“I never drink … wine!”

That is one of the most famous remarks in 19th-, 20th- and 21st-century pop culture; Count Dracula refusing any refreshing libation that wasn’t straight from the jugular.

The vampire-genre bloodlust, sparked by Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel has never abated. From Béla Lugosi to Gloria Holden to Christopher Lee, to Lauren Hutton to Frank Langella to Catherine Deneuve to Kiefer Sutherland to Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt, Willem Dafoe, Gary Oldman, Wesley Snipes, Kate Beckinsale, Robert Pattinson, et al — the seductive lure of the undead has continuously captured our imagination.


Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt © Warner Brothers/
courtesy Everett Collection

In fact, the fanged and fabulous are more popular than ever, even though vamp-queen Anne Rice has turned to Jesus! (No more Interview With the Vampire sequels from Ms. Rice!)

You can find white-trash Southern vampires on HBO’s “True Blood” — one of the most delicious, perverse series that network has ever aired.

And but of course, there is the big screen’s “Twilight,” based on Stephenie Meyer’s novels. This teen-themed, hormone-charged, bite-me-on-the-neck-you-sexy-devil film has grossed almost $400 million worldwide. “Twilight’s”  recent release on DVD added a big $7 million to the studio take within the space of a week.


But maybe adolescent fans of “Twilight” need to get a grip on reality?

Students at the posh Boston Latin High School are sending frantic e-mails — vampires are darting in and out of class, skulking in hallways and generally making themselves a big, throat-chomping nuisance! Boston police visited the school but could find no evidence of pale and thirsty visitors.

Headmaster Lynne Moone Teta found the situation serious enough to send out a memo to parents, students and faculty: “I seek your cooperation in redirecting your energy to the learning objectives of the day.”

The school was built in 1635, and attended by mere but marvelous mortals such as Benjamin Franklin, Samuel Adams and John Hancock. 

OK, you read it here first: Somebody’s going to write a book or screenplay about how America was founded by … vampires!

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Sweet charity: On May 21, at the legendary Hotel du Cap in Cannes, our favorite film mogul/producer Harvey Weinstein will again host the annual “Cinema Against AIDS” gala and auction. 

Harvey will be joined by auctioneer supreme Sharon Stone. (If you escape with your pants on, you’re lucky once Sharon starts in!) Annie Lennox will perform and Bill Clinton, the man who is married to Secretary of State Hillary, delivers remarks. (President Clinton has worked 24/7 on the worldwide AIDS crisis.)

Last year’s event raised $10 million. Harvey and company intend to best that by at least five million. If you want to get in on this night of glamour and good work, call 212-219-0297 or visit amfar.org.

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In Britain, they have just greeted Barack Obama and Michelle. Some Britons were enraged by the president’s briefing booklet for journalists with info direct from the U.S. State Department and the CIA World Factbook. This states that France is “America’s oldest ally; instrumental in helping Britain’s American colonies establish independence.” 

OK, the Brits are soooooo super-sensitive. We need Jack Nicholson to scream, “You can’t handle the truth!”

President Obama’s big supporter, Barbra Streisand, is also making waves in Blighty.


Barbra Streisand © AP

The legendary singer/actress/producer/director/political activist/perfectionist has offered up “Streisand: The Concerts” DVD set as an early release to England. This three-disc special showcases some of Barbra’s most memorable concert performances over the decades. Included are 17 songs never before released on DVD. (Fans in the U.S. receive “The Concerts” later this spring.) Miss B. is big on DVD. The deluxe edition of "Yentl" has been flying out of stores since its release last month.