Scream Blacula Scream at the Alamo Ritz

Dracula is one the most famous characters of all time, and has been played by some of the most interesting and talented actors in cinema—Max Schreck, Béla Lugosi, Gary Oldman, and Rutger Hauer just to name a few. (Our pick: it’s a draw between Leslie Nielsen and George Hamilton. We prefer our vampires hilarious!) But when it comes to a thoroughly unconventional take that’s sure to make a lasting impression, it’s hard to beat William H. Marshall in Scream Blacula Scream.

As part of their “Terror Tuesday” series, the Alamo downtown presents this 1973 classic, starring Marshall and a young Pam Grier, in all its blaxploitative glory. The vampire makes his triumphant return to drink the blood of the innocent in this sequel to the previous year’s Blacula.

Here’s a little taste of the plot. A voodoo shaman, angry for being overlooked as the next high priest, summons Blacula to do his bidding and wreak vengeance. Of course, Blacula (really, that word is so fun to say, try it) can be no mortal’s servant, and so, naturally, chaos ensues.

Let’s leave any debate on the value of civil rights for the political wonks, and just agree that for pure awesomeness, the idea of a black Dracula is already a great idea. But Marshall, a well-respected stage actor (later generations would know him better as the King of Cartoons on the Saturday morning show “Pee Wee’s Playhouse”), brings commitment and authenticity that turns a B movie into a solid B plus.