Dracula
| release date | April 8 1958 |
| studio | United Artists |
| director | Terence Fisher |
| writer | Bram Stoker, Jimmy Sangster |
| starring | Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, Michael Gough, Melissa Stribling, Carol Marsh |
| tagline | Don't Dare See It...Alone! |
| trailer 1 | Trailer #1 |
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this is actually called “horror of dracula”, but thats beside the point. i am a huge fan of the british hammer series of horror. for their time, these films were considered to be gore films. very tame by todays standards. however, this is still a great horror movie. christopher lees dracula rivals bela lugosis, but still dosent top it, which wont ever be done anyway. and it has one of the best screen pairings ever, which was done many more times by the hammer group, is christopher lee and peter cushing. classic.
As Gorehound points out below, this film is incorrectly titled in the database. The correct title is “The Horror of Dracula.” Anyway, on to my review.
Released in 1957, “The Horror of Dracula” is, in my opinion, the best of Christopher Lee’s Dracula films, as well as the best of the Lee/Cushing collaborations. It is also a great example of why Hammer Horror deserves its legendary status. This is classic Gothic horror at its best. There is an extremely gripping, melancholy atmosphere that is still being (less-successfully) strived for by films today. It effectively makes up for the admittedly dated, cheesy visuals.
Speaking of which, the visuals deserve their own paragraph. This film, like all of Lee’s Dracula films, consciously borrows quite liberally from the Dracula portrayed by Bela Lugosi in the 1930s. This is best seen when the camera zooms intensely in on Dracula’s eyes, signifying that his gaze seducing his victim. Dracula has been hipped up now, though: his eyes are fiercely red and bloodshot. Cliché as this sounds, however, it works. It is very captivating and disturbing, and goes right for the viewer’s gut. It is an image that won’t soon be forgotten. Moving on, the decomposition scene at the end of the film reminded me very much of a similar scene at the close of 1980′s “Evil Dead.” That is, it is quite obviously low budget, but somehow manages to be uniquely gruesome and upsetting.
Considering this, I understand why Gorehound argues that this was considered a “gore film” by the standards of the 50s and 60s.
I also want to take a minute to point out the score here, particularly at the opening of the film. It is very moving, and works very well to instill the eerie atmosphere of the film. I definitely believe that it is one of the best and most effective film scores I have heard. Someone needs to release some sort of “Hammer Horror” soundtrack… wow, that wasn’t funny.
Lastly, Lee is in top shape here. Of course, no one can ever replace horror god Bela Lugosi, but man oh man, Lee sure does come close. He utilizes the character created by Lugosi, but adds his own, modernized technique to it. He creates a very morbid, memorable Count Dracula. He is combated by his equally famous partner in crime, Peter Cushing. Cushing kicks rocks as usual. He is really Lee’s second half: the Dracula films that feature Lee by himself always seem to be missing something (no insult to Lee intended). They just don’t make `em like they used to. Modern horror actors, take notes.
There, I’ve gotten my two cents in. I normally don’t talk so much, I swear, but this film deserves it. Fans of classic and/or Hammer horror, if you haven’t seen this, shame on you! But anyway, you will eat it up. “The Horror of Dracula” is real horror art; I can’t stress it enough. Watch it, and see where generations of vampire films have come from. Of course, if you’re more into the modern horror, complete with copious amounts gore and whatnot (which is cool as hell, don’t get me wrong), you may not find much to like here, simply because it is such a different style. But I recommend you see just this one anyway, if only to recognize its influence.
I’m not sure if this has been given the remaster treatment yet. If it has been and you can get your hands on one, get it. These films are old and tend to display a pretty grainy picture and sound. If not, oh well; we’ll have to make due. It is available for dirt cheap on an unlimited number of huge compilations. Mine was produced by Warner Brothers I believe, so check it out.
Buy or die.
From the opening shot with the bombastic score and the camera going into Dracula’s castle to see blood dripping on his coffin, you know this movie is something special (I cannot praise the score enough, btw).
Christopher Lee is badass in this – the most badass Dracula of them all. Peter Cushing matches Lee’s badass Dracula with an equally badass Van Helsing. And you have a classic matchup and showdown right there.
This is the greatest Hammer movie ever IMO.
this is christopher lee at his best, definatly one of the best hammer house films. although no one can top bela lugosi, his own interpretation of dracula is one of the best.
One of the earliest and best of Hammer studios’ remakes of the the classic Universal Horror films. Christopher Lee is the Count and his appeal is sexually sinister. He moves well, being both tall and athletic. Made in the late 1950′s, the more horrific scenes are coyly shielded by the drape of his cape or a closed door, but we do get to see our share of Technicolor blood.
The heart of this version though, and the reason to admire it, is Peter Cushing’s masterful turn as Dr. Von Helsing… a man of knowledge, wit, and unmoderated virtue. Always a gentleman, with impeccable manners, yet unafraid to do what he must when it comes to fighting the forces of evil. HIs struggle draws us in and makes it matter. Amid the setbacks and suspense, he remains undaunted. I had the good fortune to see this recently on the night a thunderstorm rumbled through the area, and a heavy rain pelted the windows, enhancing the total experience. With some careful planning and a monitor of the weather channel, your own viewing experience of “Horror of Dracula” might be so enhanced.