It's not a good movie, but it's historic

March 7, 2024 9:14 AM

The Son Of Dracula film featured here is not the early 40s Lon Cheney film from Universal, but instead is the 1974 film from Apple [Wikipedia] (as in The Beatles), starring Ringo Starr and Harry Nilsson. If you insist on watching this, here is the full film, Son Of Dracula [1h30m]. If you insist on torturing yourself further, here is the Son Of Dracula Soundtrack Album [YT playlist, background].

If you're sad this isn't about the Lon Cheney film, well, here. Feel better?

You can blame clavdivs for this post. They were fascinated by how both John Bonham and Keith Moon played in Count Downe's Band.

posted by hippybear (18 comments total)

Ringo Starr’s career in the 1970s was something else
posted by The River Ivel at 9:46 AM on March 7 [5 favorites]

I was about to ask if this is why Son of Schmilsson has the cover that it does...but that predates the movie by two years!
posted by Rudy_Wiser at 10:27 AM on March 7 [2 favorites]

If listening to an album full of Nilsson songs is considered torture I guess this really is the worst timeline.
posted by badbobbycase at 10:31 AM on March 7 [5 favorites]

Nilsson songs mixed with bad movie dialogue and a score by Paul Buckmaster, in between arranging gigs for Carly Simon, Elton John and Miles Davis. The 70's were weird, man.
posted by bgrebs at 10:53 AM on March 7 [1 favorite]

Not having seen either film and comparing them just by their respective wikipedia summaries, the Nilsson and Starr one seems more interesting? Dracula's son falls in love, commits to some personal growth in order to be with his love, and then having achieved that growth presumably lives happily ever after? Maybe it's a pretty boring movie, but that plot seems pretty sweet and you can't knock the soundtrack.
posted by RonButNotStupid at 10:58 AM on March 7 [1 favorite]

Somewhere out there is the Ringo Starr alternate universe timeline and it is the best timeline.
posted by RonButNotStupid at 11:09 AM on March 7 [2 favorites]

If listening to an album full of Nilsson songs is considered torture I guess this really is the worst I never considered that masochism, but here we are.

I never considered listening to the Point as masochism, but here we are.
posted by otherchaz at 11:46 AM on March 7

Son of Dracula is indeed a terrible movie, which I saw on release, because fifteen year old me was a Harry Nilsson fan. As for the soundtrack, it has some brilliant music on it (interspersed with other stuff), but I'm pretty sure the only track that can't be found elsewhere (on 12-inch vinyl anyway) is Daybreak.

Daybreak is a great song. And it's completely concerned with vampirism and its downsides, the break of day being a biggie. All of which points to the great opportunity (missed entirely) inherent in a vampire story which is more or less an exploration of the rock'n'roll lifestyle -- party all night (and beyond), but the morning will come, and you will pay for your transgressions against the normal order of things.
posted by philip-random at 12:02 PM on March 7 [2 favorites]

The soundtrack has George Harrison on cowbell.

Also: "Chaney" with an a or the Phantom will get you
posted by pracowity at 12:13 PM on March 7

Oh dear god. I live in Cheney, and I know I typed Chaney, but autocorrect just got it, like it did that time, too. I didn't even think to watch for that, thanks for the heads up!
posted by hippybear at 12:20 PM on March 7 [1 favorite]

Oh, it's actually the Son of Chaney playing the Son of Dracula. He's not so scary.
posted by pracowity at 12:22 PM on March 7

The great songs are obviously out of place. "Moonbeam" and, obviously, "Without You" are great songs. I can't listen to "Without You" without turning into a quivering lump. One of "those songs" for me.
I have the soundtrack album of "The Point" that has the little comic book insert.
And, "Me and My Arrow" relieves that "quivering lump" feeling.

"Daybreak", BTW, is on the All Time Greatest Hits CD.
posted by pthomas745 at 12:27 PM on March 7 [2 favorites]

> Ringo Starr’s career in the 1970s was something else

Two Hall of Fame alcoholics at the height of their powers. Glad Ringo was able to clean up, at least.
posted by The Card Cheat at 12:33 PM on March 7 [1 favorite]

Ken Lee!
posted by pracowity at 12:36 PM on March 7 [1 favorite]

I would not have done this post Justice. thank you hippiebear, you're awesome.
posted by clavdivs at 12:47 PM on March 7 [3 favorites]

C'mon, “Jump Into The Fire” is a great track! I mean, this wigged-out psych cover wouldn't exist without that mess of a movie: Heather Trost - Jump Into The Fire
posted by scruss at 1:22 PM on March 7 [1 favorite]

also Goodfellas
posted by philip-random at 1:36 PM on March 7 [1 favorite]

thank you hippiebear, you're awesome.

No, this post is all about you, claudius.
posted by hippybear at 4:50 PM on March 7