Santo and the Treasure of Dracula

Professional wrestler and scientist Santo has invented a time machine that allows him to travel into the body of an ancestor. Since women are better suited for the rigors of time travel, he sends his girlfriend Luisa on the trip, who finds herself in a stately mansion. Recently, their friend Mara has died with two bite wounds on her neck. Luisa is also suffering from bouts of weakness. Professor Van Roth, who is called in, quickly realizes that this must be the work of a vampire who is now targeting Luisa. He is right in his suspicion that it is Count Alucard, who lives nearby. He possesses a magic ring and an amulet with which some women are transformed into willing servants. Just as he is about to do the same to Luisa, she is brought back by Santo. Through time travel, Luisa has knowledge of the whereabouts of Dracula's treasures, which Santo now wants to recover. The masked boss of a crime syndicate has secretly observed the time travel and also sets out to find the treasure.

The Mexican wrestler El Santo, whose career lasted several decades, is considered an icon in his home country. His perpetual fight for justice has been stylized in films and comics. He has appeared in a total of 52 films. One of them is Santo en el tesoro de Drácula, a wild mixture of sci-fi, horror and wrestling. The time travel part is very much based on Dracula. The rest is entertaining nonsense about the search for Alucard's treasure. A crime syndicate mixes things up, culminating in some brawling and a wrestling scene that is extremely contrived in content.

Export version with erotic scenes

Two versions were made of Santo en el tesoro de Drácula. In addition to the family-friendly version that was intended for the Mexican market, there is an export version that includes some nude scenes of Alucard and Luisa's servants. Santo is said to have agreed with director René Cardona that only the harmless version would be released. The export version was considered lost for a long time until it was rediscovered in the archives of the production studio Cinematographic Calderón. The export version was supposed to premiere at the Guadalajara International Film Festival in March 2011 under the new title El vampiro y el sexo, but it was canceled due to unresolved licensing issues. In addition, Santo's son El Hijo del Santo opposes it because he was worried about his father's reputation. After the legal problems were resolved, the export version premiered on July 25 at the Diana Theater in Guadalajara. This was followed by a broadcast on Mexican television and further releases, be it on DVD and now on Blu-ray. The film was shot in color, but the Mexican DVD by Zima Entertainment shows the film in black and white.

The French DVD by Bach Films contains the export version of the film. This is identical to the Mexican TV version. They probably had access to the same picture master. The French DVD has some film tears. Only the longer ones are listed in the report.

Picture Comparison:

Bach Films DVD:

Mexican DVD:

Runtimes:

Zima Entertainment DVD: 82:05 min.
Bach Films DVD: 82:05 min.

Comparison between the Mexican version (Zima Entertainment DVD) and the French DVD by Bach Films.

[00:00:00][00:00:00]

The MEX begins with Spanish language opening credits.

On the FR, there are alternate opening credits.

MEX: 1:35 min.
FR: 1:47 min.


[00:18:01][00:18:12]

Alternate footage as Alucard initiates the two priestesses.

In the MEX, Alucard takes the dagger and goes to the first woman who is chained on the stone coffin. He bites her in the neck. He does the same with the second woman. He turns back to the first woman and brings the dagger to her. The high priest removes the chains from the woman. The second woman is also daggered and freed from her chains. Alucard says that they are now immortal and should rise. He gives the dagger back to the high priests. They are to be distinguished from the living by a mark. Alucard asks the women if they are ready for it. With his ring he marks all the women with a bat symbol on their necks. He orders them to quench their thirst for blood with human blood. The women turn to the side. As they do so, smoke rises.

In the FR, the two women lie on the stone coffin with their breasts exposed. Alucard goes to the first woman and caresses her breasts before first kissing her on the mouth and then biting her neck. The same procedure with the second woman. Both women are marked with the dagger, then freed from their chains. Alucard orders them to stand up. He gives the dagger and his walking stick to the high priest. They are to be distinguished from the living by a mark. Alucard asks the women if they are ready for it. With his ring he marks all the women with a bat symbol on their necks. Before that, he pulls down the robes of all the women. He orders them to quench their thirst for blood with human blood. The women pull their robes down, which makes little sense since Alucard did this just before. The women turn to the side. Smoke rises as they do so. Note that the women's private parts have been taped off with skin-colored tape.

MEX: 3:49 min.
FR: 4:35 min.


[00:22:41][00:23:38]

In the MEX, Alucard comes to Luisa. He gently opens her nightgown before biting her neck.

In the FR, Luisa opens her blouse and starts fondling her breasts. Alucard comes to her bedside. He strokes her breasts and begins to caress them. Luisa moans with excitement. She starts to caress herself again while Alucard goes down on her. Alucard kisses her on the mouth before biting her neck.

MEX: 20 sec.
FR: 1:49 min.


[00:28:33][00:30:58]

In the MEX, Alucard comes to the maid Lupe and bites her neck. He puts his finger on her forehead and says that from now on she will receive his thoughts. He wants to know from her what Professor Van Roth told her. Lupe answers that she should take care of Luisa every night. Alucard wants to destroy Van Roth. He emphasizes once again that Lupe should obey his orders, then he leaves.

In the FR, Alucard also comes to Lupe, but unbuttons her top first. He strokes her breasts and bites her neck. He puts his finger on her forehead and says that from now on she will receive his thoughts. He wants to know from her what Professor Van Roth told her. Lupe answers that she should take care of Luisa every night. Alucard wants to destroy Van Roth. He stresses again that Lupe should obey his orders. Alucard leaves, and suddenly the candles start to burn. Lupe seems to be in a trance.

MEX: 1:07 min.
FR: 1:35 min.


[00:30:36][00:33:26]

The MEX shows a cut to Soler. In the next shot, Van Roth is seen earlier.

MEX: 3 sec.

[01:11:55][01:14:42]

The MEX briefly shows Alucard as he catches sight of Luisa.

The FR shows another shot of Alucard. He remembers how he bit Luisa. Note the pillow smeared with Luisa's lipstick.

MEX: 2 sec.
FR: 1:25 min.


[01:18:02][01:21:46]

In the MEX, Alucard comes to his servants with Luisa. He explains to her that his enemies have disrupted immortality, but now they have returned. Among his servants is Mara, whose stake he has removed.

In the FR, the servants remove their robes before Alucard joins them with Luisa. He explains to her that his enemies have disrupted immortality, but now they have returned. Among his servants is Mara, whose stake he has removed.

MEX: 27 sec.
FR: 31 sec.


[01:18:48][01:22:21]

In the MEX, the car can be seen earlier.

MEX: 2 sec.


[01:18:59][01:22:31]

In the MEX, Alucard comes to Luisa who is lying on the stone age. Santo and his friends run down the hall. Alucard leans over to Luisa, but then startles.

In the FR, Luisa lies down on the stone altar. Alucard goes to her. Santo and the professor run down the hall. The servants with their private parts taped turn around. Perico runs through the corridor. Cut to the servants. Alucard leans down, but then startles.

MEX: 19 sec.
FR: 37 sec.