Horror of Dracula

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Summary: Definitive version of the Dracula legend
Review: Terence Fisher's stunning 1958 adaptation of Stoker's famous novel is far and away the finest of several screen versions.

HORROR OF DRACULA has several points to commend it, all of which converge to make this a true masterpiece of horror cinema: First, Terence Fisher's strongly Christian mythological framework, rarely so brilliantly brought to the screen as it was here; second, Jack Asher's superbly atmospheric photography and lighting, bringing us the most memorable and carefully articulated images of vampirism of all time; third, Bernard Robinson's splendid sets; fourth, James Bernard's score, his most famous, complementing excellently Fisher's blend of fairy-tale, sexuality, horror and drama; fifth, Jimmy Sangster's intelligent script; and sixth, two sterling performances by relative newcomers to stardom, Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee.

This film has haunted me since I first watched it at the age of ten, and it still weaves a powerful spell. Later versions have tended, perhaps inevitably, to be highly derivative, where the Hammer version set the tone for a whole genre of films, putting its stamp irrevocably on the face of Dracula and its surrounding mythology for almost half a century to come.

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Summary: Christopher Lee IS Dracula!
Review: I was 7 in 1958, when this movie was released. Even at that age, I could sense something vaguely erotic about this film. I recently bought the DVD and instantly relived that feeling.
This film has the mystery and finesse of an old black and white film, but none of the over-done sensationalism of Technicolor which ruins a lot of horror films. There's something classy about the look of this production and the effortless way it seems to flow along.
The performances by all are first rate. Christopher Lee turns Dracula into a suave, well-mannered gentleman; this makes it all the more jarring when he later bursts into a room screeching just before the attack. At all times, there is this animal quality seething just below the surface that no other Dracula film seems to capture.
In this film especially, Christopher Lee's black-caped Count resembles one of Disney's animated creations, Maleficent, from Sleeping Beauty. It's interesting that these two films were produced at roughly the same time.
One of my many favorite scenes in Horror of Dracula is the simplest--the camera moves (ACTUAL camera movement--NOT a zoom lens) in for a close up of the sepulcher labelled "DRACULA", over which drops of rich, red blood spatter down. Simple, direct and not overdone. Cool.

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Summary: Hammer's First And Best Dracula Film!!!!!!!
Review: The Horror of Dracula was Hammer Film's first Dracula film. It follows the novel by Bram Stoker loosely with several varations from Stoker's novel.
First, there is the ever present confusion of Lucy and Mina. In the HOD Lucy is Jonathan Harker's fiancee and Arthur Holmwood's sister, while Mina is Arthur's wife. In the novel it is Mina and Jonathan who are engaged while Arthur is courting Lucy who dies by Dracula's bite.
Second, in the HOD Jonathan Harker is turned into a vampire by Dracula in his travels to Dracula's castle to destroy Dracula.
Also the main events in the book occur in London, while in the HOD they occur somewhere on the European contenent.
All in all it is a classic movie, even though it doesn't follow the novel. Even the 1931 Bela Lugosi Dracula did not follow the novel but was based more on the stage version. Actually the only movie to closely follow the novel was 1992's Bram Stoker's Dracula.
Hammer Dracula films slowly started to go downhill after the Horror of Dracula, I think because of the screenwriters running out of ideas of how to resurect and destroy Dracula a different way each film.

Rating:
Summary: Timeless Horror classic that set the standard
Review: Without wishing to take away from the original Dracula movie starring Bela Lugosi, or the more recent Bram Stoker's Dracula adaptation, this for me is THE definitve Dracula movie. Christopher Lee's portrayal of the count is both graceful, suave, intimidating and menacing, and is only offset by Peter Cushing's masterful Van Helsing, playing his nemesis. This is the movie that brought the fairly unknown Hammer studios to a World audience, and more than set the tone, and standard, of horror movies from the 60's onward. Released in the US as the Horror of Dracula (to avoid confusion with the 1931 Lugosi classic), it's links to the Stoker novel are actually tenuous at best, and the story is pretty weak really. That said, the set design, supporting cast, and all round production are excellent, underlined with a stirring macabre musical score. At just over 80 mins, it moves very quickly, and I'm sure most modern audiences will find it remarkablt tame, but it captures the mood and feel of the genre completely. I remember watching an interview with Christopher Lee (most recently seen as Saruman in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy) and he spoke with great affection about the role of Dracula (a role he reprised in several sequels). The main reason for this was delivering the horror story in it's purest fantastical and mythical form. No matter how scared the audience became, they took comfort from the fantasy of it all. I for one would much rather see this kind of graceful suspense than watch a maniac serial killer hacking up innocent victims, I see enough of that on the news!. Great movie classic, and MUST SEE for any true horror fans. Enjoy!