William Marshall had the title role in director William Crain's 1972 blaxploitation horror classic, Blacula. Vonetta McGee, Denise Nicholas and Thalmus Rasulala co-star.

The civil rights movement came to the horror film genre in 1973 via American International Pictures' Blacula. Booming, deep-voiced William Marshall played the black vampire, with Vonetta McGee, Denise Nicholas, Thalmus Rasulala, Gordon Pinsent and Charles Macaulay in biting support. Yo, Blacula!

Screenplay, Director, Music

Blacula's screenplay was written by Raymond Koenig and Joan Torres, with first time director William Crain behind the camera.

Gene Page served up the movie's soulful horror music score. For added listening pleasure, the film also featured an appearance at an LA nightclub by the Hues Corporation (#1 hit, "Rock the Boat," 1974), who recorded three songs for the movie's soundtrack: "There He Is Again," "What the World Knows" and "I'm Gonna Catch You."

Blacula Cast

Heading the cast was William Marshall (1924-2003) as Mamuwalde/Blacula. Prior to his stint as the black prince/vampire, Marshall, an accomplished stage actor, had also appeared in episodes of The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, Bonanza, Rawhide, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Star Trek and The Wild Wild West.

Supporting cast members included Vonetta McGee (Luva/Tina), Denise Nicholas (Michelle), Thalmus Rasulala (Dr. Gordon Thomas), Gordon Pinsent (Lt. Jack Peters), Charles Macaulay (Dracula), Emily Yancy (Nancy), Lance Taylor St. (Swenson), Ted Harris (Bobby McCoy) and Rick Metzler (Billy Schaffer).

Budget, Filming Locations, Script Change

Budgeted at $500,000, Blacula was filmed in Los Angeles.

One script change did occur regarding William Marshall's character. At first, he was called Andrew Brown, which happened to be the name of the character from the Amos 'n' Andy radio and television series. At Marshall's insistence, Andrew Brown became the African prince Mamuwalde, who had never been subject to slavery.

Dracula Makes Blacula

Blacula opens in the year 1780 with African prince Mamuwalde and his wife Luva on a tour of Europe. Mamuwalde has come to Transylvania in order to enlist the assistance of Count Dracula in putting an end to the slave trade.

The undead Count, however, proves to be just as bigoted as many of his live counterparts, imprisoning his two Dark Continent guests. Luva dies in captivity, but Mamuwalde lives on when Dracula bites him on the neck. "I will curse you with my name...You shall be - Blacula!" the racist Count announces in a little rant pre-dating the founding of the Ku Klux Klan by 86 years.

Fast forward to 1972 Los Angeles, where two gay interior decorators buy the furnishings of Dracula's old castle. Included in the lot is a coffin, which holds the sleeping Mamuwalde inside. The lock is broken and out creeps the reanimated Mamuwalde -- or Blacula -- who makes quick work of the two men.

Now out on the prowl, Blacula samples the trendy LA scene -- after sundown, of course. At a nightclub, the elegant vampire proves to be something of a hit with the ladies, charming a young woman named Tina who reminds him of his long-deceased wife.

But the Bloody Mary-drinking Blacula, with his old world ways and 18th-century threads, doesn't quite fit into his new LA digs, arousing the suspicions of his 1970s soul brothers and sisters. Eventually piecing the entire mystery together is Dr. Gordon Thomas of the LAPD, who wants to put Blacula's soulless corpse on ice and thus stop his bloody feeding in the City of Angels.

Release, Reviews

Blacula made its New York City debut on August 25, 1972, opening simultaneously at the Criterion Theater on Broadway at 45th Street and the Juliet 2 Theater at Third Avenue and 83rd Street.

"Anybody who goes to a vampire movie expecting sense is in serious trouble, and Blacula offers less sense than most," offered a confused Roger Greenspun of The New York Times (8/26/72).

"William Marshall portrays title role with a flourish and gets first rate support right down the line..." offered Variety (8/2/72).

Box Office, Sequel, DVD

A modest success at the box office, Blacula produced a sequel: Scream Blacula Scream (1973), with William Marshall returning as the undead African prince.

Blacula gave rise to several other blaxploitation horror films, including Blackenstein (1973) and Abby (1974), the latter of which was almost titled The Blackorcist.

Blacula, which won a Golden Scroll award for Best Horror Film from the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, was released on DVD by MGM in 2004.

"That is one strange dude!" a young brother declares at an LA night spot after meeting the unhip Blacula.

Right on, brother, but can't we all just get along?