Blacula (American International Pictures) (1972)

s SCENE MAT 1-B DRACULA’S SOUL BROTHER — William Marshall stars as ‘‘Blacula,’”’ an African prince transformed into a vampire by the evil Count Dracula in the film which opens .... at the .... Theatre. The American International picture was produced by Joseph T. Naar and directed by William Crain from a screenplay by Joan Torres and Raymond Koenig. “BLACULA” STAR PROVES DRAMATIC VERSATILITY In accepting the title role in “Blacula,” American International’s new screen shocker opening ieee at the .......... Theatre, actor William Marshall can claim to have run the gamut of dramatic demands in the course of his career. The six-foot-five black star, who portrays the epitome of evil as an overlord of undead vampires in the film, was hailed for his performance as God in “The Green Pastures” on the stage and television. Marshall’s versatility as an actor is matched by the varied experiences he has had in real life. native of Gary Indiana, he worked in steel mills, was a commercial artist, a waiter and a soldier before entering the dramatic field. His first stage appearance was in “Carmen Jones” as a chorus singer. He then appeared in “Peter Pan” as Captain Hook, and in “Lost In The Stars,” the musical adaptation of Alan Paton’s “Cry The Beloved Country.” During a long stay in Europe he amassed a considerable stage, radio and television background, appearing in productions in England, ireland and France and toured with a road company through Switzerland, Luxembourg, Belgium and the Netherlands. Returning to the United States in the fall of 1963, Marshall immediately plunged into a long series of assignments on television, stage and in films, including performances in segments of “The Man From U.N.C.L.E.,” “Rawhide,” “Mannix” and “The Nurses” in video and “To Hell With Heroes,” “Spartacus” and “The Boston Strangler” in films. In “Blacula,” Marshall portrays a victim of the lengendary Count Dracula, rising from his coffin to wreak havoe among modern day victims. Sharing cast honors with him in the film are Denise Nicholas, Vonetta McGee, Gordon Pinsent and Thalmus Rasulala. Produced by Joseph T. Naar, the American International picture was. directed by William Crain from a Screenplay by Joan Torres and Raymond Koenig. DRACULA'S SOUL BROTHER ON SCREEN IN “BLACULA” Integration reaches into the realm of screen horror fiction with the arrival of ‘“Blacula,” American International’s new thriller opening ........ at the........ Theatre. Instead of the malevolence of the evil Count Dracula, the featured character in this shocker presents the menace of a black vampire, played by William Marshall, who rises from his coffin to aim his venomous canines at the vulnerable necks of modern day soul brothers. The creation of a black representative of the vampires is accomplished by Count Dracula when, as a prince of an African nation beleagured by slave traders, Marshall seeks the help of the Count in stopping the practice. Instead, the evil lord of the cult overpowers his visitor and dooms him to forever exist as a member of the undead, dubbed Blacula. For his part, Blacula succeeds in setting a good example for his creator, converting a_ sizeable number of victims into vampires with his extraordinary powers before the forces of good finally rise to the combat. A towering, broad -shouldered dramatic star with a strong background in Shakespearean performances, William Marshall lends a majestic dignity to his role as the black caped villain, swooping down on his luckless victims with convincing authority. Sharing starring honors with Marshall in the adventure are Denise Nicholas, Vonetta McGee, Gordon Pinsent, Thalmus Rasulala, Emily Yancy, Lance Taylor, Sr. and Charles Macaulay. Produced by Joseph T. Naar, the film was directed by William Crain from a screenplay written by Joan Torres & Raymond Koenig. PETITE BUT POTENT STAR HEADLINED IN “BLACULA” The proverbial estimate of the power of a woman is graphically illustrated in the case of beauteous black actress Denise Nicholas who stars in “Blacula,” American International’s new screen shocker opening........ at the he Ae Theatre. A slip of a girl, concentrating her sparkling charm in a mere five-foot-three inches, she appears in the film opposite the towering menace of William Marshall, who plays the title role with all the awesome power his six-foot-five inches of broad shouldered masculinity can muster. Nevertheless, Denise holds her own center stage in the film and provides an excellent foil for Marshall’s dramatics. The potency of the young actress is understandable, considering the amount of experience packed into her petite frame. She has studied such a myriad of subjects she could teach or give advice on a bit of almost everything. Born in Detroit, her education took her through the Ann Arbor campus of the University of Michigan where she majored in Latin American politics, Spanish and English and later to Tulane where she switched to dramatic arts. Her dramatic career includes starring roles in the EmmyAward-winning television series “Room 222;” “Five Desperate Women,” a movie for television; a string of Broadway stage performances and now, with “Blacula,” her first theatrical film venture. Joining Denise and Bill Marshall in the cast of “Blacula” are Vonetta McGee, Gordon Pinsent and Thalmus Rasulala. Produced by Joseph T. Naar, the American International picture was directed by William Crain from a screenplay by Joan Torres and Raymond Koenig. PUBLICITY SCENE MAT 2-A BITE-SIZED — William Marshall, portraying a black vampire in “Blacula,”” American International’s new screen shocker opening 5 ak aati at the ... ... Theatre, finds a toothsome portion in the neck of pretty Janice Pennington. An African victim of the insidious Count Dracula, Blacula rises from his coffin to aim his fangs at modern day soul brothers. Produced by Joseph T. Naar, the American International picture was directed by William Crain from a screenplay by Joan Torres and Raymond Koenig. SINGING TRIO FEATURED IN NEW FILM SHOCKER The sock rhythms of The Hues Corporation, a popular singing trio, lend a musical touch to the horrific proceedings in “Blacula,” American International’s new screen shocker opening........ at the shucose Theatre. Comprising the talents of Miss H. N. Kelly, Karl Russell and St. Clair Lee, the group has recorded on several major labels and has performed in Las Vegas at the Circus Circus; at Kings Castle, Lake Tahoe and P.J.’s in Hollywood. Starring William Marshall in the title role, ““Blacula” describes the evil doings of a black vampire chief who rises from his coffin to aim his deadly fangs at modern day soul brothers. Denise Nicholas, Vonetta McGee, Gordon Pinsent and Thalmus Rasulala share cast honors with the Hues Corporation and Marshall in the American International picture. Produced by Joseph T. Naar, the film was directed by William Crain from a screenplay by Joan Torres and Raymond Koenig. SCENE MAT 1-A NASTY NIPPER — Ketty Lester, making her debut as a confirmed vampire, aims her fangs at the vulnerable veins of Elisha Cook Jr. in “Blacula,”’ American International’s new screen shocker opening ............ at the eee Theatre. Starring William Marshall in the title role as the boss villain, the film’s cast also includes Denise Nicholas, Vonetta McGee, Gordon Pinsent and Thalmus Rasulala. SCENE MAT 1-C PAIR SHARE SCARE — Vonetta McGee is the object of William Marshall’s romantic intentions as he portrays a black vampire in “‘Blacula,’’ American International’s horror adventure openIng ES ee atthe ..... Theatre. They are joined in the cast by Denise Nicholas, Gordon Pinsent and Thalmus Rasulala. BLACK GHETTO LOCALE OF “BLACULA” FILMING A good portion of the principal photography in “Blacula,’’ American International’s new horror film opening ............ at. the. --2.....--. Theatre was centered in the Watts area of Los Angeles, a noted ghetto district of the city. Starring William Marshall as a black vampire overlord who rises from his coffin to seek the blood of his modern day soul brothers, its story required filming in one of the less affluent neighborhoods, according to Joseph T. Naar, the film’s producer. “We had to avoid the blueblooded areas,” he quipped. Denise Nicholas, Vonetta McGee, Gordon Pinsent and Thalmus Rasulala share cast honors with Marshall in the film. The American International picture was directed by William Crain from a screenplay by Joan Torres and Raymond Koenig.