The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires
Blu-ray
Director: Roy Ward Baker
Screenwriter: Don Houghton
Cast: Peter Cushing, John Forbes-Robertson, David Chiang, Robin Stewart, Julie Ege
Distributor: Scream Factory
Not Rated | 83 Minutes
Release Date: April 9, 2019

“Black Belt vs. Black Magic!”

Directed by Roy Ward Baker (The Vampire Lovers, Asylum, The Monster Club), 1974’s The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires is the ninth and final film in the Hammer Dracula series.

The film, which stars Peter Cushing as Professor Van Helsing, debuts on Blu-ray from Scream Factory on April 9.

Known in the US as The 7 Brothers Meet Dracula, The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires is a fascinating kung-fu horror mash-up co-produced by Hammer Film Productions and Shaw Brothers Studio. It’s the only Hammer Dracula film that doesn’t star Christopher Lee in the iconic role. Here, John Forbes-Robertson plays the Count, thought the actor’s voice is dubbed by David de Keyser.

In 1904, Professor Van Helsing and his son, Leyland (Robin Stewart), are recruited by Chinese university student Hsi Ching (David Chiang of Dynasty of Blood) to visit the village of Ping Kuei and free it from the curse of Count Dracula and the cult of the Seven Golden Vampires.

The dangerous journey, funded by wealthy widow Vanessa Buren (Julie Ege of On Her Majesty’s Secret Service), sees the Van Helsings visit the derelict Temple of the Seven Golden Vampires – now inhabited by Dracula – for the ultimate clash between good and evil.

Presented here for the first time in high-definition, Scream Factory’s The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires Blu-ray is magnificently macabre, with gorgeous colors and sumptuous set dressing. If you dig movies like Ninja III: The Domination, Big Trouble in Little China, and The Golden Child, you’re going to enjoy this flick. It’s exactly the kind of crazy mash-up you’d expect to see as a faux trailer as part of Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino’s Grindhouse.

Scream Factory’s release includes Hammer’s original uncut version, as well as the alternate US theatrical version, The 7 Brothers Meet Dracula. Each transfer offers a brand new 2K scan of the original film elements, though the alternate version does include some standard definition inserts.

There’s a new audio commentary with author and film historian Bruce G. Hallenbeck, and even a couple of newly produced featurettes: “When Hammer Met Shaw,” an interview with David Chiang; and “Kung Fear,” an interview With Hong Kong film expert Rick Baker. Also included is a theatrical trailer, TV spot, and still gallery.

This flawed but fun movie has Chinese warriors battling vampires and their undead army with sweet kung-fu fighting skills – what more could you possibly want? It’s visually spectacular and sufficiently spooky, and a must-own for Hammer Horror fans, so pick up your copy today!

The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires is now available at Amazon. For more reviews of Scream Factory releases, click here.

Theatrical Trailer

Clip: The Call of the Vampire

Clip: Cave Fight

Clip: Actor David Chiang Discusses Filming

Cover Art

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