Mystery in Dracula's Castle (1973 TV Movie) User Reviews

This TV Disney Film inspired me to become a writer

[ApolloBoy109 · 3 October 2003]

The story opens as school is getting out. Mom, a writer, loads up her two boys and her trusty typewriter, to head out to a quaint seaside location somewhere in Northern California. Harking back to a simpler time, the three live in a bungalow, mere feet from a beautiful harbor. This well-worn set-up has stayed with me for life, bestowing upon me the association of summer and adventure. Jewel thieves use an old lighthouse to store their booty, and amateur film makers, brothers, use the same lighthouse to make Dracula's castle. The story is very Willy Folk St. John. It's simple storytelling narrative was perfect for 1973, and the cast is filled with fresh, all-American faces. So Disney....

Thank you Uncle Walt

Benji!

[BandSAboutMovies · 4/10 · 23 May 2024]

Originally airing on January 7 and 14, 1973 on The Wonderful World of Disney, this live action movie was directed by Robert Totten, who mostly worked in TV, and written by Sue Milburn, who mostly wrote episodic television and made for TV movies.

Marsha Booth (Mariette Hartley) is a single mom who has a deadline to write her new book, which causes her to take a vacation to the beach, bringing along her sons Alfie (Johnny Whitaker) and Leonard (Scott C. Kolden). They occupy themselves by taking over an abandoned lighthouse and making a movie, "Dracula's Castle" with the sheriff's daughter Jean (Maggie Wellman) and a dog named Watson.

What they don't know is that there's a bunch of jewel thieves - Keith (Clu Gulager) and Noah (Mills Watson) - who have found the Daumier diamond necklace in the lighthouse. There's a conspiracy in town and the sheriff (James T. Callahan) - who is Jean's dad - doesn't want to hear these kids and their stories. But maybe, just maybe, he will come around.

If Watson the dog looks familiar, he was played by Higgins, who was also Uncle Joe Carson's dog on Petticoat Junction. A mix of Miniature Poodle, Cocker Spaniel and Schnauzer, Higgins was found by animal trainer Frank Inn found the dog at the Burbank Animal Shelter as a puppy. His most famous role was played when he was already retired, coming back to star in Benji, becoming the first dog actor to have the role.

If you're expecting vampires, this is not the movie for you.

well done TV wonderful world of disney sunday night staple

[davidm-14 · 8/10 · 8 February 2023]

I remember seeing this one often on abc, sunday night right after "wild kingdom" pn the wonderful world of disney. They did quite a few of these types of films, presumably because the budget was lower than a feature film. They were also a little lost for a few years after walt died.

This one is also noteable because it features johnny whittaker and scott kolden, who would go on to be brothers in "sigmund and the sea monsters" on saturday mornings during this same year. Anyway, the plot inviolves a couple of brothers making a scary film during summer vacation who stumble onto a jewel heist in an old lighthouse. Ridiculously stupid criminals and not a swear word to be found.