, master vampire killer Dr. Van Helsing (Peter Cushing) is on the case. Besides featuring some of the best acting, photography and period detail of the Hammer Dracula series, this is also one of the first to delve into the more sexual aspects of vampirism, with implicit suggestions of incest, sadomasochism and homosexuality. ~ Cavett Binion, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 26 min.
Directed By: Terence Fisher
Genres: Classics, Horror

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1960 Wide
On DVD: Sep 6, 2005
Studio: Universal-International

Critic Reviews

Bosley Crowther, New York Times
Here is but another repetition of the standard tale of the vampire bugaboo who likes to sink his oversized dentures into the necks of pretty girls.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Chilling special effects highlight a rather gory production.
Steve Biodrowski, ESplatter
The film features the familiar elements (beautiful color cinematography, lavish sets, solid writing, strong performances), making this a worthy heir to its predecessor.
Tim Brayton, Antagony & Ecstasy
If it isn't as iconic and elemental as its predecessor, that's no reflection on how well it works as a vampire entertainment on its own...an unusually original way to continue the closed-off story of Bram Stoker's novel.
Tom Milne, Time Out
Patchy but striking, and directed with Fisher's usual flair.
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com
When the story lags (and it often does), at least you have copious eye candy to feast on.
Staci Layne Wilson, Horror.com
While the plot is over the top and certainly contrived, there are enough spooky sequences to keep horror fans occupied.
, Film4
Fisher directs with characteristic fluency, and the cast is splendid.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Kind of Dracula Meets Tennessee Williams.
James Sanford, Kalamazoo Gazette
"lusty vampire romp"
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
One of the better horror films put out by the schlock Hammer studio.

Read all 11 critic reviews

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

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Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

Peter Cushing is awesome as ever, but I was disappointed that Christopher Lee wasn't the vampire this time. The story is good, but the other actors, especially the lead girl, weren't. Overall, it's a pretty good movie, but it could have been better.
Cassandra M

Baron Meinster (David Peel) picks up where Christopher Lee's Dracula last left off. The Baroness Meinster (Martita Hunt) has an interesting little scheme working for her, she plays the evil little spinster while picking up to stray ladies to feed to her vampire son. The Baroness… More
Baron Meinster (David Peel) picks up where Christopher Lee's Dracula last left off. The Baroness Meinster (Martita Hunt) has an interesting little scheme working for her, she plays the evil little spinster while picking up to stray ladies to feed to her vampire son. The Baroness tries to keep him safe at the castle by locking him up but when he puts the moves on a lovely French school teacher passing through to her destination. Only one man can rescue the countryside and that man is Dr. Van Helsing (Peter Cushing}. Peel is an interesting choice as the lead vampire. Handsome and charming he's basically the complete opposite of Chris Lee's Dracula. He also lacks the intensity but at least Cushing pops in to pick up the slack. The production design is on par with nearly all Hammer productions. You may say that their films are a bit stuffy but I say that is part of their charm. The company made Gothic horror and they did it well.
Bruce B

A early vampire film, which turns out to be excellent. A young girl is traveling thur Transylvania and while there she helps a young man escape the bonds and chains of his mother only to find out later he is a Vampire. 4 stars
Kylie B

The majority of the film is standard Hammer vampire fare, but the ending was oddly anti-climactic.
Michael G

The Brides of Dracula is a compact and straightforward classic Hammer horror flick that lacks Christopher Lee, but more than makes up for it with Peter Cushing's half badass, half gentlemanly portrayal of Dr.Van Helsing. The movie's not without its hokiness but for what it… More
The Brides of Dracula is a compact and straightforward classic Hammer horror flick that lacks Christopher Lee, but more than makes up for it with Peter Cushing's half badass, half gentlemanly portrayal of Dr.Van Helsing. The movie's not without its hokiness but for what it is, there's some great dialogue that pops up from time to time. The Brides of Dracula also has some inventive effects (its fairly obvious they were on a shoestring budget) and make-up without going over the top.
Stella D

with or without christopher lee, peter cushing is the man
David L

After his masterpiece "Dracula" (aka. "Horror Of Dracula") from 1958 Hammer's greatest director, Terence Fisher, did not yet return with another film starring Christopher Lee as Dracula, but with an eerie, atmospheric and downright brilliant sequel about a… More
After his masterpiece "Dracula" (aka. "Horror Of Dracula") from 1958 Hammer's greatest director, Terence Fisher, did not yet return with another film starring Christopher Lee as Dracula, but with an eerie, atmospheric and downright brilliant sequel about a different vampire, and the greatest of all Vampire hunters, Dr. Van Helsing (once again outstandingly played by the immortal Peter Cushing). And this first sequel to the series, "The Brides Of Dracula" of 1960, became a Gothic masterpiece of its own that almost reaches the brilliance of the original. On her way through Transylvania, Marianne Danielle (Yvonne Monalur), a young french lady who is about to become a boarding school teacher, gets invited to spend the night at the Castle of Baroness Meinster (Martita Hunt). Little does she know, that the Couness keeps her own son locked up in the castle. For good reasons, as the young Baron Meinster (David Peel) has an insatiable thirst for the blood of young beauties... "Brides Of Dracula" is a haunting, highly atmospheric Gohic tale from the very beginning. The great photography, and creepy locations, as well as the outstanding and eerie score build up a mesmerizing atmosphere. The unforgettable Peter Cushing is, as always, brilliant as Dr. Van Helsing, the role of his life besides Baron Frankenstein. But even besides Cushing, who is one of my favorite actors of all-time, the acting is great. David Peel is great and genuinely scary as Baron Meinster. This creepy Baron Meinster is one of the truly memorable vampires in motion picture history, and I it sad that Peel, who played the role with such greatness, didn't get more roles after this film and appeared only in two more movies. Martita Hunt is excellent and eerie as the Baroness, and so is Freda Jackson as her maid. Yvonne Monlaur is a stunning beauty, and greatly plays her role in he female lead with a lot of grace. And even the supporting performances are very good. If you like films from the great Hammer Studios, "Brides Of Dracula" is a film you must not miss. The only real flaw of this film is that I found it too easy to defeat the vampire in the very end and maybe a minor issue but I was never sure why this film was called " Brides Of Dracula" when Dracula doesn't appear in the film. Anyhow, this is a wonderfully creepy and atmospheric Gohic tale with great performances, above all the brilliant Peter Cushing as Van Helsing. "Brides Of Dracula" is one of the essential Hammer films and, as far as I am considered, Hammer's best Vampire flick after "Horror Of Dracula" and Robert Young's brilliant 1971 masterpiece "Vampire Circus". To sum up, "Brides Of Dracula" is essential Hammer-brilliance that no horror fan can afford to miss!
Stephen M

Ironic that the best of the Hammer Dracula movies should not feature Christopher Lee at all! Full of good performances and quirky little touches, such as the vampire's servant coaxing a fresh acolyte from her grave, and the sails of a windmill forming the sign of the cross.… More
Ironic that the best of the Hammer Dracula movies should not feature Christopher Lee at all! Full of good performances and quirky little touches, such as the vampire's servant coaxing a fresh acolyte from her grave, and the sails of a windmill forming the sign of the cross. Martitia Hunt, who played Miss Havisham in David Lean's "Great Expectations", is absolutely wonderful as a baroness turned into a vampire by her own son. A great film.
Dr Blood

This is far from being one of my favourite Hammer Dracula films simply because Christopher Lee isn't in it. Peter Cushing almost makes up for it on his own but it's like having Laurel without Hardy. Baron Meinster played by David Peel just doesn't work for me though… More
This is far from being one of my favourite Hammer Dracula films simply because Christopher Lee isn't in it. Peter Cushing almost makes up for it on his own but it's like having Laurel without Hardy. Baron Meinster played by David Peel just doesn't work for me though some people consider this to be one of the best Hammer films because of all the action. The latest DVD versions all seem to have missing scenes which make it even more disappointing.
Jim W

Christopher Lee isn't back as Dracula, but he's replaced by David Peel as Baron Meinster who's a vampire that has been chained up by his mother Baroness Meinster (Martha Hunt). Baroness invites a young beauty Marianne (Yvonna Moniaur) to stay at her mansion to feed her… More
Christopher Lee isn't back as Dracula, but he's replaced by David Peel as Baron Meinster who's a vampire that has been chained up by his mother Baroness Meinster (Martha Hunt). Baroness invites a young beauty Marianne (Yvonna Moniaur) to stay at her mansion to feed her son, but her plan backfires when Marianne lets Baron free. Marianne escapes the mansion, still thinking that Baron was a poor innocent boy who's mom chained him up for no good reason. Marrianne meets Van Helsing (Peter Cushing) who takes her to a school for girls. But the Baron finds her there and asks her to marry him while taking some female victims on the side. So of course it's up to Van Helsing to stop the carnage. The Bride of Dracula has some bad effects, such as overly fake looking bats and the film isn't as good as Horror of Dracula. The film does come alive though when ever Peter Cushing is shown as Van Helsing and when ever Moniaur is on screen. The film also has some exciting moments in the end. So I think it's worth checking out.
MJS M

Well? this series went downhill fast. This sequel to the 1958 Hammer Dracula doesn?t feature Christopher Lee, which is understandable given that Dracula is supposed to be dead here, but the new vampire dude they decide to use (David Peel) isn?t nearly as charismatic. There?s not a… More
Well? this series went downhill fast. This sequel to the 1958 Hammer Dracula doesn?t feature Christopher Lee, which is understandable given that Dracula is supposed to be dead here, but the new vampire dude they decide to use (David Peel) isn?t nearly as charismatic. There?s not a lot to say about this, the movie is very slow to get going and it loses me fast. Not very good.