Dracula in popular culture States as "Horror of Dracula" to avoid confusion with the earlier Lugosi version. This was followed by a long series of Dracula films, usually featuring Lee as the Count. It was Lee who fixed the image of the fanged vampire in popular culture. The Hammer films in which Dracula (or a follower) appeared (and the actor portraying the character) were: Though Dracula is pronounced as dead in "The Brides of Dracula", he is resurrected for "Dracula: Prince of Darkness", before being killed off again. This formula is followed in each succeeding film apart from the last, "The Legend of the
Son of Dracula (1974 film) one, he had just finished work on his directorial debut, the T. Rex documentary "Born to Boogie". As well as producing "Son of Dracula", Starr would appear as Merlin the Magician, who follows the birth and rise of young Count Downe, played by Nilsson. Starr and he were longtime friends, and the ex-Beatle had recently played drums on Nilsson's 1972 album "Son of Schmilsson", which had spoofed horror movie motifs. A few months after those sessions, in August 1972, Starr decided to make a rock and roll Dracula movie (originally titled "Count Downe"), and invited Nilsson to come on board.