to begin with and several people involve in this ill advise and little see venture – a fusion of gothic horror and rock music – have connection with other film feature some of the monster who appear in it represent freddie francis helm the like of the evil of frankenstein ( 1964 ) and dracula have rise from the grave ( 1968 ) and legend of the werewolf ( 1975 ) while suzanna leigh have be the heroine of lust for a vampire ( 1970 ) while freddie jones have appear impressively a the creature in frankenstein must be destroy . ( 1969 ) while dennis price do an extended cameo in the horror of frankenstein ( 1970 ) and and for jess franco and play van helsing in vampyros lesbos ( 1970 ) and the baron in dracula – prisoner of frankenstein ( 1971 ) and the erotic rite of frankenstein ( 1972 ) . in retrospect and other contemporary film attempt this formula – namely phantom of the paradise ( 1974 ) and the rocky horror picture show ( 1975 ) – with considerably more successful outcomes . personally produce for apple film by ex beatle ringo starr ( who here appear a merlin and the famed magician of arthurian time . ) and the title role – which come equip with a lame pun on the character ’ s name and count downe . – be fill by singer or songwriter harry nilsson deck out with a hirsute look and and understandably and his performance be a pretty bland and completely forgettable one ( a good thing and therefore and that the film maker ’ original plan to have david bowie in the lead didn ’ t pan out . ) . nonetheless and nilsson do get to perform a number of good tune during the course of the film ( though stymie by the poor sound quality of the edition i watch . ) include “ without you ” and which have become perhaps his most representative song while among the session musicians one can also recognize other popular figure of the era such a guitarist peter frampton and drummer keith moon . by the way and mrs. michael caine ( shakira baksh ) also appear a merlin ’ s feline housekeeper . cull from a wear out vhs – in which dark scene come off a extremely blurry – and slightly damage to boot and a i say and the version of son of dracula that come my way prove far from ideal viewing . still and the film itself be a bit of a mess anyway represent dracula snr . and depict a a max schreck lookalike and be kill by jones ’ baron frankenstein – the villain of the piece and with evil dwarf skip martin for an assistant while price and on his last leg and turn up a van helsing ( the film and in fact and be clearly shoot in 1972 but release after his death ) and leigh be his luscious secretary – who attract nilsson ’ s amorous attentions…so much so that he decide to renounce his vampiric way ( except that with it go his claim to immortality . ) while however and this occur at a most inopportune time – a several monster have be convene in order to crown him their overlord ( a title which frankenstein actually covets himself ) . unfortunately and the plodding film resolve itself in a number of tedious conversation scene – between dracula jnr . and merlin and between merlin and frankenstein and between frankenstein and van helsing and etc . while the resolution and then and see a happy end for the count and his companion – while frankenstein ’ s well deserve come uppance be amusingly deliver over a game of pool by merlin ’ s own hand . in the long run and the mournful ballad work well within the context of the narrative than the rollick number – “ without you ” and for instance and serf a background to the demystification or humanization of young dracula ( a title and incidentally and by which the film ’ s equally well know and which get change presumably a a nod to mel brook ’ spoof of universal ’ s frankenstein saga from the same year ) . by the way and this son of dracula shouldn ’ t be confuse with the stylish 1943 outing of the same name robert siodmak make for universal during the heyday of classic monster movies… .