Customer Reviews

Horror of Dracula (Widescreen)

5 star:		(54)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Definitely the best of all the Christopher Lee Dracula films. The sequels do not live up to this film, mainly because they do not contain all of the original characters such as Lucy, Jonathan Harker, and of course, Van Helsing. This film sticks with the original Bram Stoker novel with these characters. The only person missing is Renfield, plus nothing is ever mentioned about Dracula being able to turn into a bat, a werewolf, or mist. Yes, this was 1958 before visual effects were what they are now. But, in the Bela Lugosi film, at least mention is made of these things.

Lee is smooth as the Count, and Peter Cushing is a delight at Professor Van Helsing. These two were great together in other films, and it is too bad Cushing did not continue into the sequels (with the exception of the present day setting films). He would have made those films better and much more entertaining to watch.

A must have for any horror film fan.

Special Features? A Travesty!A letter to Warner from a film buff and a plea to Directors Martin Scorsese and John Carpenter.

Generally, I'm in total agreement with the many fine reviews listed here, and I need to add two important caveats... Firstly, where are the interviews, film stills, lobby posters, not to mention commentary tracks and possibly isolated music track?!?

Secondly, with such a fine print, why is the colour balance slightly off, especially noticeable in the red-orange bias of the colour of blood? (Warner got it right with their DVD release of The Curse of Frankenstein and their VHS release of Dracula; why not here?)

Lack of Special Features: Horror of Dracula is considered to be one of the finest examples of British filmmaking as opinioned by Phil Hardy (editor of the Aurum Film Encyclopedia) and other film historians. It is reported by Christopher Lee to have single-handedly saved Universal Pictures from bankruptcy in 1958. It has a great worldwide following of filmgoers including directors, John Carpenter and Martin Scorsese.
The DVD of a film of this stature deserves a complete roster of special features! Warner, you own the exclusive rights to this classic (as told to me by a Hammer Films executive)... so where are they?!?
Actor Christopher Lee (Saruman from "Lord of the Rings") has many personal stories about this epoch making classic and I believe would jump at a chance to share them with film buffs worldwide in an in-depth DVD interview. (He did so with the DVD release of Hammer's lesser (relatively speaking) "Hound of the Baskervilles" on MGM DVD.) Lee's story of attending the New York premier of Dracula with fellow actor and good friend, the late Peter Cushing is fabulous and should be preserved on DVD for all to experience! Let's see and hear more touching anecdotes about the personal and professional relationship between two of the greatest acting duos in film history. (The conclusion of Lee's interview on the Baskervilles" DVD is very moving wherein he shows us how much he misses his friend and colleague, Peter Cushing. I want to see more of the heart of this powerful actor in current DVD interviews! (and movies!!!) This actor is capable of playing more than just great villains! What better movie than the one that put him "on the map"!
Composer James Bernard, who wrote the powerful and evocative music to Dracula would also have much to say about writing this classic score, and about the special demands of writing quickly for Hammer. This music was truly ahead of its time in taking seriously and respecting its subject matter!
Screenwriter, Jimmy Sangster has much to say about his fascinating formative days at Hammer and has done so in his books, but I would like to see him do it in an in-depth interview on DVD! For example, film enthusiasts would love to see him tell his story about what he did with the original Dracula script! (Second guessing fame is ironic!)
1958 is quite a ways off in time; sadly we will never have a current interview with Peter Cushing or director Terence Fisher on DVD... the point here is that time is of the essence with these talented people! Through Warner's apathetic approach to its release of this classic film, film buffs and film enthusiasts may never get to hear and see the insights and reminiscences of the original crew to this unique British masterpiece! This is living film history! Don't wait too long to correct this injustice to the world of film, Warner! You might not be able to...!!! I'm looking forward to the Special Edition of Horror of Dracula!!!!

A plea to filmmakers Martin Scorsese and John Carpenter... Please use your position to work with Warner to rectify an impending lost to the world film community!

This excellent horror film is by far the best of all other Dracula screen adaptations. No other film of this type approaches this Hammer production for drama, color, storyline, atmosphere, music score and acting. The movie is a straightforward narrative of the attempt to destroy the dark prince of the undead that becomes a struggle for survival between the resourceful, erudite Dr. Van Helsing and the frightening, evil Count Dracula. There are graphic bloodletting scenes, tense, scary moments and buxom ladies who become Dracula's victims. The film moves at a brisk pace towards its conclusion as Van Helsing races against time and Dracula to reach his castle before dawn or lose him and Mina Holmwood forever in the vast catacombs and underground passages. James Bernard's eerie, haunting music expertly suggests the tension and horror of the proceedings

This picture is seminal in that it is the first partnership between Christopher Lee and the wonderful Peter Cushing in the Hammer Dracula series. Arguably the best of the series. This film still holds the power to shock today--despite the lack of heads being ripped from their torsos. From the first moment, one is transfixed by the Scarlet Blood dripping over the tomb with "Dracula" engraved upon the crypt lid. This was very alluring in the 1950's. Vampirism and colour were a very new thing indeed. Peter Cushing while maintaining some semblance of humanity is every bit as ruthless to destroy Dracula as Dracula is to destroy those who dared to violate his sanctum. Though not completely faithful to the book, one will find this movie an enjoyable and frightening venture into the Hammer world of Horror. I am only waiting for the equally terrible: Brides of Dracula to be released on DVD. The immediate sequel to Horror of Dracula, though missing Lee as Dracula, this film is even more inspired in its images of horror. And it is a master stroke to have one of Dracula's disciples: David Peel, actually appear with blond hair. The perfect angel, which makes him the perfect devil when he suddenly transforms. Peter Cushing is also in Brides of Dracula. Hurry and release this terrifying film (one of the top five best vampire films ever done!).

IN CHRIST JESUS: THE LIVING GOD,

W Braithwaite
*Gospel John Ch. 1; John 3:16-18*

Email: wbraithwaite@tampabay.rr.com

Hammer's version of the classic Bram Stoker novel Dracula. The story has been rewritten, and while this may bother some people, I rather enjoyed it. Yes, most of the main characters from the novel appeared, but some of the roles have been rewritten. For example, Jonathan Harker is an undercover vampire hunter, who went to Castle Dracula posing as a librarian. His mission is to rid the world of this monster. While he manages to get one of the vampires, he fails to get Dracula. Dr. Van Helsing is a vampire hunter in this version. Plain and simple. He knows exactly who and what Dracula is, and he too is out to kill the Count. Although the story has been rewritten, it is still a very good script. I highly recommend this movie. It is a classic in the horror genre, and one of the better vampire movies. One thing that I am thankful for in the movie is the end scene, where Dracula turns to dust. As is always the case when he dies in this fashion, his ashes are always blown away. But then there is a shot where we see Van Helsing standing next to an open window, thus accounting for the sudden breeze. A fact that a lot of other horror movies tend to overlook.

I've always had mixed reactions to this movie. Unlike what some of your reviewers are saying, the whole movie took place somewhere in Mittel Europe, without Dracula ever going to England. You remember all the scenes of the border guards, but none at sea. The mistake that he went to England is easy to make since everyone spoke with English accents including Dracula! They had Lee dressed much like Lugosi with the slick back hair and cape, but no tux though. Lee's sexuality was nothing new, because that was considered to be Lugosi's breakthrough in the part. Lee had a bland speaking voice. His whole claim to fame was mainly hissing his way through the part. The movie dropped everything we held dear, the bats, mist, and wolves that the Count would turn into, and all the garlic. When they shot close-ups of his eyes he just look badly hung over, they did not glow like the Count in the book. However, Lee was very athletic as Dracula, as was Peter Cushing as Van Helsing. The music was rousing, and the colors lush. Lee was no Lugosi, but when I saw James Forbes Robinson play Dracula in Hammer Studios The Legend of the Seven Golden Vampires, Lee looked much better in hindsight.

Rich aristicrate Count Dracula (Christopher Lee) travels to England to instigate a reign of terror, with vampire killer Van Helsing (Peter Crushing) hot on his heels. Ok, so the story is a little thin. I would have liked to have had a little more of the Bram Stoker's novel injected into the plot. But again, as was the case with "Curse of Frankenstein", Lee and Crushing make their charactors the prototype that many immitators follow generations later. Dracula is suave and eroticly dangourous. (But remember, this was made in the early '60s, so it isn't gratutious.) Van Helsing is the single minded supernatural hunter. The blood is light compared to today's standards, but Dracula's demise was very cool, even by today's standards. What really set the Hammer movies apart was the pure gothic style of the setings. The grave yards looked dark and forbiding, the forest was deep and dark, with shadows made of pitch and anything could jump out at you. Hammer's movies are a great precurser to the modern horror movie (especially "Sleepy Hollow"). Enjoy this movie, it's light and fairly short.

This spectacular movie offered new blood to the dying genre in the late 50's. It's vivid, literary and sexy.
Bram Stoker Puritans will probably be offended by the freedom of this adaptation, but it actually illuminates some of the themes, that was only hinted at in the novel, especially the disproportion between Victorian morals and basic biology, rationality and sexuality, conservatism and spirit.
Peter Cushing is a wonderful Van Helsing, arriving with the jingling laboratory of Enlightenment in his luggage, but at the same time dependent on the old cross and holy water. Christopher Lee is archetypical as the vampire, the erotic Nemesis of the repressed and repressing bourgeoisie, and his sexual charm is at least plausible, in stark contrast to Bela Lugosi's reptilian performance. It's one of Hammer's finest, only surpassed by the third instalment in the series, "Dracula - The Prince of Darkness" (1965).

Forget Bela, Christopher Lee is Dracula.
This is the best Hammer film ever.
Unlike modern horror movies, the acting is superb. Lee and Cushing both produce the performances of their careers.
Ever wondered why they were in so many movies????
Well this is the picture is the reason.
A timeless classic.

Hammer Films was fortunate enough to have some really talented actors, script writers, directors and composers to work on their series of horrifying movies that started in 1957 with the "Curse of Frankenstein" to their second, "Horror of Dracula." While taking many liberties with the original novel, this version stays closer than most and offers Christopher Lee in his first spin as Dracula. Although on screen very little, his presence is smoldering, fantastically evil and domineering. Peter Cushing, as always, plays the fanatical Van Helsing with heroic finesse and a bit of charm as well; Michael Gough in one of his early roles is a perfect foil as the upper crust Homewood; and Melissa Stribling as Mina is subtly seductive. The lighting and camera work are wonderful and James Bernard's score is one of horrodom's best.
A truly important film in the horror genre, it still maintains the ability to frighten and entertain!