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George Hamilton, Susan Saint James, Richard Benjamin, Dick Shawn, Arte Johnson ... see more see more... , Sherman Hemsley , Isabel Sanford , Paul Barselou , Bob Basso , Stanley Brock , Jacque Lynn Colton , Danny Dayton , John Dennis , Robert Ellenstein , Barry J. Gordon , Alan Haufrect , Michael Heit , Basil Hoffman , Dave Ketchum , Lidia Kristen , Ralph Manza , Tiger Joe Marsh , Rose Michtom , Bryan O'Byrne , Lavelle Roby , Merrie Lynn Ross , Whitney Rydbeck , Beverly Sanders , Ronnie Schell , Rolfe Sedan , Hazel Shermet , Susan Tolsky , David Landsberg , Eric Laneuville , Michael Pataki , Charlie Dell , Robert Nadder , Jerold Pearson , Cicely Walper , Joe Medalis

George Hamilton confounded his detractors by turning in a first-rate comic performance in Love at First Bite. Hamilton plays Count Dracula, who is evicted from his Transylvanian domicile when the Comm... read more read more...unist government decides to nationalize his castle. With faithful toady Renfield (Arte Johnson) at his side, Dracula heads for the Big Apple, where he finds the vampire pickings radically different from those on his home turf: for example, ol' Drac suffers the mother of all hangovers when his sinks his fangs into the neck of a wino. Klutzy Cindy Sondheim (Susan Saint James) falls in love with Dracula, not fully aware of his colorful background. But Cindy's stuffy fiance Dr. Jeff Rosenberg (Richard Benjamin), a descendant of Dracula's perennial foe Professor Van Helsing, knows what Dracula's up to and does his best to thwart the vampire's plan. This proves very difficult, since such time-honored remedies as the stake through the heart are frowned upon by the New York City authorities. So successful was Love at First Bite that Hamilton was encouraged to have a satiric go at another literary icon in 1982's Zorro, the Gay Blade. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Flixster Users

54% liked it

6,366 ratings

Critics

67% liked it

21 critics

PG, 1 hr. 36 min.

Directed by: Stan Dragoti

Release Date: January 1, 1979

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DVD Release Date: July 12, 2005

Stats: 220 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (220)


  • January 6, 2011
    Another Dracula movie, in this one the count moves to NY. It is pretty funny for the most part, but it's predictable. It could have been better.
  • November 6, 2009
    A bit stupid and not up to the standards of a more recent vampire movie, (this was made in 1976), but harmless enough. I could no way in hell believe Susan Saint James as a model, though.
  • July 18, 2009
    George Hamilton is actually ok here. He is a good Dracula and quite amusing. The rest of the cast works well and its looks good. The usual story of course but its funny. Surprising really.
  • August 6, 2007
    silly but cute
  • July 5, 2007
    First rate humor!!!!!
  • June 24, 2007
    Some of the situations are a bit forced and Richard Benjamin is more irritating than usual but overall the comedy does work and the story isn't too bad either.
  • December 25, 2007
    Hilarious but cute!
  • July 29, 2011
    "I don't smoke ___, & I don't drink Vino"~ George Hamilton as Count Dracula.Susan Saint James? Never understood that choice, but she made up for her lack of sexy with funny.
    Very Funny, this was the kickoff to my Love Affair with Vampires.Whenever I do the Drac accent, it's this ... read moreone.My Boyfriends & Late Hubby(R.I.P.) have all fallen victim to this Film, because I have a thing about dressing Men up as This, Very Elegant ,Version of Dracula for Shalloweens, & it's really quite weird what a turn on it is for me, so thank you Georgie Hamilton, for the contribution you've made to my Shallow Hallows for so many years, Muahahahahahhhhhh(My Evil laugh)
    Oh, & if you happen to be Tall, Dark, Handsome, & Undead, BITE ME
  • March 6, 2010
    About as much fun as Bucharest on a Monday night. I literally stopped this movie 30 minutes in because I couldn't take Arte Johnson's laugh anymore. I actually made it farther into Night Patrol if you believe that.
  • November 28, 2009
    Surprisingly refreshing comedy, great cast, funny jokes throughout. It can be a bit corny sometimes but it is forgivable. Susan St. James is particularly good. The cast seemed to enjoy making the film. Artie Shaw has some good one liners, but he is a bit much. Good fun.

Critic Reviews


Richard Schickel
October 19, 2009
Richard Schickel, TIME Magazine

The production's genially tatty air enhances its anarchical mood and encourages one to go with its goofy yet often shrewd comic flow. Full Review

Dave Kehr
October 19, 2009
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

Casting Dracula as the Last Romantic, Scott Fitzgerald-style, was a clever idea, but nothing clever remains in the film's hodgepodge of flat one-liners and graceless slapstick. Full Review

Variety Staff
March 26, 2009
Variety Staff, Variety

What would happen if Dracula was victimized by life in modern New York City? It's a fun notion and George Hamilton makes it work. Full Review

February 27, 2007
Entertainment Weekly

If you haven't smoked any wolfsbane you might wonder why you have such fond memories of this one. Full Review

Janet Maslin
May 9, 2005
Janet Maslin, New York Times

A coarse, delightful little movie with a bang-up cast and no pretensions at all. Full Review

Dennis Schwartz
July 17, 2011
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

A mostly likable and spirited Dracula pic, played as a silly spoof. Full Review

October 19, 2009
TV Guide's Movie Guide

Although much of this is pretty funny, the film is a scattershot affair that tries to milk laughs out of the most mundane and tired gags. Full Review

June 24, 2006
Time Out

See it when you feel at your silliest. Full Review

David Nusair
July 11, 2005
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews

...hopelessly dated... Full Review

James Plath
July 10, 2005
James Plath, Movie Metropolis

There are killer lines and exchanges, but not the overall consistency you'd hope for, or the kind of energy that could drive a stake through our ennui. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Love at First Bit... : Watch Free on TV


Love at First Bite Trivia


  • Which movie is the following quote from?: "Without me, Transylvania will be about as exciting as... Bucharest, on a Monday Night!"  Answer »
  • What horror spoof of vampire films featured: George Hamilton; Susan St James; Arte Johnson and Richard Benjamin?   Answer »
  • George Hamilton played a vampire in which film?  Answer »
  • What film had this tag line :Your favorite pain in the neck is about to bite your funny bone ?  Answer »

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