Dracula A.D. 1972 Blu-ray

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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r

directed by Alan Gibson
UK 1972

London’s become a small town for a handful of jaded psychedelic-era hipsters. But Johnny Alucard has a groovy new way for his pals to get their kicks. A certain ritual will be the living end, he insists. And if you still wonder where Johnny’s coming from, try spelling his last name backwards. Dracula is raised into the modern era in this Hammer Studios shocker that’s “quite well done” (John Stanley, Creature Features). Christopher Lee dons the cape for the sixth time and seeks out fresh victims. As archnemesis Van Helsing, fellow horror legend Peter Cushing clutches a vial of holy water and edges within throwing distance. Their harrowing battle royale is not to be missed. In fact, it’s the living end.

Posters

Theatrical Release: 17 November 1972 (USA)

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Comparison:

Warner Home Video - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Warner Archive - Region FREE - Blu-ray

Big thanks to Eric Cotenas for the Warner Home Video DVD Screen Caps!

1) Warner - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT

2) Warner Archive - Region FREE - Blu-ray - RIGHT

Box Covers		Coming out on Blu-ray in the UK in May 2020
Distribution	Warner Home Video Region 1 - NTSC	Warner Archive - Region FREE - Blu-ray
Runtime	1:35:39	1:35:40.901
Video	1.78:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 5.73 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	1.78:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 29,729,640,034 bytes Feature: 27,987,326,976 bytes Total Video Bitrate: 34.99 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate: Warner Home Video
Bitrate: Warner Archive Blu-ray
Audio	English Dolby Digital 1.0 mono; French Dolby Digital 1.0 mono	DTS-HD Master Audio English 1992 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1992 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Subtitles	English SDH, French, and Spanish	English (SDH), None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Warner Home Video Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 1.78:1 Edition Details: • Theatrical Trailer (16:9; 2:47) DVD Release Date: 4 October 2005 Amaray Chapters 25	Release Information: Studio: Warner Archive 1.78:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 29,729,640,034 bytes Feature: 27,987,326,976 bytes Total Video Bitrate: 34.99 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Edition Details: • Trailer (2:54) Blu-ray Release Date: October 16th, 2018 Standard Blu-ray Case Chapters 24

Comments

NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Warner Archive - Region FREE - Blu-ray - November 2018': The new Warner Archive release of Dracula A.D. 1972, on Blu-ray looks different than the 2005 DVD with cooler skin tones and an overall brighter image. It shows more information in the frame - colors (red blood) becomes richer and the grain texture is exported more adeptly looking far more film-like and less video-like. on the Blu-ray image is thick, but consistent and pleasing in-motion.

Warner Archive use a DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel mono (24-bit) track in the original English language. There are plenty of vampiresque effects - growls, snarls and women screaming. The score is by Michael Vickers (At the Earth's Core, The Sex Thief) that is largely unremarkable but keeps pace with the action. There are optional English subtitles (SDH) on the Region FREE Blu-ray.

Same as the DVD the Blu-ray has only a trailer as an extra. A commentary would have been appreciated.

Well, Dracula A.D. 1972 is one the last gasps of Hammer Studio clinging to the Cushing/Lee gothic horrors and this may be the best part of this film. It worked for me but most feel the modernization is koyaanisqatsi. We only wish we could return to the heyday of the studio - but Dracula A.D. 1972 carried some nostalgia and classic vampire lore. For fans - absolutely recommended!

- Gary Tooze

DVD Menus
Warner Home Video - Region 1 - NTSC