More Vampires- But Not in the Old West- invite You to Wed the Dead "Brides of Dracula"- Tonight!

If last week’s feature with a vampire riding roughshod in the Od West wasn’t quite what you’re used to- we may have something a little more suited to your palate tonight on MeTV- with a tale back in the old country, with yet another vampire preying on young women- and running afoul of the great vampire hunter Van Helsing- as he tries to stake out the groom, who’s grooming a new flock of        "Brides of Dracula"!

This full color 1960 chiller was actually Hammer Studios’ sequel to their original version of “Dracula”-which starred Christopher Lee. In spite of the title, though- you won't see Count Dracula (or Sir Christopher) in this film! We start out observing a lovely young French woman, Marianne (played by Yvonne Monlaur) on her way to a teaching job at a girl’s school- whose  is derailed by some mysterious and deliberate actions. Left behind by her transportation, she is left on her own at a local inn -with no further hope of completing her journey at such a late hour. In spite of the hour, a strange and haughty elderly baroness stops in, and invites her to accept accommodations at her castle for the night. Upon arrival, she settles in to the room graciously given her by the Baroness, from which she spots a handsome young man on a balcony across the way. She is told by the baroness that he is the her son (though she has been given the impression he had passed away)! Later on, finding him chained up in his room, for reasons yet to be mentioned, she is convinced to help him escape his shackles- but, when she succeeds in doing so-he reveals what he actually is ( you might get a hint from the movie title)-and she flees in terror into the night!

The next day, she is found, barely conscious, by the good Prof. Van Helsing, and she barely recalls what occurred the previous night. Van Helsing makes an appearance at that same inn where Mademoiselle Marianne had been abandoned, while the funeral of a local young lady is being held. Van Helsing has his suspicions about the reason for her passing, which are confirmed when she rises from her grave, sporting a sinister pair of fangs! Van Helsing fears that this can only mean that disciples of his old enemy Count Dracula are still at large and on the hunt for human prey. His search for whoever is siring these new vampires leads him to the Baroness' castle- where he is shocked to find that the now unshackled young Baron is his prime suspect.

Meanwhile, Marianne arrives at her new teaching job- in a school with a student body (ahem) made up of nubile young women, providing a veritable smorgasbord for the young Baron- and our naive French femme ends up in mortal danger- which could make her IMmortal ! Van Helsing must try to rescue her while battling more blood-thirsty “brides”,as well as their master the undead Baron and his strong supernatural power. The danger of both Marianne and Van Helsing joining the ranks of the undead becomes terrifyingly real!!

We haven’t brought this Hammer film back in a while, and we’re happy to do so, since this one is often asked for! It boasts truly frightening vampires, many alluring young women, and plenty of atmospheric action, all in vivid color, in the Hammer tradition. Peter Cushing, back as Van Helsing, is great, as always, and David Peel, as the young blond Baron is an interesting change from the usual dark-haired vampires of horror films. We’ll tell you about the cast, and explain why Christopher Lee is not among them- provide a commercial for a stylishly hip Sven product the vampire brides would be proud to wear to go out clubbing- and, since our yearly Flashback Weekend convention appearance for 2020 has been postponed- we bring back some fond memories of an amazing costume contest from a past Flashback Weekend.

“Brides of Dracula” is set for MeTV tonight at 8pm eastern/pacific, 7 central, or check your local listings or www.metv.com for info and channel in your area. Remember that MeTV invites you to "live-Tweet" about the show during the  movie on Twitter- just use the hashtag #svengoolie  - and you’ll be among the many Tweeters making us trend in the top subjects every week. Our Chicago area viewers can get back in the saddle again for one more round of "Billy the Kid VS Dracula” at 11 am on the U.

Just to clarify a few things- if you want to get on the list for our monthly newsletter, which comes out the first of each month- you don’t email me- you just click on the banner for the newsletter on our site and sign up yourself. Also, if you have a question about Sven merchandise you have ordered, you should address that using the contact email at www.metv.com . Please don’t ask me, since all I just do the TV shows and have nothing to do with merchandise orders. Come on- if you order a Batman t-shirt, and have a question or problem- you don’t contact Batman, do you? Seriously, our MeTV folks are happy to help you out-and it always helps to have your order confirmation handy.

Join us on MeTV tonight- no wedding gifts necessary- though you may want to catch a bouquet –of garlic!