DRACULA on Film [ Edited ]

[ConnieAnnKirk]

I know that some of you have your favorite film versions of Stoker's classic.  Let us know your picks and pans here!

Message Edited by ConnieK on 06-01-2009 04:00 PM

[dulcinea3]

I still love the classic film with Bela Lugosi!  And I'm not sure how many people are aware that they filmed a Spanish-language version at the same time, using different actors, but the same sets.  They would film the English one during the day, and the Spanish one at night.  The video I have includes some interview footage with one of the female leads, who mentioned that the costumes for the Spanish-speaking actresses were quite a bit more low-cut than for the English-speaking ones!

Dracula 

It's been many years since I've seen it, but I seem to recall that I found Frank Langella to be a rather sexy Dracula!

[DCGuy]

I've seen the Bella Lugosi version as well as the Frank Langella and Christopher Lee (British Hammer productions) versions.  The Hammer movies made the vampire story into a serial form and Dracula kept rising from the dead several times (even after being impaled).  The Hammer movies portrayed many of the female victims in a very sexy light and who became willing lovers to Dracula.

[Ryan_G]

I have and love the 75th Anniversary edition DVD of the Bela Lugosi movie that Dulcinea also has and it is phenomenal.  Other Dracula (not generic vampire movies I love are)

Horror Of Dracula 

 

Dracula's Daughter / Son of Dracula  

Count Dracula and His Vampire Bride 

Count Dracula  

Taste the Blood of Dracula  

Monster Squad 

 

[marciliogq]

My favorite one is Dracula by Bram Stoker with Gary Oldman. I didn't have opportunities to see to many versions.

Bram Stoker's Dracula 

[JohnP51]

My favorite is still Bela Lugosi's film version. That voice and that accent set the character in my brain forever and the quintesential Dracula. The next time you have a minute, check out Lugosi's biography on Wikipedia. It's quite remarkable.

[ConnieAnnKirk]

I haven't seen the Gary Oldman one, and it's been a long time since I saw the BL one.  I'm going to try to watch both this month! 

[Josepher]

I saw Bram Stoker`s "Dracula", the movie, before I read the book. I think the movie did an excellent job of recreating the horrors depicted in the writing. However, the movie goes off track the book and establishes a historical connection between Mina and the Count.

I dont want to be too specific as not to spoil the movie, but the relationship drives the plot and gives reason behind Dracula`s coming to London and I was wondering if I had missed it in the text somewhere..

[ConnieAnnKirk]

---

Josepher wrote:

I saw Bram Stoker`s "Dracula", the movie, before I read the book. I think the movie did an excellent job of recreating the horrors depicted in the writing. However, the movie goes off track the book and establishes a historical connection between Mina and the Count.

I dont want to be too specific as not to spoil the movie, but the relationship drives the plot and gives reason behind Dracula`s coming to London and I was wondering if I had missed it in the text somewhere..

---

Welcome, Josepher--and thanks for your comments about the film.  Which one was it (who starred as Dracula in the version you mention?).  Was it a newer one?

[Josepher]

Thank you for the welcome ConnieK. 

I apologize for leaving that out. It was "Bram Stoker`s Dracula" starring Garry Oldman.  

In the movie, Mina is a reincarnation of Dracula`s wife. He goes to London to seek Mina, which I find gives the Count`s departure from his castle a purpose.  Where as in the book, I find Dracula`s reason of coming to London vague. Perhaps, as Van Helsing theorizes, the Count is testing his child-brain, and it is his thirst for knowledge (no pun intended) that drives him. 

There is also a list of the differences between the book and the movie on the wiki page. But it does contain spoilers!  

[ConnieAnnKirk]

Just pubbed an article about a possible new Dracula film in the works.

[JohnP51]

---

ConnieK wrote:
Just pubbed an article about a possible new Dracula film in the works.

---

That's an interesting development, Connie. Especially using non-professional actors.

I love that shot from the film Nosferatu. Judged by today's standards and that film is pretty hokey. But by the standards of the time when it was filmed, it set the standard for suspense and horror. I like to watch it once a year or so.

[ConnieAnnKirk]

---

JohnP51 wrote:

---

ConnieK wrote:
Just pubbed an article about a possible new Dracula film in the works.

---

That's an interesting development, Connie. Especially using non-professional actors.

I love that shot from the film Nosferatu. Judged by today's standards and that film is pretty hokey. But by the standards of the time when it was filmed, it set the standard for suspense and horror. I like to watch it once a year or so.

---

John--The New Annotated Dracula calls Nosferatu "arguably the most artistically successful film of Dracula ever made" (554). The say it is "surprisingly modern in its uses of close-ups and point-of view shots" (554).

I think it sounds like the film is regarded as far from hokey in the minds of professional filmmakers.  Wish we had one of them with us who could explain it for us!

[Ryan_G]

Until last night I forgot (not really, just didn't think about it) the episode of Buffy: The Vampire Slayer where she meets Dracula.  This is the promo for the episode, Buffy Vs. Dracula.  It is one of the funnest episdoes they ever filmed and allow Dracula to keep his unusual powers.  He is still able to change shape (mist, bat, wolf), enthrall others to turn them into a "Renfield), and even has a storm usher him into town. 

[JohnP51]

---

ConnieK wrote:

---

JohnP51 wrote:

---

ConnieK wrote:
Just pubbed an article about a possible new Dracula film in the works.

---

That's an interesting development, Connie. Especially using non-professional actors.

I love that shot from the film Nosferatu. Judged by today's standards and that film is pretty hokey. But by the standards of the time when it was filmed, it set the standard for suspense and horror. I like to watch it once a year or so.

---

John--The New Annotated Dracula calls Nosferatu "arguably the most artistically successful film of Dracula ever made" (554). The say it is "surprisingly modern in its uses of close-ups and point-of view shots" (554).

I think it sounds like the film is regarded as far from hokey in the minds of professional filmmakers.  Wish we had one of them with us who could explain it for us!

---

I agree, Connie. Imagine making that same film using today's techniques. It's funny that with today's audiences preferring blood and gore in movies, the old black & white thrillers are still popular and still effective. And they were able to do it without the sensationalism of blood and gore.

[willowy]

---

ConnieK wrote:
Just pubbed an article about a possible new Dracula film in the works.

---

That's an interesting development, Connie. Especially using non-professional actors.

I love that shot from the film Nosferatu. Judged by today's standards and that film is pretty hokey. But by the standards of the time when it was filmed, it set the standard for suspense and horror. I like to watch it once a year or so.

---

John--The New Annotated Dracula calls Nosferatu "arguably the most artistically successful film of Dracula ever made" (554). The say it is "surprisingly modern in its uses of close-ups and point-of view shots" (554).

I think it sounds like the film is regarded as far from hokey in the minds of professional filmmakers.  Wish we had one of them with us who could explain it for us!

---

I think it's sometimes hard as modern movie watchers to see an older movie and see the merit it probably had at one time. I personally love Nosferatu, I think in feel it's probably closer to Dracula the novel than the other movies I've seen, even though they took some liberties with the story due to copyright laws. However, the person I watched it with found it to be one of the silliest movies they have ever seen! Though I suppose all Dracula movies sort of have an element of campiness to them!

[ConnieAnnKirk]

I haven't watched any Dracula movies in a really long time, so I'm looking forward to it.  Would it freak me out too much to do a kind of "Dracula movie marathon" of say, 2 or 3 movies in a row?  Ha.  It would certainly make comparisons easier!

[Ryan_G]

Go for it!

---

ConnieK wrote:
I haven't watched any Dracula movies in a really long time, so I'm looking forward to it.  Would it freak me out too much to do a kind of "Dracula movie marathon" of say, 2 or 3 movies in a row?  Ha.  It would certainly make comparisons easier!

---

[Zack_Kullis]

ConnieK wrote:
I haven't watched any Dracula movies in a really long time, so I'm looking forward to it.  Would it freak me out too much to do a kind of "Dracula movie marathon" of say, 2 or 3 movies in a row?  Ha.  It would certainly make comparisons easier!

That is a great idea ConnieK!!!!   

I would have to agree with Marciliogq.  The Gary Oldman movie is my favorite Dracula movie, because like Josepher mentioned, I think it does the best job explaining the driving forces behind the count's persona. 

Van Helsing wasn't bad from a visual perspective, but the story line was just not nearly as good as Bram's.  (In my humble opinion)  

Message Edited by Zack_Kullis on 06-12-2009 12:00 PM

Message Edited by Zack_Kullis on 06-12-2009 12:05 PM

[ConnieAnnKirk]

---

Zack_Kullis wrote:

ConnieK wrote:
I haven't watched any Dracula movies in a really long time, so I'm looking forward to it.  Would it freak me out too much to do a kind of "Dracula movie marathon" of say, 2 or 3 movies in a row?  Ha.  It would certainly make comparisons easier!

That is a great idea ConnieK!!!!   

I would have to agree with Marciliogq.  The Gary Oldman movie is my favorite Dracula movie, because like Josepher mentioned, I think it does the best job explaining the driving forces behind the count's persona. 

Van Helsing wasn't bad from a visual perspective, but the story line was just not nearly as good as Bram's.  (In my humble opinion)  

---

Thanks, Zack, and welcome!  I've two coming this weekend, so we'll see how far I get with them.  Ha.  Thanks for giving reasons for your picks.