Dracula (1979) St Austell beach location re-visited

Fans of the 1979 film version will remember the beach/shipwreck scene. It was filmed at Carlyon bay at St Austell. I decided to take a trip there and take a video to see how much the recent building works have changed it ( Plans are in place to build a big beach side resort) You can see at one point that in the original film a town was superimposed where is is none.

Apologies for the sound. I think Gremlins got into my camera.

I do remember the shipwreck was left on the beach for many years, only to be lost in a big storm in the late 80's.

Also as pointed out by someone who posted a comment, this beach was used in the video for 'Is this love' by Alison Moyet. If you want to see it you can search on youtube.

Just a little note- As we were leaving the beach, the bright sunny sky suddenly became overcast and rather stormy looking. My other half commented that "Draccy was on his way in again" It almost made me stay ;-)

I do plan to visit all the Cornish locations used in this film.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• dracula
• frank
• langella
• demeter
• cornwall
• st
• austell
• alison
• moyet
• is
• this
• love

[sylviarkkkk]

i loved it when they had the outdoor swimming pool and the outdoor changeing huts those were the days

[chez1807]

Oooh, I loved that pool when I was a kid. I still remember the first time I plucked up the courage to jump off the high diving board (That actually was not that high lol)

And the mini train ride. As a young teen not knowing where to put my face when riding in a carriage with my Grandmother it stopped right next to the naturist beach and a middle aged man wearing a hat, a smile, and nothing else wished us a good afternoon.

[sardineslayer]

I can tell u something about the shipwreck, she was a trawler called TAWE. I helped strip & prepare her in Charlestown b4 we towed her round to Carlyon Bay & run her onto the rocks. I was on board at the time she hit the rocks. We then winched her up the beach & blew holes in her side using explosives.

[chez1807]

Wow, great stuff! It is fascinating to find out what went on behind the scenes with the making of this film.

[Althekeys]

I went there last week, check out my video

[Althekeys]

sad sad place now, check out my video I shot last week.....

[cornspur]

It was removed in the early 90s

[cornspur]

The Ship wasn't lost in a storm in the 80s I grew up in St Austell. I remember playing on it. It had to be removed because the wood was rotting and it became too dangerous for kids to play on. It was removed in the early 90s

[chez1807]

That is the next location on the list for me to visit :-)

[chez1807]

Hellooo

[chez1807]

Cool. I spent most of my summers as a kid in the 80's on that beach. It makes me a little sad to see the state of it now.