Dracula A.D. 1972 is a 1972 Hammer Horror film directed by Alan Gibson, written by Don Houghton and starring Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing and Stephanie Beacham. Unlike earlier films in the Hammer Dracula series, Dracula A.D. 1972 has a present-day (1970s) setting, in an attempt to update the Dracula story for contemporary audiences - Dracula is brought back to life in modern London and preys on a group of hippies that includes the descendant of his nemesis, Van Helsing.
It is the seventh film Hammer film featuring Dracula, and the sixth to star Christopher Lee in the title role. It also sees the return of Peter Cushing as Van Helsing for the first time since 1960's The Brides of Dracula. The film has a number of different titles, including Dracula '72 (UK working title) and Dracula Chelsea '72 (UK working title), Dracula jagt Mini-Mädchen (Dracula Chases the Mini-girls), its German title, and Dracula '73, the title it was given when released a year later in France.
It was followed by the final film in Hammer's Dracula series, The Satanic Rites of Dracula, which similarly has a modern setting and features some of the same characters.
In London 1872 - the final battle between Lawrence van Helsing and Count Dracula on top of a coach results in Dracula dying from a stake made from the remains of a wooden wheel. Lawrence dies from his wounds and, as he is buried, a servant of Dracula buries the remains of the stake by the grave and keeps a bottle of Dracula's ashes and the ring. One hundred years later, the colourful 1972, Johnny, the great-grandson of the servant joins up with a "group" containing Jessica, the grand-daughter of the present vampire hunter, Abraham van Helsing and with their unknowing help resurrect Dracula in the 20th Century who is determined to destroy the house of Van Helsing, but who can believe that The king of the Vampires really exists and is alive - in 20th Century London? Written by Lee Horton
