Stephanie’s mother is killed by a vampire although her cause of death is labeled natural. Her death has an emotional and mental effect on Stephanie. She is suspicious of how her mother died and believes someone was responsible. She desperately wants to be able to contact her to be reassured that she is at peace. Her father, Elliot (Don Barry), is concerned for his daughter’s wellbeing.
John Wainwright (Larry Hankin) is a noted magician, hypnotist and author. He is also the reincarnation of the legendary Svengali. At a demonstration of his hypnotic prowess, he meets Dr. Gregorio (Geoffrey Land). Gregorio is a psychiatrist and the legendary Dracula. He is also responsible for killing Stephanie’s mother. Wainwright is a member of a cult run by Hadley Radcliff (John Carradine). Elliot is friends with Radcliff and wants him to try to help his daughter. Gregorio tells Elliot that when he is done playing with the ridiculous cult people to let him know and he will help Stephanie. Stephanie begins to get involved with the cult. Elliot talks to Dr. Gregorio. He agrees to try to help.
Wainwright’s publisher, Sir Steven (Norman Pierce), turns out to be one of the members of the cult. The cult is The Society of the Bleeding Rose. They must reincarnate every so often to stay immortal; otherwise, they will cease to exist. They need a pure soul to transfer to.
Wainwright meets Trillby (Jane Brunel-Cohen). He begins to fall for her. Sir Steven wants to use Trillby as a sacrifice. He wants her soul. Wainwright temporarily breaks free from Svenagli’s influence but eventually Svengali once again reins him in.
In the meantime, Gregorio/ Dracula is biting women’s necks.
“Doctor Dracula” was released in either 1978, 1981, or 1983 and was directed by Al Adamson. It is another one of Adamson’s cut and paste movies. The original film was called “Lucifer’s Women”. There is a question as to whether or not the film was ever finished or released. Regardless, it was a sort of soft-core porn horror film, directed by Paul Aratow. This 1974 film was considered lost for years. It was found and released in 2018 by Vinegar Syndrome. Adamson took “Lucifer’s Women”, cut out the dirty parts and added in some additional scenes, with Dracula no less. He then retitled it “Doctor Dracula” and released it, I believe, to television.
As with all cut and paste movies, “Doctor Dracula” is a mess. There are added subplots that go nowhere, mismatched scenes and film snippets that don’t coalesce with the rest of the film. Bad acting and choppy editing are standard. All of that is a byproduct. The real problem with the movie is that it is mind numbingly boring. The highlight of the film is John Carradine over acting, and the very ending of the film. It was actually a surprise. I also liked the monkey lamp in Svengali’s den.
Dr. Anton S. LaVey's was a technical advisor to the “Lucifer’s Women” version of the film.
Movie
Lucifer's Women trailer