The Big Scare

1974's "Tender Dracula" was shot in France under the title "La Grande Trouille" (The Big Scare), purportedly a comedy, which may be the main reason why Peter Cushing chose to star, as 'High Priest of Horror' MacGregor, not a real vampire but an actor known for playing one, ala Christopher Lee. At the 16 minute mark, our introduction to him is a pleasant surprise, suitably attired in cape and fangs, but the relentless, unfocused insanity makes for a very unpleasant viewing experience. Alida Valli is the only other veteran in the cast, while the rest are cardboard ciphers of no interest whatsoever. As a sex farce, there are neither laughs nor thrills, as the two actresses are poorly made up, resembling a pair of bored drag queens. As for Peter Cushing, the role could have been much like Boris Karloff's Byron Orlok in "Targets," an icon who wants to abandon the genre that made him famous, but this lone directorial effort from prolific producer Pierre Grunstein offers no substance to support its star (there are photos from titles like "Tales from the Crypt" and "From Beyond the Grave," setting up a short sequence with Cushing playing his own gravedigger grandfather). It's a rare instance where Cushing can be said to be hammy, forgivable under the arduous circumstances, but his yearnings to free himself from 'horror' to 'romance' come off as very real, the lone 'truth' amid so much that's false ("she's not afraid of growing old, she's in love. Love is ageless, and because she is in love, she is pure. All things from above are peaceful, gentle, and pure"). Christopher Lee would have his chance in 1976's "Dracula and Son," in which he did indeed play a real vampire, just not Dracula.

Peter Cushing in a vampire movie. Sound good? Yes I thought so too...until I saw Tender Dracula. This is a French film and comes across as something like an arty Hammer Horror flick. The plot focuses on two writers. They go on a trip with their girlfriends (who both look like men in drag) and end up at the castle of an aging actor. He is famous for portraying vampires on screen; but as the night progresses, the group begins to wonder if the man is really acting when he is on screen. The film basically consists of eighty five minutes of boring dialogue and as you can probably imagine; it gets boring quickly. The copy I saw was of really poor quality; but in spite of that it's clear that the film doesn't utilise any particularly interesting locations which helps to make it more of a dull experience. The title, 'Tender Dracula' lead me to believe that it might be some sort of soft-core porn outing, but there's no sex or nudity in the film and the title is quite inappropriate. I'd hesitate even to call this a horror film really since there's no actual horror in it. Tender Dracula is a 'lost' film, and really that is for good reason and I doubt it will be resurfacing any time soon!

In this set called CUSHING CURIOSTIES there are 5 feature films and the 6 remaining episodes of the BBC's SHERLOCK HOLMES series from 1968. The movies were made between 1959 and 1974 and reflect not only the growth of Cushing's career but the many changes in society and the movie industry that brought about the end of the Gothic horror films in which he specialized. Three of the films are in black and white. SUSPECT (1960) and THE MAN WHO FINALLY DIED (1962) have pre-James Bond espionage themes. CONE OF SILENCE, based on a book, deals with faulty aircraft design and is based on fact.

In SUSPECT, Cushing plays a scientist who wishes to publish his findings on deadly bacteria while the British Government wants them withheld from public knowledge. The film co-stars Donald Pleasance and Ian Bannen. In THE MAN WHO FINALLY DIED, Cushing is an ex-Nazi who is trying to commit insurance fraud...or is he? Headlining the movie is Stanley Baker, just 2 years away from international stardom in ZULU. Baker plays a man who is shocked to discover that his German father (not Cushing), whom he thought was long dead, is still alive. Both movies are tense and terse.

The earliest movie in the set, CONE OF SILENCE, dates from 1959. It tells the story of a new line of airplanes that sometimes crash while attempting to land. Peter is an ambitious pilot who, in order to advance his career, blames the crashes on an older cohort rather than the structural flaw he knows to be the real cause. The film has a strong cast that includes George Sanders and Bernard Lee. Future Hammer regulars Andre Morell and Marne Maitland have significant supporting roles. As stated earlier, the screenplay is based on fact.

The other two films, BLOODSUCKERS and TENDER DRACULA are both in color, made in the early 1970s and were barely released. The first movie, about modern day vampires, suffered from producer interference resulting in the director having his name removed. It also underwent several name changes. I first saw it in a drive-in and it wasn't half bad. In addition to Cushing, it has the added presence of Patrick Macnee and Edward Woodward. The 10 minute LSD induced orgy scene, which caused the director to leave and was ultimately cut, has been restored here. .. SPOILER ALERT!... It adds absolutely nothing to the film.

TENDER DRACULA (THE BIG SCARE) is a real oddity. It was made in France in 1974 and, aside from Cushing and THE THIRD MAN star Alida Valli, features an all French cast and crew. It was intended to be a combination horror comedy and sex farce and how well it succeeds will depend on your taste for...French horror comedies / sex farces. It does have its admirers but only in France which is the only place it was released before going straight to video. Whether it is Cushing's worst movie is debatable. He didn't think so, giving that distinction to 1967's THE BLOOD BEAST TERROR, but TD gets my vote.

As for the 6 SHERLOCK HOLMES episodes, they prove that Peter Cushing was one of the great Holmes interpreters right up there with Jeremy Brett and Basil Rathbone. His lean, gaunt features, dismissive attitude, and nervous energy are very close to Doyle's description of the character. Cushing also insisted that his wardrobe match the illustrations from the Victorian period magazines where Holmes first appeared. Nigel Stock is the perfect Dr. Watson. An ordinary man who helps to ground his extraordinary friend. Of the stories, only A STUDY IN SCARLET disappoints as the murderer's background has been eliminated.

So, in the final summary, CUSHING CURIOSITIES is a must for all fans of the actor even if not all the material is first rate. It gives us a chance to see Peter in some of his solid supporting roles before he became a horror star and some lesser known movies that he made to keep himself busy after his wife died in 1971...For more reviews visit The Capsule Critic.

I recently watched the French 🇫🇷 horror-comedy Tender Dracula (1974) on the Full Moon app on Prime. The storyline follows a group of horror film stars at the end of their careers, as they attempt to transition into a new direction. The movie studio, unhappy with this change, sends two writers and their girlfriends to the actor's home, hoping to convince him to stick with horror. Upon arrival, they discover the actor has begun blending his real life with his cinematic persona. Can the writers change his mind before it's too late?

Directed by Pierre Grunstein in one of his few directorial projects, the film stars Peter Cushing (Horror of Dracula), Alida Valli (The Third Man), Bernard Menez (Dracula and Son), Miou-Miou (The Science of Sleep), and Julien Guiomar (Carmen).

The storyline is fun, and I enjoyed the concept of Hammer film-like stars facing their twilight years, with the studio trying to squeeze one last horror run out of them. This is a very different role for Peter Cushing, where he essentially parodies himself, donning Party City-level costumes and offering a light-hearted take on "Dracula." The women in the film are gorgeous, and it includes the typical '70s horror nudity. The props and kills are playful, and because the film doesn't take itself too seriously, it reminded me a bit of High Spirits. While the comedic elements are hit-or-miss, the corpse gags are fun, and the way the horror is woven into the comedy is entertaining.

In conclusion, Tender Dracula is far from one of Cushing's best, but it's something quite different. I would score this a 4/10 and recommend it only with the appropriate expectations.

Tender Dracula is a combination horror film and French bedroom farce. It is one of Peter Cushing's least known films and for good reason. He plays a hammy actor who may or may not be a real vampire. Though Cushing is listed as the star, the film centers a lot more on the antics of two writers who visit Cushing's castle by the sea and the two girls they bring with them. There is a lot of nudity, some blood, some dream sequences and very little sense. It's like the makers want the viewer to puzzle over whether what is happening is real or not. By the end, the film becomes almost dream-like and makes no sense whatsoever. It's anybody's guess as to why Cushing signed on for this film. It is way beneath him. It's even beneath John Carradine!