Rating: 
Summary: The Definitive Vampire Film
Review: If there is one film Hammer Films will be remembered for, this is it. This is the vampire fiim that all others must be compared to; a lean, literate script, great Victorian period detail, beautiful art direction (more amazing, considering the budget), a memorable, pounding musical score and luscious color photography all stand in support of classic performances; Christopher Lee's sexual, dangerous and evil Dracula is matched by Peter Cushing's intense, obsessed and resourceful adversary, Dr. Van Helsing. Cushing's ability to make you believe in the supernatural "undead" is one of the highlights of the film. Terence Fisher's direction should be studied also. In addition to a rousing finale, he made vampirism oddly attractive; even more of a counterpoint to the repressive Victorian society Dracula invades. Michael Gough's Arthur Holmwood only chastely kisses his wife on the forehead. It takes Dracula to simultaneously satisfy and drain the life out of her. The film grows when you realize what wasn't included; an American leading man, a teenage love interest, filler sub-plots, cheesy special effects, a sidekick for comic relief, a cop-out ending, etc. They don't make 'em like this anymore.
Rating:
Summary: Hammer's best effort
Review: Well acted and wonderfully fun tale from the 'Hammer House of Horror' with a supurb theme song and strikingly well-done sets. Christopher Lee's performance as Dracula isn't as Bela Lugosi's but it some how add to the atmosphere of the film. A must-see even if you're not a Horror movie fan. END
Rating: 
Summary: Probably the best adaption of Stoker's novel.
Review: It's been 40 years since Horror of Dracula came out; and the film still repays close viewing. Employing baroque color for the first time in the genre, Hammer films stripped the Dracula novel of its more ridiculous Victorian elements (i.e., bats, fog, wolves, and the stupid Romanian accent)and set this tale squarely in the world of the Brothers Grimm. Christopher Lee became an icon of horror by portraying the Transylvanian nobleman as more a warlock than vampire; there are overtones of Byron in his energetic physicality; especially after viewers had been overexposed to the mummified performance of Bela Lugosi. END
Rating:
Summary: The epic Hammer version of Van Helsing versus Dracula
Review: "The Horror of Dracula" is perhaps the finest film produced by the Hammer Studio. At the very least, it epitomized the Hammer style at its best. Peter Cushing as Dr. Van Helsing gets a welcome respite from playing Victor Frankenstein while Christopher Lee quickly enter screen immortality as Count Dracula in one of the few Hammer films that allowed the vampire to have recognizable dialogue instead of inarticulate animalistic howls and the like. Jimmy Sangster's script streamlines Bram Stoker's novel, eliminating the Renfield character and subplot, and taking a more direct approach by having Jonathan Harker (John Van Eyssen) come to Castle Dracula for the purpose of staking the Count. After Harker's initial attempt fails, Van Helsing has to save his friend's soul and then protect Jonathan's fiancée, Lucy Holmwood (Carol Marsh), her brother Arthur (Michael Gough) and his wife Mina (Melissa Stribling), as Dracula's hit list grows. The names of the characters are the same as Stoker's novel, but the relationships have certainly changed. The strength of this film is Cushing's Van Helsing, a character as dynamic as the vampire he pursues. When Dracula is dispatched it is because the good doctor's brains are backup by some compelling physical action. Bernard Robinson's set designs for Castle Dracula belie the fact this film was produced for under $200,000 and the script's overt violence and subtle eroticism certainly plays to the strengths of director Terence Fisher. Of the eight Dracula films produced by Hammer, "The Horror of Dracula" is definitely the first and the best.
Rating:
Summary: "An all time classic with the best bloodsucker to date"
Review: Terence Fisher's Dracula is without doubt the most superior version of Stokers Gothic chiller ever to grace the screen. After the success of "The Curse Of Frankenstein" in 1957 Hammer decided to remake Dracula and although it is debatable whether the Hammer Frankenstein is better than the 1931 version Hammers Dracula is most certainly superior to the Lugosi in almost every way. Christopher Lee makes his debut as the King vampire oozing eroticism and fear and although his scenes are brief every time is rivetting. Peter Cushing is also excellent as the enegetic Van Helsing hell bent on destroying the Count at any cost. Wonderful sets by Bernard Robinson and an the excellent three-note score by James Bernard is now a classic piece of horror music. This is romantic horror, which is not as scary as later adaptions but it still remains the closest to Bram Stokers novelbringing out the underlying sexual overtones in the story that were never touched before. The final scenes of Lee and Cushing physically duelling in the castle are also classic horror scenes up there with "the Exorcist" and others. This is British horror at its peak and very best.
Rating:
Summary: Drac Gets Hammered...
Review: Christopher Lee is Dracula, cool and wolf-like, bearing his razor-sharp canines as he mesmerizes the ladies! Peter Cushing is Van Helsing, the expert nosferatu-hunter, bent on Dracula's total annihilation. Together, they are the negative / positive poles of this gothic tale of bloodletting and possession by Hammer studios. The screenplay turns the original Stoker novel inside-out with excellent results. I had expected to hate it, but ended up enjoying HORROR OF DRACULA more than most vampire epics. Michael Gough (Batman, Sleepy Hollow) is perfect as the suspicious husband of Mina and brother of Lucy, who both succumb to the Count's alluring gaze and sinister bite. Can he help Van Helsing to destroy Dracula before he destroys them? Watch and see! Highly recommended...
Rating:
Summary: Special Features? A Loss To Film. A Letter To Warner
Review: 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!
Rating:
Summary: Special Features? A Loss to Film. A Letter to Warner DVD
Review: 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!
Rating:
Summary: Dracula Gets Fangs, and the Blood Gets Red.
Review: "Horror of Dracula" was the first color film based on Bram Stoker's "Dracula" novel, and the first in which vampires have incisor-like fangs. "Horror of Dracula" retains the gist of Bram Stoker's story, but the details have been altered considerably and characters switched around. Jonathan Harker (John Van Eyssen) is newly employed by Count Dracula (Christopher Lee) to index the library at his castle. Harker's trip does not go as he planned, and 10 days later Dr. Van Helsing (Peter Cushing), an imminent scientist and close friend, arrives at Castle Dracula in search of Jonathan, only to find that it is too late to change his fate. Upon returning home, Van Helsing finds that Dracula has found a new victim in Harker's fiancée, Lucy Holmwood (Carol Marsh). He enlists the help of Lucy's brother, Arthur Holmwood (Michael Gough) to rid the world of Dracula's blood-sucking menace forever.
Christopher Lee, who would go on to play Dracula in 7 films, makes a suave, tidy Count. He is not as old-fashioned in his tastes or manner as the Dracula of Stoker's novel, but he is suitably aristocratic. "Horror of Dracula", like the films before it, make use of Dracula's inability to walk around during daylight hours, a concept not found in the novel, but which debuted in F.W. Murnau's 1922 adaptation "Nosferatu". Every successive adaptation of "Dracula" seems to exploit this device more than the last. "Horror of Dracula" takes place in what is apparently Germany of the late-19th century. Judging by the cities mentioned in the film, the story unfolds in 3 different nations that are only hours apart by carriage. As this is not possible, I take the cities to be fictitious and the location to be Germany. "Horror of Dracula" was essential in the evolution of Count Dracula's image. It borrows and builds on Murnau's fatal sunlight and Bela Lugosi's cape, but Dracula gets new teeth -and the blood is now really red. A must for "Dracula" fans.
The DVD: Bonus features include a short list of cast and crew, an essay about Hammer Studios' Dracula films 1958-1974 entitled "Dracula Lives Again!", and a theatrical trailer. Subtitles are available in English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese.
Rating:
Summary: DVD or VHS ?
Review: The DVD edition of Horror of Dracula is significantly better than the VHS version brought out by Warner earlier. The resolution, color and brightness are all much better and this widescreen/ matted version gives a better frame composition without noticeably sacrificing the top or bottom of the picture when viewed on an ordinary (non widescreen) TV set. For example, the portion of the film where Lee is seen from the rear striding down the castle road at dusk has much greater detail in both image and left/ right expansion: the "still" view of the wood across the meadow where Tanya encounters Lucy appears almost as though it were shot earlier in the day cf. the VHS version and flowers are visible in the meadow instead of a dark-grey wash.
Apart from Cushing getting another whack at the stake when dispatching Lucy, there is, as far as I can tell, no addition or subtraction of footage from the VHS version. The sound remains quite the same too - fine for speech and sound effects but rather thin on the music.
The half cardboard/ half plastic box which doesn't close properly is another aspect of Warner chintz. Considering the "artwork" and disinformation on it it's hardly worth keeping anyway.
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