Thrillhouse caused this post, since he identified one of the Hammer/Lee Drac collaborations in his own collection. Here's the order and description of each:
HORROR OF DRACULA (1958) Acceptable rendition of the novel.
BRIDES OF DRACULA (1963) Cushing's Van Helsing character continues w/o Drac.
DRACULA: PRINCE OF DARKNESS (1966) Lush reading of the first resuscitation.
DRACULA HAS RISEN FROM THE GRAVE (1968) Script problems abound.
TASTE THE BLOOD OF DRACULA (1969) Ralph Bates' wayward nobility character spices things up a bit.
SCARS OF DRACULA (1970) Haven't seen it but reportedly it returns to the original novel somewhat.
DRACULA 1972 (1972) The plot moves into the then-present day, with oddball results. Interesting time capsule, though, and decent support from Cushing and others.
SATANIC RITES OF DRACULA (1973) The final film of the series, it's an attempt to put the story to rest. Could have been better - BUT it showcases the fantasmagoric Joanna Lumley in one of her earliest appearances. 245 on a scale of 100.
I own all flicks with Lee except SCARS OF DRACULA... at the moment!
NOTE: for newbies on this subject, the clearly superior ones are the first two with Lee, being HORROR OF DRACULA and DRACULA: PRINCE OF DARKNESS. Hammer at its best.
