David E. Durston (September 10, 1921 – May 6, 2010) was an American screenwriter and film director best known for directing the

Charles Manson Charles Milles Manson (; November 12, 1934 – November 19, 2017) was an American criminal, cult leader, and musician who led the Manson Family, a cult based in California in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Some cult members committed a Manson ...

-inspired, horror movie ''

I Drink Your Blood ''I Drink Your Blood'' is a 1971 American hippie exploitation horror film written and directed by David E. Durston, produced by Jerry Gross, and starring Bhaskar Roy Chowdhury, Jadine Wong, and Lynn Lowry. The film centers on a small town th ...

'', released in 1971.

Career

Durston wrote and directed for the famous television series ''

Playhouse 90 ''Playhouse 90'' is an American television anthology drama series that aired on CBS from 1956 to 1960 for a total of 134 episodes. The show was produced at CBS Television City in Los Angeles, California. Since live anthology drama series of t ...

'' (1956-1960). He appeared in the

DuMont Television Network The DuMont Television Network (also the DuMont Network, DuMont Television, DuMont/Du Mont, or (incorrectly) Dumont ) was one of America's pioneer commercial television networks, rivaling NBC and CBS for the distinction of being first overall in ...

series '' Chez Paree Revue'' in 1950. In 1965, he directed '' The Love Statue'', which dealt with

LSD Lysergic acid diethylamide, commonly known as LSD (from German ; often referred to as acid or lucy), is a semisynthetic, hallucinogenic compound derived from ergot, known for its powerful psychological effects and serotonergic activity. I ...

use. His next feature was the 1971

exploitation Exploitation may refer to: *Exploitation of natural resources *Exploitation of Animals *Exploitation of labour **Forced labour *Exploitation colonialism *Slavery **Sexual slavery and other forms *Oppression *Psychological manipulation In arts an ...

horror movie ''

'', about a cult of

Manson Family The Manson Family (known among its members as the Family) was a Intentional community, commune, gang, and cult led by criminal Charles Manson that was active in California in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The group at its peak consisted of a ...

-esque Satan-worshipping hippies who, after becoming infected with rabies, turn into zombies. Durston followed this with the dramas ''Blue Sextet'' (1971) and '' Stigma'' (1972), then shifted his career to hardcore gay porn with ''Boy 'Napped!'' (1975) and ''Manhole'' (1978), the latter of which was not released due to one of its cast members being cast in '' Escape from Alcatraz'', as the association between him and gay pornography would hurt both his career and the

Clint Eastwood Clinton Eastwood Jr. (born May 31, 1930) is an American actor and film director. After achieving success in the Western (genre), Western TV series ''Rawhide (TV series), Rawhide'', Eastwood rose to international fame with his role as the "Ma ...

film he'd appeared in later. In later years, Durston attempted to develop a modernized remake of ''I Drink Your Blood'', but the project was cancelled after his death.

Death

Durston died on May 6, 2010, of complications from pneumonia.

Filmography

As film director: * ''Felicia'' (1964) * '' The Love Statue'' (1965) * ''

'' (1971) * ''Blue Sextet'' (1971) * '' Stigma'' (1972) * ''Boy 'Napped!'' (1975, as Spencer Logan) * ''Manhole'' (1978) As screenwriter: * '' The Love Statue'' (1965) * ''

'' (1971) * ''Blue Sextet'' (1971) * '' Stigma'' (1972) * ''Boy 'Napped!'' (1975, as Spencer Logan)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Durston, David E. 1921 births 2010 deaths American male screenwriters Screenwriters from Pennsylvania Deaths from pneumonia in California Film directors from Pennsylvania People from West Hollywood, California Film directors from California Screenwriters from California