Affectionate spoof of the classic vampire story and most notably the Bela Lugosi film version, which benefits from a witty, intelligent script and some fine casting choices for the leads. However, the best thing about this film is the sense of harmless fun, and its extremely refreshing to see a modern movie with no swearing, violence, or sex scenes to ruin it for a family audience. Instead, what we get are plenty of one-liners which spoof those uttered by Lugosi (the best remembered being "Children of the night... shut up!") and excellent caricatured turns from the actors who really put themselves into the roles. In fact the only person who falls foul is the uninteresting Susan Saint James, whose boring character sits at odds with the rest of the film making you wonder why Dracula would go to all of the trouble bothering with her.George Hamilton effortlessly slips into the role of the suave, sophisticated Count with his tongue-in-cheek portrayal, and he isn't afraid to gently mock the character's idiosyncrasies while doing it either. Easily acting opposite him is an over-the-top Richard Benjamin, playing a slightly mad and frenetic descendant of Van Helsing, whose various encounters and battles with Dracula prove to be the highlights of the movie. Lower down in the cast we have a nice performance from Dick Shawn as the world-weary cop caught up in the case, and a scene-stealing appearance by Arte Johnson as Renfield, who cracks me up every time with his Dwight Frye-inspired manic laughing. With a very light plot, amusing humour, and emphasis on fun and action over slow-paced romance, LOVE AT FIRST BITE is a fine watch for vampire lovers everywhere.

Forced out of his Transylvanian castle by government officials, Count Vladimir Dracula and his bug-eating man-servant, Renfield, pull up stakes and land in New York City, where the bloodsucker begins his search for the fashion model he believes is his soulmate. "Love at First Bite" is a sassy, snorting romp, but it isn't crude; it has too big of a heart to be just another vampire spoof. Bram Stoker's infamous Count has been modernized (via the 1970s) as a die-hard romantic with a ticklish side (he amuses himself), and George Hamilton could not be better in the role. Whether seducing flaky sexpot Susan Saint James with some fancy moves on the dance-floor, matching wits with Richard Benjamin as a nutty psychiatrist (and Van Helsing relative!) or robbing a blood bank with Arte Johnson's Renfield in tow, Hamilton never gets pushy with his Dracula incarnation; he's working in a surprising, charming lower key and doesn't resort to hamming for laughs. The movie isn't especially well-produced--the color is gloppy, the continuity is spotty and the third act business is squashed together--but it has a sense of naughty (but not vulgar) playfulness that audiences responded to. Hamilton's obvious delight with this comic-book approach to Dracula is infectious, as well. His Count may not be street-smart or completely self-assured, but he's a flexible vampire, willing to adapt to the times. He's also loyal to the people he loves, and this gives the romance a groovy kick (when this vampire says "I love you," you knows he means it; he swoons a little himself when he says it). Hamilton revels in the fun, and he looks great in the cape. *** from ****

In 1979, one of my favourite Vampire movies was released, 'Love at First Bite'. With its cheesy dialogue, romance plot line and toned, tanned and accented 'George Hamilton' playing the sad vampire, 'Count Vladimir Dracula', this movie was a comedy success just waiting to happen.Vladimir is a Vampire with a heart. He is lonely, tired of his un-life and longing for companionship. But each and every time he has tried throughout the centuries to find his true love, something terrible always happened. And now, he is being evicted from his Transylvanian home and so has decided to move to New York to find his love, 'Cindy Sondheim', played by the beautiful 'Susan Saint James'.Cindy is a model (naturally) but surprisingly isn't as up herself as one would expect. Her character is much more self-conscious and down to earth than I had expected, which added to my enjoyment of the film.Soon enough, with the help of his servant and companion, 'Renfield', acted with such creepiness and downright filth by 'Arte Johnson', Vlad finally meets Cindy and proceeds to woo her with his deadly charm. But there is one problem. Cindy's psychologist and part-time lover, 'Dr. Jeffery Rosenberg' gets in the way, by opening up and confessing that he changed his name and that he is really a 'Van Helsing'. Jeffery then does his best to save Cindy and kill Vlad.One of my favourite scenes is set in a restaurant. Cindy and Vlad are having dinner when Jeffery bursts in, pulls out a gun and shoots Vlad three times in the chest, proclaiming that three silver bullets would kill him. But Vlad simply laughs and replies that the joke was on him, silver bullets are for werewolves. Jeffery is dragged out by the police and exclaims as he goes; 'No harm done. The man's alright. This was for a werewolf. No problem. Calm down, take it easy. I'm a Doctor, I know what I'm doing. It's alright, he's even got a little colour.' Overall, an excellent movie with a great cast and wonderful camera work and effects. The dialogue can be a bit cheesy at times, but it's definitely funny either way. There a lot of good lines throughout, but you'll have to watch it to hear them for yourself.

George Hamilton in his best film role ever as the nefarious Count Dracula is a fond and loving tribute of the Univeral Films 1931 feature. The up-dating of the story to New York city is a real laugh riot as Hamilton, always playing for the laughs, takes himself seriously, and delivers each line as a comedy gem. Arte Johnson has completely captured the character of Renfield, with the laugh and movements of Dwight Frye and it was incredible that the make-up artist for the original "Dracula" was used for this film 48 years later. Susan St James, Dick Shawn, Sherman Hemsly and Isobel Sanford all help to round out a rousing cast. The only fault that I have is with the VHS release which, due to rights disputes, had to substitute another song for the big dance number in place of Alicia Bridges' "I Love the Night Life" which was a perfect complement to this movie. If you haven't seen it you should. Much better than Mel Brooks' "Dracula: Dead and Loving it."