Billy the Kid Versus Dracula (1965)

Dracula (John Carradine) is looking for a mate, so he heads West. On the stage, he meets a Mr. and Mrs. Bentley, who are headed in the same direction to take care of their orphaned niece. The Count takes one look at the photo of lovely blonde Elizabeth Bentley (Melinda Plowman) and decides he has to maker her his.

One bite into the neck of a pretty young Indian woman sets her friends on the warpath. While the Count slips away (or flies, since he can change into a bat anytime he likes), the Indians attack the stage, killing everyone aboard.

The Count takes the young girl’s photo from her dead aunt’s body and heads to town, where he passes himself off as her uncle. She has no reason to doubt him, though an immigrant family that has lost a daughter to one of his bites suspects he’s a vampire.

Pretty soon, Elizabeth’s fiance is getting suspicious as well.

That fiance is none other than Billy the Kid (Chuck Courtney), now reformed and going under the name William Bonney.

John Carradine as Count Dracula, enchanted with Betty Bentley in Billy the Kid vs. Dracula (1965)

Melinda Plowman as Betty Bentley, the lovely lass who plans to marry Billy in Billy the Kid vs. Dracula (1965)

Review

Pretty much as campy as it sounds, with D-grade special effects, the least fearful Billy the Kid you’ll find in a Western, not to mention one of the strangest final showdowns. Just try to hold a straight face as Billy hurls a six-shooter at Count Dracula.

As for our cast, Chuck Courtney had a recurring role as the Lone Ranger’s nephew in the hit TV series when he was a kid. He did most of his work on TV, though he worked as an extra on a number of John Wayne Westerns. This marked pretty Melinda Plowman’s only major screen appearance as an adult; she, too, performed mostly on TV.

And this marked the final film for Olive Carey, a veteran of silent films, who plays the role of a frontier doc. She was the wife of Harry Carey and the son of Harry Carey Jr., who also has a small part.

Director Beaudine made this film back-to-back with another weird Western — “Frankenstein Meets Jesse James’ Daughter.”

Chuck Courtney as Billy the Kid, wondering whether Betty’s uncle will forgive his gunslinging past in Billy the Kid vs. Dracula (1965)

Roy Barcroft as Sheriff Griffin, scoffing at talk of vampires in Billy the Kid vs. Dracula (1965)

Directed by:
William Beaudine

Cast:
John Carradine … Count Dracula
Chuck Courtney … Billy the Kid
Melinda Plowman … Elizaeth Bentley
Virginia Christine … Eva Oater
Walter Janovitz … Franz Oater
Olive Carey … Dr. Henrietta Hull
Roy Barcroft … Sheriff Griffin
Harry Carey Jr. … Ben Dooley
Bing Russell … Dan Thorpe
Hannie Landman … Lisa Oster
Marjorie Bennett … Mary Ann Bentley
William Forrest … James Underhill

Runtime: 73 min.

Virginia Christine as Eva Oater, vowing to avenge the death of her daughter in Billy the Kid vs. Dracula (1965)

Walter Janovitz as Franz Oater, the father of one of Dracula’s victims in Billy the Kid vs. Dracula (1965)

Memorable lines:

Billy the Kid: “A girl was killed last night.”
Elizabeth Bentley: “By who?”
Billy: “Her mother swears a vampire did it.”
Elizabeth: “A vampire? How stupid. Have you ever heard of anything so fantastic Uncle James?”
Count Dracula: “Ridiculous. Fifteenth century witchcraft stuff.”

Elizabeth Bentley: “Uncle James.”
Count Dracula, his face glowing red: “Don’t be afraid my child. From the moment I saw your picture, I wanted you. I chose you for my mate. Tomorrow, you will become one of the undead, as I am.”
Elizabeth, hypnotized: “If that is your wish.”

Count Dracula, upon being told Elizabeth is under the care of a doctor: “Where do I find this backwoods, female pill-slinger?”

Melinda Plowman as Betty, preparing to throw a can for Billy’s target practice in Billy the Kid vs. Dracula (1965)

Olive Carey as Henrietta Hull, the doctor’s widow Billy turns to for help in Billy the Kid vs. Dracula (1965)

Hannie Landman as Lisa Oster, reacts to seeing Count Dracula again in Billy the Kid vs. Dracula (1965)

Bing Russell as Dan Thorpe, the man who loses his girl and his job to Billy in Billy the Kid vs. Dracula (1965)

Melinda Plowman as Betty Bentley, humored by Eva’s suggestions on how to keep away vampires in Billy the Kid vs. Dracula (1965)

Melinda Plowman as Betty Bentley, falling under Dracula’s spell in Billy the Kid vs. Dracula (1965)