THE SATANIC RITES OF DRACULA   (US title: COUNT DRACULA AND HIS VAMPIRE BRIDE)
Director - Alan Gibson, Screenplay - Don Houghton, Producer - Roy Skeggs, Photography - Brian Probyn, Music - John Cavacas, Special Effects - Les Bowie, Makeup - George Blackler, Art Direction - Lionel Couch. Production Company - Hammer/EMI. 1973.

Cast: Peter Cushing (Lorrimer Van Helsing), Christopher Lee (Count Dracula/D.D. Denham), William Franklyn (Torrence), Michel Coles (Inspector Murray), Joanna Lumley (Jessica Van Helsing), Freddie Jones (Professor Julian Keeley), Barbara Yu Ling (Chin Yang), Valerie Ost (Jane), Richard Vernon (Colonel Matthews), Patrick Barr (Lord Carradine)

      An evil energy force generates throughout Pelham House, located in the countryside of London. Officials are informed about satanic occurances at the estate which alerts Inspector Murray to investigate. The Inspector discovers that several renowned men, including a government official, are participating in devilish rites.
      Inspector Murray immediately contacts London’s top authority on the supernatural, Professor Lorrimer Van Helsing. Learning about the bizarre happenings from the Inspector, Van Helsing seeks the aid of his old friend Professor Keeley. Meanwhile, Inspectors Murray and Torrence, along with Van Helsing’s beautiful granddaughter Jessica, secretly investigate the Pelham House. There they find the grounds guarded by armed men outfitted in black and resembling Nazis. The three intruders enter the dreary estate only to find themselves surrounded bu an army of vampire girls in the cellar. Murray cleverly switches on the built-in sprinkler system, and the vampires dissolve in smoke; however the device sets off an alarm, which arouses the attention of the guards. Fortunately, they manage to escape.
      Professor Van Helsing’s encounters do not go well either. The Professor locates his colleague Keeley. The colleague reveals that he has developed the most deadly bacteria the world has ever seen through the worship of Satan, for his master. Van Helsing’s suspicions are aroused from a series of incidents which lead him to the ringleader of this secret society..... Count Dracula. Dracula takes the Professor prisoner and another sacrificial ritual commences, this time Jessica is to be the victim.
      During the ceremony, the sadistic Count demonstrates the power of the bacteria on a disciple. As a result of the bacteria, the flesh blackens and he literally burns to death. Next, the Vampire descends toward Jessica on the altar, but his malevolent intentions are put to a halt when a fire is inadvertently started. In the excitement, Inspector Murray rescues Jessica while Van Helsing flees the blazing structure and Count Dracula. The Vampire races after the professor into the darkness of night and takes refuge behind a hawthorn bush. Dracula becomes entangled and trapped like a netted animal. The unrelenting piercing of the thorns proves to be too much for the Count, causing him to dramatically fall to the powers of goodness. Van Helsing fashions a stake from a nearby fence and impales the snarling beast. Slowly, Dracula begins to crumble to dust. His ashes blow freely throughout the chilling October wind, never to be gathered again. Count Dracula is truly dead, good has conquered evil, and Van Helsing is triumphant.

Screen grabs by Stuart Hall