Dracula FAQ by Scivally Bruce;

Author:Scivally, Bruce;
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: film, television, pop culture
Publisher: Backbeat
Published: 2015-10-28T00:00:00+00:00

Dracula (George Hamilton) rises from his coffin in 1979’s Love at First Bite.

© 1979 American International Pictures. Courtesy of Del Valle Archives.

Susan Saint James, who endeared herself to TV audiences as the female half of NBC’s McMillan & Wife from 1971 to 1976, was cast as Cindy Sondheim, the fashion model—not much of a stretch for Saint James, who had been a model in her youth. For Love at First Bite, the actress bleached her hair blonde. Afterwards, she noticed she was getting more attention from random men on the street and decided that yes, blondes do have more fun. Saint James enjoyed working with George Hamilton, and even dated him during filming.

To outfit himself as a vampire, Hamilton went to Dunhill Tailors, a clothing company frequented by the likes of New York’s Governor Hugh Carey and actor Paul Newman. Dunhill also made Gregory Peck’s wardrobe for The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit (1956). The clothier provided a black cape that required over eight yards of woolen fabric and was lined, at Hamilton’s insistence, with white silk, which the actor felt was “more elegant” than red. They also made classic 1930s-style tailcoats, a quilted black velvet robe and two “at home” outfits, one single-breasted and one double-breasted, both in black velvet. Why did Hamilton choose Dunhill’s? Because for several years he had been having his own personal wardrobe made by them. Hamilton decided early on that one thing he would not wear as Dracula would be fangs. As he kept reminding people, neither did Bela Lugosi.

Shooting got underway on location in New York City in June of 1978. Wearing lots of white makeup to tone down his trademark tan, Hamilton made an interesting discovery. “Women find a pale-looking man rather sexy,” he told Roderick Mann of the Los Angeles Times, “probably because it looks as if he spends most of his time in bed.”

In mid-July, hyping of the film got an early start when invitations were sent out for a celebration on the castle lot of MGM in Hollywood in honor of Dracula’s 710th birthday. “Come as you are or as you want to go,” read the invites. “No gifts please. However, the Count will appreciate a donation to your local blood bank in his name. He would like to think of it as your investment in his future.” When guests dialed the phone number to RSVP, they heard a recording of Hamilton as Dracula saying, “I’m not in at the moment but please leave your reply after the scream.”

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