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. 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. Yes, this little horror flick, despite an underlit fight scene with the count's lupine manservant Brudah, is a pretty perfect outing. Hayes notices she has lost a lot of blood but is unable to diagnose the cause. This film's color palette is one aspect of this transfer I found exceptionally pleasing. Distributed by Scream Factory. A pickup truck snags a boxed-up coffin and head into the city. Return of Count Yorga, The (Blu-ray) Anthony Arrigo |. While Hayes distracts Yorga with enthusiastic questions about Yorga's occult experiments, Brudah rebuffs Michael's attempts to explore the mansion. Meanwhile, Madden and O'Connor come across Yorga's vampire brides. Notable exceptions include Universals SON OF DRACULA, which transported the action to 1940s Louisiana, and 1957s proto-feminist teenage horror shocker BLOOD OF DRACULA which featured Sandra Harrison as an adolescent atomic-age vampire cast away to an all-girls boarding school. 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. Memorable moments include Quarry enduring a late night tete-a-tete with Perry and Macready and Lang experiencing a gruesome encounter with her cat. 2016 Daily Grindhouse - All Rights Reserved | Design by, COUNT YORGA AT FIFTY: HOW A SKIN FLICK BECAME THE INFLUENTIAL VAMPIRE MOVIE OF THE 70s. Count Yorga, Vampire is a super low budget vampire movie from 1970 about a vampire by the name of, you guessed it, Count Yorga. However, she notices something wrong and pulls away. the guys spend most of the film running around, looking for the girls. They also wear no shoes . A tragic event leads persons from the orphanage to contact the local police, and together, they end up investigating Count Yorga. 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. 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. While only a nut would compare this to the greatness of Dracula or NOSFERATU, it still is a decent example of the franchise. He awakens them and commands them to have sex. The rock bottom budget is really evident in a number of scenes, from the lighting to the sloppy camera work. Due to Yorga's hypnotic suggestions, she has no memory of the attack. At the time, AIP was reportedly grooming Quarry to carry Prices torch as their new in-house horror star. Quarry suggested that producer/actor Michael Macready and writer/director Bob Kelljan ditch the softcore element and make a more typical horror picture that could play to teenage audiences in suburban movie houses. They resign themselves to spending the night in their van. This was really the first vampire film that treated them as swift and animalistic. As with many genre pics of the period, the acting and direction are pretty nondescript, and the whole thing looks like it was filmed through a screen door. Stephen Farber's 1972 book, The Movie Rating Game, details the problems that the film's distributor American International Pictures had in securing a GP rating (formerly known as M, later renamed to PG) from the Motion Picture Association of America, which initially was divided as to whether to give the film an R or X rating. 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 one scene, Yorga is seen watching a Spanish-language version of The Vampire Lovers on his television. During the seance, Count Yorga builds a strong bond between Donna, the grieving daughter, and himself. If that's your bag, you should like this. New blood needed to be injected into the genre. Despite being held back by the cross, Yorga taunts Hayes while positioning him in front of his brides, then silently commanding them to awake and attack the unaware Hayes from behind. It's up to those that are left, including Michael (Michael Macready, who also produced the film), and doctor / blood specialist Jim Hayes (Roger Perry), to wage war with the fiend. 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. An old school vampire living in the early seventies. 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. More often than not, since NOSFERATU hit the silver screen, vampires in film were confined to the villages and castles of 18th century Europe. She is dressed in a . Metacritic Reviews. "[6] David Pirie of The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote that Count Yorga had been resurrected "with considerably more enterprise and panache than before." 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 film opens with a narration by character actor George Macready, whose son, Michael Macready, produced the film and also played "Michael". To her horror, she sees that Baldwin's skin has turned pale and bite marks are on his face, revealing that he has transformed into a vampire (having apparently not escaped from the brides unscathed). They enlist the aid of blood specialist Perry, who acts as a sort of modern day Van Helsing, trying to come up with ways to combat the vampire. A must see for the classic horror fan. very average vampire plot, but it's not campy enough for Vincent Price, so you won't see him in here. Robert Quarry, however, is as convincing a vampire as both of those great actors. Marx composed quite a few exploitation scores throughout the 70s, returning for the following years sequel RETURN OF COUNT YORGA, its pseudo-sequel THE DEATHMASTER, as well as Kelljans SCREAM BLACULA, SCREAM, ACT OF VENGEANCE (aka RAPE SQUAD), and the sci-fi cheapie, THE ASTRAL FACTOR. Count Yorga is one of those films that came from the 70's, in my opinion, a very sexy vampire film, sort of soft core in some ways. 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. They said will you do it? The early 70s were a great period for vampire movies. ; 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 . As played by Robert Quarry, he is quite creditable and effectively gave Christopher Lee (Hammer Film's Dracula incarnate) a run for his money. 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. Arrow Video has announced a limited edition Blu-Ray release for THE COUNT YORGA COLLECTION, available in the UK from 24th October 2022. The newer members have cleaner silker gowns which can be tied around the waist. 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. Bob Kelljan's 'Count Yorga, Vampire' is often unfairly overlooked in an era dominated by English and European vampire movies. Several ingredients really help to lift this modern-day tale above the raft of similar competitors. "[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. Quarry would don the cape again one year later for the studios THE RETURN OF COUNT YORGA, as well as the foil to Vincent Prices Dr. Anton Phibes in 1972s DR. PHIBES RISES AGAIN (its rumored that early in the production of the PHIBES sequel, Phibes was to take on Count Yorga himself). It's a classic vampire feel with a typical plot and silly actors, but that is what makes a fun horror movie. YORGA was a surprise hit for AIP in the summer of 1970, appealing to both audiences and critics. 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. 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. Donna becomes hysterical during the proceedings and Yorga uses hypnosis to calm her. Primaries have the right amount of pop to them allowing for rich blues, strong yellows, and . Michael locks them in and drops his cross, believing the danger is over. Indie sleeper thanks to Robert Quarry's absolutely commanding performance as the lead blood-sucker. it started out life being one thing, and ended up as another. 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. These films opened with a horse-drawn carriage making its way through the countryside, and ended with the honorable Van Helsing doing away with eviluntil next time that is. Count Yorga (Robert Quarry) finds himself with a bit of a quandary on his hands. After leaving the manor, Hayes convinces Michael that killing Yorga will not be easy: vampires have greater strength and the wisdom that comes from living much longer than a "mere mortal". Quarry told actor/producer Michael Macready he would play the vampire role if they turned the story into a straight horror film.[2]. | He makes one of the wittiest vampires in film. The film ends with the ominous implication that Cynthia has joined them, Baldwin now their new leader and the surviving vampires are resting within the manor, where they will proceed to spread the vampirisim to the unwitting orphanage and soon to the rest of the town. Count Yorga (1970) was one of my childhood favorites. 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. By what name was The Return of Count Yorga (1971) officially released in Canada in English? The popularity, primarily at drive-ins and other theaters of that ilk, led to a sequel ("The Return of Count Yorga") one year later. He recommends rest and a high protein diet. The Count comes to California and starts up a harem of sexy vampires. A memorable sequence in which Erica (Judy Lang), having been bitten by the count, begins her transformation by devouring her pet cat was all but removed from the film, but is now available in all of its uncut gory glory. Sure, it's done on a shoestring, but director Kelljan gets the most out of the cavernous mansion interiors and clever camera set-ups. 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. Count Yorga (Robert Quarry) is living in a small town outside of San Francisco, where he becomes involved with an Orphanage, primarily as a source of victims. Count Yorga, Vampire has been the subject of several home video releases in nearly all formats since the 1980s. "Count Yorga" doesn't distinguish itself in any interesting ways from this pack. 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. The Return of Count Yorga 1971 Directed by Bob Kelljan Synopsis The DEATHMASTER is Back from the Grave Count Yorga continues to prey on the local community while living by a nearby orphanage. Michael rams the charging Yorga with his stake, killing him. 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. Enter Robert Quarry, an American actor with transatlantic style and wit. Cynthia Nelson, a teacher at the local orphanage, talks with the pastor while watching the sun set. 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. He and Donna watch Yorga turn to dust. Michael alerts Hayes that Paul has gone to the mansion, and Hayes confides that Paul's lack of preparation will probably lead to his death. He lives in a large house somewhere in California and terrorizes young women and their boyfriends. Will their boyfriends be able to stop him? Tired of the same old vampires? He has made very few genre films but he can also be seen in 'Strange Behavior' and Wes Craven's 'Shocker'. She reacts erratically to their presence, first threatening them with violence and then attempting to seduce Paul before coming to her senses and breaking down. Good subdued erotica, as the bat-toothed girls slink around in filmy gowns. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Return_of_Count_Yorga&oldid=1146721931, This page was last edited on 26 March 2023, at 15:40. Leave your expectations of lavish special effects, intricate plotting, and deep character development at the door. 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. Meanwhile, Yorga goes to claim Mitzi, killing her boyfriend near their boat house before feeding on her once more, draining her completely and adding her to his vampiric harem. In April 1991, the film was packaged as a Laserdisc double feature (Catalog Number ID7661HB), paired with the Vincent Price horror film, Cry of the Banshee; both films were not letterboxed, but employed a full screen, pan-and-scan process. Quarry plays the Count with a charm that is both amiable and yet caustic. It was a letdown for Quarry as well. The picture opened on 10 Jun 1970 in Los Angeles, and took in $160,000 in box-office receipts in the first week of release, according to the 12 Apr 1971 DV. More than a low-budget footnote, COUNT YORGA, VAMPIRE is a highly influential take on the vampire mythos, eschewing spooky Victorian castles by bringing the bloodsuckers to contemporary Los Angeles. A woman named Donna hosts a sance in hopes of contacting her recently deceased mother. His "Count" positioning gives him that old world nobility aesthetic, complete with a cloaked outfit. That film did not fare as well with critics, despite being a favorite of this writer. "[4] Gene Siskel of the Chicago Tribune declared it "the best horror film of the year. Soon after, we meet Count Yorga (Robert Quarry), as he conducts a sance to try to contact Donna's (Donna Anders) deceased mother. 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. As such, The Return of Count Yorga is a film with a good beginning and ending - alas the bits in between are often a drag. Meanwhile, Hammer Productions, which all but cornered the vampire market throughout the 60s, found themselves playing catch-up. Subscribe to DG on Patreon and get articles like this one before the rest of the world does! 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