That's because around this same time period, vampire films were getting a bit stale and silly--with too many Hammer Dracula films (the franchise was getting weaker due to so many sequels) as well as dumb films like OLD Dracula and the Blacula films (which weren't terrible, but they sure were silly). One reason for that is that in some significant ways the movie isn't very good. He becomes infatuated with Cynthia. Yorga sends the undead women to Cynthia's house, using mind-control to get Cynthia's family (along with Tommy, who was sleeping over) into the living room before his brides break in and attack them. [2] The disc was a double-feature release, pairing the film with Count Yorga, Vampire. Robert Quarry ('Dr Phibes Rises Again') is excellent as Yorga. Yorga awakens Donna telepathically and has her sabotage Michael's alarm clock before having her come to the mansion. Meanwhile, memories of the attack on her family slowly start to resurface in Cynthia's mind as she stays within Yorga's manor. Before becoming a genre icon Quarry would go on to appear in the blaxploitation zombie revenge film SUGAR HILL, as well as several Fred Olen Ray pictures in the 80s Quarry performed in radio plays before joining the Army in 1943. Its easy to pick out where the money shots would have occurred, had YORGA been shot as a skin flick: A love scene in a van on Yorgas estate, the girl-on-girl action in his dungeon, and what was probably intended as a masturbation scene when Erica is visited by the Count by night, a more explicitly erotic sequence inspired by a similar, more transgressive sequence in 1931s DRACULA. After making a . 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. Leave your expectations of lavish special effects, intricate plotting, and deep character development at the door. YORGA began its (after)life as a softcore skin flick under the title, THE LOVES OF COUNT IORGA, (that title card is still featured on most available prints of the film). But I loved it so much, this was just such a scary film to me, well, I'd say I grew up since then, so just giving a review from a new perspective. The non-polished production aspects lend the film a somehow more realistic and accessible feel. For the rest of the decade he mainly concentrated on TV before sadly having his career cut short by cancer. This movie is a culture clash flick. Before long, Quarry has nibbled on Lang and enticed her to his side while Murray and pal Macready prepare to do battle with him. 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. America was not to be left out, and Bob Kelljan's 'Count Yorga, Vampire' is a great little movie that is often unfairly overlooked. Good subdued erotica, as the bat-toothed girls slink around in filmy gowns. Count Yorga (Robert Quarry), a vampire, comes from Bulgaria to 1970 Los Angeles and starts making a coven of beautiful female vampires. Murphy, who would grow into a prolific character actor, isn't bad either, but most of the rest of the cast is weak. Just as he does, Erica, now a vampire and completely under Yorga's control, and a fellow redheaded vampire charge into the room to kill him. Low-rung vampire pic "Counts" on Quarry to elevate it. The sance turns slightly chaotic, and Donna's friends begin to suspect that there's something odd about the Count, especially when they learn that he had been dating Donna's mother, requested that she not be cremated, as her earlier wishes had it, but didn't turn up at the funeral. They are preparing the orphanage for a fundraising costume party. Indie sleeper thanks to Robert Quarry's absolutely commanding performance as the lead blood-sucker. She strikes Yorga in the chest with Baldwin's battle-axe. it's a your typical horror film. 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. 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. The 80s saw a slew of modern-day vampire tales with Tony Scotts THE HUNGER bringing them to New Yorks goth scene, NEAR DARK to the Wild West, and FRIGHT NIGHT transporting the legend even closer to homenext door to a suburban teenage horror fan. Donna mentions in conversation with her friends that Yorga was her mother's boyfriend. The times were a-changing, and audiences found themselves growing bored with the boilerplate vampire tales that low-budget studios had been cranking out through the 60s. A coffin is loaded to a truck at the Port of Los Angeles. Again, nobody gets a happy ending. Primaries have the right amount of pop to them allowing for rich blues, strong yellows, and . They asked me to read the script, Quarry explained to New Hollywood Gothique. Add your email here for great cult movie content: A writer, filmmaker, musician, and amateur bon vivant, Mike Vanderbilt spends his days and nights on either end of the bar. This time, the Count (played by Robert Quarry), having purchased an old mansion in California, is terrorising the nearby Westwood Orphanage. The sequence resembles a Bob Newhart/Benny Hill Halloween special. and apparently eats the family cat, but that scene seems to have been removed from the version I saw on Comet channel. Actor Roger Perry, who had a lead role in the first film, appears again but as a different character. Jason breaks free, only to run into Count Yorga, who chases Jason down a hall and strangles him. One would think a movie called the best horror film of the year by Gene Siskel of the Chicago Tribune would end up on countless greatest horror films lists. Thomas is tricked into walking into the quicksand pit and promptly sinks to his death. | So grab some garlic and a crucifix 'cause Count Yorga might be in your neighborhood. | They dated a few weeks shortly before her death. In this alternate take on the Dracula story, the titular count (from Bulgaria) holds a seance to contact the mother of young Donna. The end result is Count Yorga, Vampire, a wonderfully fast-moving, edge of your seat scare ride that keeps you taunt until the shocking end. Too bad that Quarry never got the acclaim his magisterial performance deserved. Cynthia hugs Baldwin, believing the ordeal over. Yorga was originally spelled "Iorga" but was changed presumably because American studios give zero credence to the . As she mocks him for "not loving her anymore" and soon starts laughing cruelly at him when he sense something wrong, her fellow brides attack Jason from behind. Count Yorga, Vampire Director: Bob Kelljan Starring: Robert Quarry, Roger Perry, Michael Murphy, Michael Macready, Donna Anders Country: United States Running Time: 93 Min Year: 1970 BBFC Certificate: 15 The Count Yorga movies have been lurking at the seedier end of the video shelf since the seventies, and many have wondered what horrors they hold. That made this film surprisingly effective. He is about to take her when he hears Baldwin scream his name, who seemingly has escaped the brides. It was a letdown for Quarry as well. Youll receive instant access to exclusive insider movie content, member only deals, first dibs at limited editions, and more. One of them is Donna's mother, whom he made into an undead servant. Donna mourns her mother a second time before Michael collects her. Both drop the pretense that Yorga is anything but a vampire, and Yorga leads Hayes into his basement where his vampire brides lie dormant. Directed by Bob Kelljan. It was followed by a sequel, The Return of Count Yorga. For a low budget flick that's coming up on its 45th anniversary, 'Count Yorga, Vampire' looks practically flawless with this 1.85:1 1080p transfer. When we think of great vampire portrayals, normally the names of Lugosi and Christopher Lee immediately pop into our heads. Its easy to pick out where the money shots would have occurred, had. He also intends to take a new wife, while feeding his bevy of female vampires. "[3] Roger Greenspun of The New York Times called Robert Quarry "the best chief vampire I have seen in years. 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. It was even more surprising since it was originally supposed to be a pornographic vampire film called THE LOVES OF COUNT IORGA. It was followed by a sequel, The Return of Count Yorga . Marx composed quite a few exploitation scores throughout the 70s, returning for the following years sequel, Its revealed that Yorga insisted that Donnas mother not be cremated so that he could add her to the undead harem that he keeps in the old-world dungeon of his thoroughly modern home. Donna cannot recall seeing Yorga at her mother's funeral. A couple has "The Count" (Robert Quarry) over to conduct a seance to try to contact Donna's mother. At the beginning of the film, not long after the seance. He hypnotically seduces budding starlets, and other attractive gals, to be his eternal lover - adding to harem of the undead. It is flawed, but I still think it is the most effective vampire film I have ever seen. Will their boyfriends be able to stop him? Despite knowing how dangerous their chances are, they stock up on stakes and makeshift crosses before heading to Yorga's mansion as night falls. But the two despite working together once again in 1974s MADHOUSE had a contentious relationship, supposedly incited by Price discovering AIPs plan to replace him. 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]. 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. The film was given a second VHS release by MGM Home Entertainment in September 2000. She wears a variety of clothing in the film prior to her turning, but upon ultimately joining Yorga's coven. Yorga goes to the orphanage during the costume party. Count Yorga is one who's not to be trifled with. Meanwhile, Hammer Productions, which all but cornered the vampire market throughout the 60s, found themselves playing catch-up. Count Yorga (1970) was one of my childhood favorites. Prepare to meet Count Yorga. In one scene, Yorga is seen watching a Spanish-language version of The Vampire Lovers on his television. "[5] Kevin Thomas of the Los Angeles Times wrote that "writer-director Bob Kelljan has freshened up the formula pretty well he and his attractive cast of unknowns do succeed in persuading us to go along with the hokum for the duration of the film's fast-moving 90 minutes. Hayes finds Erica's body among them, finding no heartbeat or pulse when he examines her. 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. In the midst of their escape, they encounter Brudda and managed to shoot him to death. 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'. Erica is a young and attractive woman in her age early 20's with shoulder length brunette hair, green eyes, and fair skin color. Of course, I said yes, if its going to be a straight horror film.. ; Gratuitous Rape: Does this to Donna in the first movie, much to Yorga's displeasure. Yorga returns to the manor, awakens his brides and unleashes them through the household as he psychically calls Cynthia to him. Eventually O'Connor is separated in the brides' throne/coffin room by a shutter and immediately attacked from behind and bitten by the witch (also a vampire) as Madden helplessly listens to O'Connor's death-screams. 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. Will they succeed in their intent? Bob Kelljan's "Count Yorga,Vampire" is an effective horror film which has plenty of suspense and atmosphere.Robert Quarry("Madhouse")is simply outstanding as a deadly vampire Count Yorga and there are some sexy vampiresses.The film may be a little too tame for some people's tastes,but there is enough thrills to satisfy horror fans.Highly recommended. Tommy tries to escape the cemetery but runs into the waiting Count Yorga. As Yorga reunites Donna with her mother, Michael finds Paul's mutilated body while navigating the crypt. The Count Yorga Collection (Limited Edition) | Arrow Video US Product Video Product Overview Product Details The Count Yorga Collection (Limited Edition) Earn 450 reward points when purchasing this product* MSRP: $50.00 $45.00 Save: $5.00 Quantity Buy Now Save to Wishlist Log in/sign up to use Wishlists! After sex they settle in to sleep. He's very charismatic and cool and I think this character deserved more than only two movies. There was a sequel called Return of Count Yorga, but after seeing this movie, you'll wish for a remake of this one instead of a pretty mediocre sequel. Yorga is simply looking to put together an undead harem that he can voyeuristically watch make love from the throne in his dungeon and he does, in a sexy sequence probably leftover from the scripts original iteration. That evening, Reverend Thomas phones Jennifer, but it is revealed she lies dead on her bed with a large knife sticking out of her chest. "[5] Kevin Thomas of the Los Angeles Times wrote, "Those who saw 'Count Yorga' will be disappointed. In addition to Siskels glowing review for the Chicago Tribune, Roger Greenspun of the New York Times called Quarry the best chief vampire I have seen in years. Kenneth Thompson of The Monthly Film Bulletin praised the acting and direction, comparing YORGA to NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD. Not only is Count Yorga very obviously . 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. He awakens them and commands them to have sex. Boyfriend Mike and pals Paul and Erica are along for support, disbelievers all, until strange occurrences cause Donna to get hysterical. 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 DRACULA A.D, 1972. 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