COUNT YORGAIn 1970, director Bob Kelljan introduced the world to a new vampire named Count Yorga, played by Robert Quarry. At the time, there weren't too many named vampires besides Dracula or vampires related to Dracula: sons (Count Alucard - Son of Dracula), daughters (Countess Marya Zaleska - Dracula's Daughter) or look-a-likes (Count Mora - Mark of the Vampire). Even Nosferatu is a version of Dracula (although decidedly different visually from the US Dracula). Only Barnabas Collins, the lead from the gothic TV soap Dark Shadows, would be in the public's mind during this time. Also, Count Yorga would be placed in modern Los Angeles and not restricted to the confines of Victorian history, although he still dons the "classic" attire. Count Yorga's reception was strong enough to warrant a sequel in 1971 and would propel it's star Robert Quarry to become a genre star of the 70's.
The sequel to Planet of the Apes would bring with it the human mutant monster with the survivors of the Forbidden Zone. Removing their masks to reveal hideously scarred flesh and possessing powers of the mind strong enough to cast illusions and instill pain in the minds of both the Astronauts (James Fransiscus and Charlton Heston) and Apes alike. If that wasn't enough, they also worship the Doomsday Bomb, which they have propped up inside their subterranian church. In a world inhabited by talking apes that hunt, cage and dissect humans, only mutant human monsters can become more frightening and destructive.
Television in the Sixties would create some household monster franschises, The Addams Family, The Munsters and Scooby-Doo. In 1970, one franchise would leap to the theaters, the gothic soap opera Dark Shadows, with the film House of Dark Shadows. The Dan Curtis directed feature spotlights its vampire star, Barnabas Collins, played by Jonathan Frid. Like most vampires of the time, Barnabas doesn't stray too far from the gothic Victorian vampire stereotypes or Dracula's visual influences. Legendary makeup artist Dick Smith would provide a frightening aged, old-man version of Barnabas even using the same skull cap placed on Dustin Hoffman in Little Big Man earlier the same year. This would prove to be Barnabas' only film appearance as the sequel would spotlight other creatures from the series.
When a primitive troglodyte is found living in a cave, an anthropologist (Joan Crawford) attempts to domesticate the beast. A trouble-making land developer (Michael Gough) sets him free and introduces the world to Trog. The Z-grade monster of the year, Trog's makeup pales in comparison to effects found in Planet of the Apes. In fact, only the headpiece is makeup with the rest being a rather unconvincing costume. However, the whole concept is deliciously oversimplified and silly making for an unforgettable creature, perhaps for the wrong reasons, of a different time both in his own sense and movie monster history.
In 1970, much like today (2010), vampires were huge. We've already discussed Count Yorga and Barnabas Collins. Christopher Lee's Count Dracula for Hammer Films would make two appearances this year with Taste the Blood of Dracula and Scars of Dracula. Christopher Lee would also play a mustachioed version in Jesus Franco's Count Dracula. However, Hammer Films would bring the first of its Karnstein Trilogy films, Vampire Lovers and introduce the world to Ingrid Pitt as Carmilla Karnstein. No more vampire bride for this vampire, she's the king in her kingdom. Carmilla is Dracula's equal, just as threatening, just as enchanting and just as tragic. The female vampire finally has a name and a face.
A mostly forgotten kaiju creation would appear this year, Yog, the Space Monster also known as the Space Amoeba, but also simply named Gezora. Yog resembles a giant walking squid with a highly imaginative design, perhaps too innovative for its own good. Yog would never reach the audiences or fame of its cousins Godzilla, Mothra, Rodan or Gamera. However, Yog benefits from having some equally imaginative foes: Ganimes, a gigantic crab and Kamoebas a gigantic water turtle. While still obviously a man in a rubber suit, who can forget a upright walking squid with large bulging eyes. While never appearing in another film, unlike many of his Toho Studios counterparts, Yog would at least gain cult status over the years.
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