Dracula in the Provinces (1975) 1080P

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Originally titled Il cav. Constante Nicosia demoniaco, ovvero: Dracula in Brianza, this film is a fascinating "deep cut" from the legendary Lucio Fulci. It is a satirical sex comedy that blends comedy and fantasy with sex. The film was shot in just eight weeks between March and April 1975. Fulci reportedly wanted to make a comedy in the vein of Young Frankenstein, which had been a recent massive hit. The film also has some political undertones. In the end, the boss survives by drinking the blood of his workers, highlighting the supposed exploitation of the proletariat.

Italian sexploitation came in a few varieties but the underlying vibe was slapstick humor, misunderstandings, social abnormalities, and plenty of soft nudity. Very infrequently would you see explicit sexual situations but more soft sensuality accented by stockings, garters and lingerie with the purpose of celebrating the female allure. The undisputed queen of this genre of Italian movies was Edwige Fenech, with honorable mention going to Gloria Guida. Typical topics included Insegnante (teacher student), Liceale (high school love), and Militare (military) comedies.

The story follows Costante Nicosia (Lando Buzzanca), owner of a successful toothpaste factory. While on a business trip to Romania, Nicosia meets the sophisticated Count Dragalescu (John Steiner). After a night of heavy drinking and debauchery at the Count's castle, Nicosia wakes up in bed with the Count. Nicosia returns to Italy as a vampire. To satisfy his thirst without losing his status, he concocts a genius solution by offering his employees bonuses to give blood which also solves the problem of making more vampires. In the process, he impregnates his wife and they give birth to a son, but the surprise comes when he peeks into the pram and finds the baby sporting vampire fangs.

Legendary actress Valentina Cortese (Oscar nominee for Day for Night) appears but refused to dub her own lines because she found the coarse Milanese slang ("Và dà via i ciapp") too offensive for her image. You can spot a very young Ilona Staller (Cicciolina) in a small role long before she became a world-famous porn star and politician. Sylva Koscina plays Costante’s wife. Sylvia (1933–1994) was a Yugoslav-born Italian actress who played Paul Newman’s romantic interest in the 1968 movie The Secret War of Harry Frigg. Her colorful life included studying physics, living with nuns, being charged with tax evasion, and dying penniless. She passed away at the age of 61 from Breast Cancer. Christa Linder was a German actress who became a major "sex symbol" export in Mexican and Italian cinema and was a staple of 70s exploitation. Francesca Romana Coluzzi was a versatile actress and stuntwoman known for her distinct, tall, and athletic physique. She often played "tough" girls. Last but not least is the Dominatrix Moira Orfei, which did not make my cut. A true Italian cultural icon, she was the "Queen of the Italian Circus" and a frequent star in peplum (sword-and-sandal) and comedy films.

The film was a moderate success in its home territory. It grossed approximately a billion Italian Lire during its initial domestic release. In today’s currency (adjusted for inflation), that would be roughly $5 million USD, a solid performance for a niche horror-comedy.