Benny Jay: Running While Blacula

My buddy, Ed, rolls into town last week — helps me turn the living room into fraternity row.

For a few days, it’s me and Ed, sprawled on lounge chairs, watching college basketball, reruns of The Untouchables and old movies, like Blacula.

Ah, the good life….

Blacula’s a great movie, by the way. Saw it years ago at the old Howard Theater in Rogers Park.

I saw many of the seminal movies of the `70s at the Howard – Shaft in Africa, Foxy Brown,  The Sting and so on….

Though now that I think about it, I might have seen The Sting at the Valencia Theater in Evanston.

Two great movies….

I definitely saw The Godfather at the Valencia. I clearly remember that. My old high school pal, Stevie Cichowicz — aka Chicken Tit — snuck me in through the back.

The Tit ushered at the Valencia. They made him wear this little red jacket that made him look like the monkey sidekick to the organ grinder. A small price to pay for getting to see all the great movies.

But back to Blacula….

William Marshall plays the great African monarch — Prince Mamuwalde — who travels to Transylvania in 1780 to ask Prince Dracula to join the fight against slavery.

He brings along Princess Luva, his lovely wife. Vonetta McGee plays Luva. And let me take this moment to confess. Back in the day, I had a little crush on Vonetta McGee.

But back to my plot summary….

One thing leads to another and Dracula bites William Marshall, turning him into vampire. Hence, the name — Blacula. Get it?

About 150 years later, Blacula winds up in New York City. Don’t ask – it’s complicated.

Vonetta McGee plays Princess Luva….

The thing that always amazed me is that Blacula hopped out of his coffin and got around New York City like he’d been living in Harlem his whole life. Didn’t need a GPS thing or anything…..

They’ve got this one scene where Blacula’s running down the street and a cop starts chasing him.

I’m not sure why the cop’s chasing him. Blacula hadn’t done anything wrong. Well, except for killing a bunch of people. But the cop didn’t know that.

“He’s breaking the law,” says Ed. “Running while black.”

Good line, Ed. We just about die laughing over that one.

Nicky, the dog, when she’s not barking….

Right about this time Nicky, the dog, starts barking.

“Shut up,” I yell at the dog.

She keeps barking.

I walk to the window to see what she’s barking at. But the streets are empty.

“There’s nothing there,” I tell the dog. “You’re barking at nothing….”

Like she speaks English.

It occurs to me she might be scared. I can relate. I was scared the first time I saw Blacula — especially when he comes up behind that lady in the photo lab. That scene still scares me.

The dog finally stops barking. But I’ve missed so much dialogue I feel I need to watch the movie again. Well, really, I just want to watch it again.

This time my wife watches it with us. And she loves it! I’m telling you – Blacula’s a great movie.

Fast-forward a few hours….

The dog’s lying on the bed. Payback time – heh, heh, heh.

Before she can dart away, I start hugging her. Its called annoying the dog with love.

“Oh, Nicky,” I say. “You’re the best doggie….”

She shifts in irritation and looks at me as if to say: “Hey, man, I’m trying to sleep….”

Oh, isn’t that something? She has no problem barking when I’m trying to watch the movie. But when the shoe’s on the other foot – or paw – she doesn’t want her sleep interrupted.

Then I get this new idea. “I am Blacula, Nicky. I’ve come to suck your blood….”

She squirms out of my arms and scrambles under the bed.

I start doing my William Marshall impression: “Come to me, Princess Luva.”

The dog’s eying me from under the bed.

What can I tell you — I get some of my best ideas from the movies.

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