Rating: Summary: STUNNING! Review: Ever since I read Bram Stoker's original, I've been searching for a movie with an accurate portrayal of the novel. THIS IS IT! Brilliant direction and Lee's spectacular performance combine to bring the villian to life in all his power, grace, animalism, and twisted allure (unlike the 1931 film, this one most definately didn't skip the erotic overtones of the book, though nothing explicit is shown). Cushing is the PERFECT Van Helsing: gentle, intelligent, and possessing a will of steel. Fans of the original Mina may be a little disappointed; her role has been downsized from Stoker's intelligent, enduringly strong woman to the typical damsel in distress. Don't worry about the unneccessary gore and buckets of blood the modern movies through in; there's just enough here to communicate the horror of the situation and remain true to the feeling of the novel (I'd call it a mild PG-13). The film takes some large deviances from the original story, but it truelly captures the essence of Dracula. Many of the plot changes are actually an asset; even long-time Dracula fans will be on the edge of their seats!
Rating: Summary: Christopher Lee as Dracula? You better believe it! Review: *I myself am NOT Anthony Bennett, but I am his teen daughter, so that is clarified*I purchased this movie recently from Amazon, ignoring the fact that my father said that it was rather moldy. Finally when it came, I immediately slipped it into the machine and what can I say; I'm very glad that I did order it! I am a huge fan of Dracula and have seen many versions of the legendary vampire's tale. But, this retelling is by FAR one of the most wonderful. The lush cinematography in this movie is nothing short of brilliant in it's original Technicolour form, and the dramatic music that kicks off the music actually startled me! However, the true merit lies not the wonderful scenery or in the camera work, but in the excellent performance of Christopher Lee as the Count. The sheer way that Lee conveys his portrayal of the vampire was top-notch. Not only was he athletic, confident, urbane, charming tall, and dark, but he also oozed a predator's soul and with so much sexual magnetisim. His Dracula made me look at the TV set in awe and lust because he had not only talent, but looks to boot! Another wonderful treat for me was the admirable Peter Cushing who played the confident Professor Abraham Van Helsing who accepts his destiny to take up arms against his immortal foe. Not only does Cushing breathe new life into his character, but also he is just like the character Van Helsing in Bram Stoker's novel; kind, intelligent, polite and well-spoken. It truly was a shame that such a wonderful actor has passed away so recently. The rest of the cast plays their chracters to a tee, especailly Michael Gough as Arthur Holmwood, Melissa Stribling as Mina and Carol Marsh as Lucy. All of the cast were wonderful! One of my personal favourite sequences in this film was when Dracula was stalking Mina up the stair-case, neither taking their eyes off each other. Top-notch! Overall, this film has been an absolute pleasure to watch. It just goes to show that even a 21st century teen has a lot respect for the golden age of horror films *and the wonderful Christopher Lee!*
Rating: Summary: Very Overrated Review: This film is way overrated. I can understand how people think this is great, only because it is the first Hammer Dracula film. Personally the movie is uninteresting to me.
Rating: Summary: Horror Of Dracula-The Greatest Vampire Movie Ever, Period! Review: Hammer Films' HORROR OF DRACULA is undoubtedly the greatest vampire film of all time! Comparing it to the 1931 version of DRACULA starring Bela Lugosi, HORROR OF DRACULA makes the 1931 film look old, dated, & obsolete. The 1931 DRACULA was slow & tedious, HORROR OF DRACULA was fast-paced, frightening, intense, erotic, & AWESOME. Bela Lugosi's interpretation of The Lord of the Undead seem wooden & boring compared to Christopher Lee's dynamic interpretation. Lee's Dracula showed a refined nobleman, aristocratic in appearance, almost royalty. But Lee's Dracula had something that Lugosi, & other actors who portrayed Dracula did not: Lee's Dracula was intense, animalistic, frightening, supernatural, inhuman, yet he was also attractive, erotic, confident, & irresistible to women. Lee's Dracula exuded a blatant sexual charm that his female victims found unable to resist. Peter Cushing's Dr, Van Helsing was equally superb. He's not the old, decrepit professor, but he's the dynamic, confident, brave, almost superheroic character out to destroy the vampire menace that threaten to destroy the "entire world" as he put it bluntly. He is the perfect foil to Christopher Lee. The film is a classic that needs to be seen by vampire fans everywhere. Forget Tom Cruise's INTERVIEW..., forget Wes Craven's DRACULA 2000... watch this film, you won't regret it!!!
Rating: Summary: CHILLING Review: Hammer Studio's masterpiece of the horror genre is this nifty 1958 flick filmed in appropriately gaudy colour. With the possible exception of the 1922 NOSFERATU, this version followed Bram Stoker's esteemed classic more closely than say Universal's 1931 classic with Bela Lugosi. The plot is so well-known that a synopsis of any kind would be an injustice. The film moves quickly and forcefully keeping the audience at the edge of their seats; the sets are lush and magnificent looking while the actors are perfectly suited to their roles. The sexual aspect of Dracula's allure to all these ladies was given a more overt treatment than previously, and this aids to the viewer's plausibility and adds to the viewing pleasure immeasurably (how else would all these females go crazy for the count?) Lee is magnificent and really very creepy in his interpretation of the world's most famed Vampire!
Rating: Summary: The best Dracula film from Hammer/Fisher/Lee/Cushing Review: "Horror of Dracula" is the film that started it all for Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing in 1958. I do not think there is much doubt that this is the best of the Hammer films, and certainly Terence Fisher's best work as a director. For that matter, this is Lee's best performance as the Count, obviously more in keeping with Stoker's original version than the most feral beast he becomes in later Hammer films. The acting, the production values, everything is much better in this film than anything the studio produced in its wake. I would not say it is the most accurate adaptation of Stoker's original novel, but it certainly has more of the spirit than most.
Rating: Summary: Horror Of Dracula Review: I have seen this movie over a thousand times during my short eighteen years on this planet, not because my real life surname is in league with one of the characters, but because of the way Stokers two great nemesis always kept one step ahead of the other. I saw the (31) version and believe me it was the most boring one I've seen-next to jack palances performance! here terance fisher chose the right actor to play the most evil, ruthless, monster the world had ever came across. Christopher Lee is far better than Loguse, Langella, Oldman and Palance put together. I found him so scary that I had night mares for over two weeks, it was the pure evil in his eyes that convinced me that he was perfect for the role! I guess There is also one Professor VanHelsing on the screens, and Yes it has to be Peter Cushing! I've watched him in all the Dracula movies and I will most certainly have him in my family to protect against the evil that is Dracula! Both the character of Dracula and VanHelsing are perfectly portraid by Lee and Cushing. They are like Holmes, versus Moriarty and like those two nemesis Lees Dracula is a Formidable apponant for Cushings Vanhelsing! I just now rediscovered Horror of Dracula and Ladies and Gentle- men, I will never get tired of it..I loved it and still do!!
Rating: Summary: The Ultimate Bite!! Review: This is my favorite movie from Hammer! The Film bites so well that i still have the marks on my neck! If you like vampire films then this is one you cannot miss. Peter Cushing is brilliant as always and Christopher Lee does an great job as Dracula. This film is complete with good atmosphere, color, direction and so much more. Get it!!
Rating: Summary: The most dangerous DRACULA of them all! Review: If it weren't for the...justified...deference given Bela Lugosi as archetypal incarnation of THE COUNT, many viewers of Hammer's HORROR of DRACULA would pull-up the STAKES and hand the cape over to Christopher Lee. Lugosi's Count essays a lugubrious, ghost-like menace, the essence of grotesque, leering Nightmare. Lee, however, conveys unleashed demonic energy. He is both vicious, sexual predator; and ruthless, remorseless killer. He incarnates DANGER...to the bodies and souls of his relentlessly stalked victims. HORROR of DRACULA is probably Hammer film's greatest achievement. Excellent acting by Lee and Peter Cushing as his formidable, implacable antagonist, Dr. Van Helsing, is supported by fine production values of dramatic scoring, lush atmospherics and the luridly intense photography that became Hammer's signum. Ace director Terence Fisher controls his material, never allowing it to devolve...as it would occasionally in Dracula sequels... into farce or pornographic violence.. Lee's Dracula is consistent with Braham Stoker's satanic anti-hero. He is bloody bad news; a warrior...reveling in the glamour of Evil. And HORROR of DRACULA is a scary, exciting movie; a reel battle between GOOD and EVIL...the perfect treat for this or any Halloween.
Rating: Summary: Horror of Dracula Review: Probably the greatest Dracula film of all time! When I first saw this movie it was at the beach with my mom and I didn't know what was going to happen so it was pretty creppy. But as the end got nearer it was probably the best ending yet when Abraham Van Helsing (Peter Cushing)pulled down the curtains when it was dawn and it destroyed the mighty Count. But any how all of the actors did well with their parts and Terence Fisher directed it with his usual know-how.
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