At the time, AIP was reportedly grooming Quarry to carry Prices torch as their new in-house horror star. "[5] Kevin Thomas of the Los Angeles Times wrote, "Those who saw 'Count Yorga' will be disappointed. 1970 : 5 (0) Gas-s-s-s Sound/Sound Designer . 1970 alone includes two Dracula sequels from Hammer Films, a Jess Franco Dracula and a Dracula-esque picture called "Jonathan." | The last shot of the movie is Tommy playing with his ball in front of the orphanage accompanied by a haunting rendition of the song the children sang at the beginning of the film. The early 70s were a great period for vampire movies. A woman named Donna hosts a sance in hopes of contacting her recently deceased mother. The film would pave the way for AIPs other popular modern-day bloodsucker, BLACULA (which repurposes footage of Yorgas coffin making its way stateside) as well as 1973s SCREAM BLACULA, SCREAM. One reason for that is that in some significant ways the movie isn't very good. This isnt the tragic, romantic vamp featured in so many gothic tales; Quarrys take on the Count displayed both a dry sense of humor, a proto-Studio 54 sleaziness, and a mouth full of fangs. COUNT YORGA, VAMPIRE (Bob Kelljan, 1970) ***, My Friend Will Have a Hamburger and a Quart of Blood, Please, Another Terrific Vampire Flick from the Sexy 70's, Different take on the legendary Dracula story. His performance and demeanor as a Bulgarian Count in this film is truly outstanding. Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations. Leave your expectations of lavish special effects, intricate plotting, and deep character development at the door. Falling into a suit of armor, Baldwin grabs a metal mace and knocks Brudda out with a violent blow to the face. 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, The 80s saw a slew of modern-day vampire tales with Tony Scotts, [FANTASIA FEST 2020] LUCKY: TROUBLE EVERY DAY, [FANTASIA FEST 2020] HAIL TO THE DEADITES GIVES US SOME SUGAR, BABY, highly influential take on the vampire mythos. At the time this film was made, vampires were almost always slow and hypnotic. Again, nobody gets a happy ending. In Los Angeles, a group of friends of Donna (Donna Anders) reunites for a sance conducted by Count Yorga (Robert Quarry) to make contact with Donna's mother, who has recently died and was having a love affair with the Yorga. 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. The first character to suggest that the Count may be a vampire is Dr. Jim Hayes (Roger Perry); when the good doctor (whos in bed with an attractive, but daft young lady) calls the police to tell them theyre most likely dealing with a vampire, hes laughed off the phone as the 47th nut talking about vampires. Director Bob Kelljan Writers Bob Kelljan Yvonne Wilder Stars Robert Quarry Mariette Hartley Roger Perry See production, box office & company info Search on Amazon Robert Quarry ('Dr Phibes Rises Again') is excellent as Yorga. What follows is a vampire film with the women predictably the victims/aggressors and the men predictably running around trying to solve things. The film was given a second VHS release by MGM Home Entertainment in September 2000. ; Piet Plagiarism: After Yorga finishes feeding on Erica and making her into his bride, Brudah carries her body like this in her newly vamped form down into Yorga's throne room . Yorga takes her away, preparing to turn her into his new bride while leaving his army of brides to finish off Baldwin. YORGA was a surprise hit for AIP in the summer of 1970, appealing to both audiences and critics. With it obvious now that she's beyond saving, Micheal manages to ward the two vampires back. However, despite my fear that this would be another stale film, this one turned out to be better than average and well worth a look. and apparently eats the family cat, but that scene seems to have been removed from the version I saw on Comet channel. Count Yorga, Vampire (1970) Plot Showing all 4 items Jump to: Summaries (4) Summaries A couple invites a Count from Hungary, who recently immigrated to America, to conduct a seance for the woman's recently deceased mother, oblivious to the fact that he is actually a vampire. He lives in a large house somewhere in California and terrorizes young women and their boyfriends. The film is very talky at the start, which can be a little bit annoying as the pace is very slow - but what Yorga is saying is interesting, and it really isn't long before the film starts properly. At those points, Perry especially shines as a fitting nemesis. Yeah, it sucks that you're dead, but still, what a way to go, right? Despite the confusion, David Baldwin, Cynthia's fianc, is suspicious about the Nelsons' disappearance. The truck then climbs to a gated mansion in the Southern California hills.[1]. First they are dismissive, then skeptical, and finally stunned and frightened when faced with the realization of what they must do to rescue their women. Yet COUNT YORGA, VAMPIRE has found itself a B-movie oddity, relegated to late, late showings on UHF stations throughout the 80s and 90s and all but forgotten if ever seen by a generation that reveled in the modern horror era of slashers and special makeup effects. Together with his harem of vampire mistresses, they wreak havoc upon the friends and family of Cynthia Nelson (Mariette Hartley), who Yorga intends to take as his vampire bride. The opening sance scene is an intriguing attention-getter since the reactions seem so normal at the same time the super-slick Quarry sorts through prospective victims. It is flawed, but I still think it is the most effective vampire film I have ever seen. However, nothing was spared as far as creativity and skill. 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'. The ending, which I won't spoil, is also a bit confusing as to what actually takes place. Perhaps the big-haired living dead women crawl their way out of the dirt with too much ease, but style is more important than being realistic. The Return of Count Yorga ups the ante and sees the sardonic Count on the streets of San Francisco, his sights set on an . A drive-in favourite from the moment it was released, a sequel soon followed. Count Yorga, Vampire doesn't distinguish itself by being particularly innovative, stylish or even excessively gory, but it is a lot of fun, Kelljan employing the genre's most recognised tropes to create a consistently entertaining flick - often witty, sometimes scary, occasionally camp, frequently sexy (the film was originally intended to be a soft-core movie, before being severely edited), and always enjoyable. The fact that there is a costumed vampire at the party, leads to amusing tension and the viewer knows that the Count will be teaching these people a thing or two about real vampires as the movie continues. I have to admit though that I have a bit of fun with it now, like the guys who are being fed to the girl vampires, you have several hot chicks who are scantly clad and want to suck the blood out of you? In these scenes, director Robert Kelljan tries to play the dreamy horror thing a la the same year's Let's Scare Jessica to Death (1971), but it proves rather vague and none of it coheses into a solid script. "Film Reviews: The Return Of Count Yorga". He also has a certain moral flexibility. If that's your bag, you should like this. "[3] Variety called it "a solid follow-up" to the original and "a handsome-looking film which rings the bell on both the shocker and satirical level. It was followed by a sequel, The Return of Count Yorga . Its the greatest cult movie newsletter in the world! Once again, as in Vampire Lovers, the traditionally based vampire legend comes back from the grave containing the permissive sexual standards of the times. Here, the Bulgarian-born Count Yorga is a recent transplant to California, and we first meet him conducting a sance on behalf of Donna, whose late mother was involved with the alleged psychic. Count Yorga (1970) was one of my childhood favorites. Oct 20, 2015. Possible SPOILER (if you've never seen a vampire flick before!). So grab some garlic and a crucifix 'cause Count Yorga might be in your neighborhood. "[6] Kenneth Turan of The Washington Post called it "as good a horror film as we have had for some time" and "90 minutes of supremely diverting entertainment. Quarry watches as two of his undead brides ALMOST make out and Lang has a self-caressing sequence as she's falling under his spell. 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. 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. Yorga awakens in his manor and heads to his basement which has been converted into a throne room where his two vampiric brides lie on slabs. Yorga pushes Donna's mother into Michael's stake and flees, when Michael tries to give chase Yorga ambushes him outside the room intending to choke him to death. and even when the bodies start piling up, the police don't seem to be interested. These are minor quibbles, however, as The Return of Count Yorga certainly worked for some audiences in 1971 when it was released, but it wasn't as big of a hit as its predecessor. Count Yorga (Robert Quarry), a vampire, comes from Bulgaria to 1970 Los Angeles and starts making a coven of beautiful female vampires. Some good surprises, too. It's also kind of slow and surprisingly dry with its tone. That night, Yorga visits Erica while Paul sleeps downstairs. Yorga's Brides are a collection of unnamed vampire bries seen in The Return of Count Yorga, the sequel to Count Yorga, Vampire. Robert Quarry is second only to Bela Lugosi in my book as far as vampire lords go, even beating out bonafide legend Christopher Lee whose Dracula performances are legendary. The story features Quarry returning as the infamous vampire Count Yorga, along with his servant Brudah, both of whom have been revived by the supernatural Santa Ana winds. Ohhow could I forget to mention the count's brides; possibly the scariest-looking, fastest-moving bunch you've ever seen! He's very charismatic and cool and I think this character deserved more than only two movies. Marx was not a prince of darkness, but Hollywood royalty all the same: the adopted son of Harpo Marx and Susan Flemming, Marx had begun arranging music for his father at 16. Count Yorga, Vampire (1970 - 93 minutes) opens with a ship arriving in the docks of Los Angeles. Anyway, that's the setup in Bob Kelljan's surprisingly shocking, intelligent and believable horror film from 1970, "Count Yorga, Vampire." 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. She wears a variety of clothing in the film prior to her turning, but upon ultimately joining Yorga's coven. Its gory, sexy modern sensibility would go on to inspire American International Pictures releases throughout the 70s, as well as 80s vampire classics and beyond. Quarry was never a fan of Vincent Prices over-egging the pudding (note: both men penned cookbooks) and opted to play Count Yorga straight albeit with a certain sarcastic wit. Up until then all vampire films had been set in Europe in the 1800s or early 1900s. Yorga takes Cynthia and flees to the upper balcony of the estate as Baldwin (who grabs an iron battle-axe from a wall) chases the two. Even Van Helsing had a hard time convincing his peers and the authorities of supernatural goings-on in the 1800s, and that became increasingly difficult in the 70s and 80s. Donna's mom died of some kind of anemia, which of course fits in with the movie's theme. Michael locks them in and drops his cross, believing the danger is over. 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, Lest one believes that the quest for the PG-13 rated horror film (read: more teenagers in the seats, and more money in studios pockets) is a new development, the filmmakers had to submit. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. A coffin is loaded to a truck at the Port of Los Angeles. Shortly after, Paul and Michael discuss the strange changes in Erica's behavior. 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]. Both drop the pretense that Yorga is anything but a vampire, and Yorga leads Hayes into his basement where his vampire brides lie dormant. Lest one believes that the quest for the PG-13 rated horror film (read: more teenagers in the seats, and more money in studios pockets) is a new development, the filmmakers had to submit YORGA to the MPAA six times in order to receive a GP rating (equivalent to todays PG). I enjoyed 'Count Yorga, Vampire' a lot and highly recommend it to fans of 60s and 70s vampire movies. Howard Thompson of The New York Times panned the film as "a dull, amateurish vampire brew. Plot [ edit] A coffin is loaded to a truck at the Port of Los Angeles. External Reviews Thomas Yvonne Wilder as Jennifer Produced by Michael Macready Music by Bill Marx Directed by Bob Kellian Photographed by Bill Butler With his last breath, Hayes tells Michael where Donna is. 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. Meanwhile, Hammer Productions, which all but cornered the vampire market throughout the 60s, found themselves playing catch-up. It's a classic vampire feel with a typical plot and silly actors, but that is what makes a fun horror movie. He is a stylistically refined character that obeys all the trope narratives that typically are attached to his vampiristically driven disposition. Film Reviews: the Return of Count Yorga a sequel, the Return of Yorga.. 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