MovieChat Forums > Billy the Kid Versus Dracula (1966) Discussion > Bullets don't hurt him, but a gun to the...

Bullets don't hurt him, but a gun to the face does?! (SPOILER)

posted 18 years ago by stevenjvu
13 replies | jump to latest

I just watched this late last night on TCM and thought it was great, campy fun. The best part, though, (SPOILER) is when Billy realizes that shooting Dracula does no good. But, throwing the gun at Dracula's face from across the room works just fine. I wish I could have been at the script meeting for that decision. And Melinda Plowman was smoking hot in this, even for a 1960s movie.

[–] jdm63-1 18 years ago

It's no wonder ol' Drac wanted some of Betty's blood. Bet the old codger had a wicked boner as well for that sweeties 18 year old love muffin. Billy actually shot him seven times from a six-shooter before throwing the pistol at him. Too funny!

[–] The_King_of_Cool 17 years ago

That is what I love about this movie.

It is funny bullets don't work, but hitting Dracula in the face with a gun sure as hell does the trick.

Cracks me up just thinking about it.

I tried doing that once, making every minute count. It gave me a headache- Adrian Monk

[–] pery-1 13 years ago

Maybe Billy had a silver-plated gun?

[–] Forgotten_Hero 11 years ago

Maybe Billy had a silver-plated gun?

You know, it wouldn't have taken any time at all for them to address that issue; just two additional lines of dialogue. When Doc is listing all that she knows about the vampire, she could have mentioned that it's weak against silver. All that they would have needed then is to mention that the sheriff's gun is made of silver or has a silver lining.

[–] thingmakersback (1444) 2 months ago

Just what I was thinking. The Sheriff's gun could have been a presentation piece that he was real proud of. This could easily have been in dialog earlier, but nobody bothered to write it.

[–] thingmakersback (1444) 2 months ago

Just what I was thinking. The Sheriff's gun could have been a presentation piece that he was real proud of. This could easily have been in dialog earlier, but nobody bothered to write it.

[–] millsey72 (10939) 2 months ago

Everyone already knows a vampire's weakness is silver. This was probably my favorite climax to a Dracula movie

[–] rmontro 12 years ago

Not only does throwing the gun at him work, he is out freaking cold!

[–] Tresix 11 years ago

I look at it this way: How many times have we seen a gun get thrown and NOT do any good? This is the first time I've actually seen a thrown gun connect.

"I'm in such bad shape, I'm wearing prescription underwear." Phyllis Diller 1917-2012

[–] 11 years ago

[deleted]

[–] dj3980 8 years ago

simply hilarious, that was like the best part of the whole movie

[–] Wuchak (8855) 6 years ago

Bullets don't hurt him, but a gun to the face does?!

On the surface it seems like a contradiction, but it can be explained if you read between the lines:

1. Dr. Henrietta Hull explained earlier that vampires are "undead" and sorta like ghosts that can morph into bats or manifest seemingly out of nowhere (which is illustrated several times in the movie). But they have to 'solidify' to function in the natural realm wherein people are able to touch them, like Betty. So, when Billy shoots Dracula the count evidently de-solidified, but when the Kid throws the gun the vampire was caught off guard and failed to de-solidify.

2. Another possibility is that the vampire is vulnerable to silver and Billy's gun was silver-plated. But, if vampires are weakened by silver, why did the Count set up operations in a silver mine? Because it had been defunct for years and any remaining silver would be deep within the earth far away from where Drac would conduct his diabolic ceremony. He needed the mine for this unholy ritual because it was located in the bowels of the earth, completely cutting him off from the weakening power of the sun, as well as unwanted interruptions from potential interlopers.

[–] millsey72 (10939) 3 years ago

You found a plot hole