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Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
After Hammer Studios' tremendous success with The Curse of Frankenstein, they struck a deal to adapt Universal's catalog of classics and set their sights first on Dracula. Christopher Lee removes the monstrous makeup from the earlier film and makes his entrance as an elegant, confident, altogether seductive Dracula, a frightening figure of flashing eyes and erotic allure. Peter Cushing, with his hawklike profile and piercing eyes, turns his rationalist intensity to Van Helsing: man of science as crusading vampire hunter. Director Terence Fisher and screenwriter Jimmy Sangster make a few changes to Bram Stoker's tale; gone are Renfield, Transylvania, howling wolves, and transformations into bats. The Count is an old-world aristocrat firmly ensconced in a castle in England and Van Helsing a crusading vampire hunter who plots his demise with an elaborate plan. This is the first film to really mine the erotic appeal of vampires: Dracula seduces Mina and Lucy like a devil tempting good to the dark side through sex--more suggestive than explicit, but daring for 1958. Lee is electric as the ferocious Count, despite his limited screen time, and Cushing turns Van Helsing into a virtual swashbuckler of a hero, leaping and diving through the climax like an aging action hero. Cushing reprises his role in The Brides of Dracula, while Lee absented himself from the series until 1966's Dracula: Prince of Darkness. --Sean Axmaker
Product Description
Jonathan Harker, a student of vampires, ventures to Dracula's castle and attacks him. The revengeful vampire leaves his dark abode to prey on the family of his attacker's fiancee. The only man able to protect Harker and his fiancee is Dr. Van Helsing, a friend of Harker's. As a fellow-student of vampires, he's determined to destroy Dracula.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
42 of 45 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
The film "Dracula" (1958) (Aka "Horror of Dracula" in the USA) was a turning point in vampire's movies.
The use of Technicolor and profusion of blood shed produced a shock to audiences when released
At that time I was one of the teenagers that crowded the theater. What an experience! Since the starting titles with blood dripping over Dracula's name until the last scene we were enthralled with fear & horror!
At the present times general public is used to much more gore and violence, but this film still make your hair stand straight!
British director Terence Fisher is able to instill true Stoker's spirit to the film; it is a subtle combination of suspense and Grand Guignol. That "touch" was lost in successive new versions and resurrections the dreadful Count.
But in this particular first release Christopher Dracula Lee & Peter Van Helsing Cushing are at their peak.
The story in this particular adaptation of Stoker's book is as follows: Jonathan Harker is sent by Dr. Van Helsing to Dracula's Castle in order to destroy the hideous vampire.
That fate is easier to plan than accomplish as the unfortunate Harker will learn.
After defeating this attack the Count starts an all out revenge aimed to Harker's fiancée and her sister.
To stop him there is only one person: Dr. van Helsing. The film chronicles this confrontation.
Christopher Lee with his eyes full of tiny red veins and enormous fangs rends a paradigmatic characterization. Peter Cushing as Dr. van Helsing is at the same height.
This is an unforgettable horror movie. It is highly recommended for fans of the genre.
Reviewed by Max Yofre.
The use of Technicolor and profusion of blood shed produced a shock to audiences when released
At that time I was one of the teenagers that crowded the theater. What an experience! Since the starting titles with blood dripping over Dracula's name until the last scene we were enthralled with fear & horror!
At the present times general public is used to much more gore and violence, but this film still make your hair stand straight!
British director Terence Fisher is able to instill true Stoker's spirit to the film; it is a subtle combination of suspense and Grand Guignol. That "touch" was lost in successive new versions and resurrections the dreadful Count.
But in this particular first release Christopher Dracula Lee & Peter Van Helsing Cushing are at their peak.
The story in this particular adaptation of Stoker's book is as follows: Jonathan Harker is sent by Dr. Van Helsing to Dracula's Castle in order to destroy the hideous vampire.
That fate is easier to plan than accomplish as the unfortunate Harker will learn.
After defeating this attack the Count starts an all out revenge aimed to Harker's fiancée and her sister.
To stop him there is only one person: Dr. van Helsing. The film chronicles this confrontation.
Christopher Lee with his eyes full of tiny red veins and enormous fangs rends a paradigmatic characterization. Peter Cushing as Dr. van Helsing is at the same height.
This is an unforgettable horror movie. It is highly recommended for fans of the genre.
Reviewed by Max Yofre.
21 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Horror of Dracula, Christopher Lee's first performance as The Count, is surely among the finest versions of Bram Stoker's classic tale. Lee has amazing presence and style as Dracula and his is certainly one of the definitive portrayals of the classic character. Having just seen both this film and Tod Browning's classic 1931 Dracula film in close proximity, I am eager to compare and contrast them.
Browning's film is older and grittier and it benefits greatly from this. The raw, black and white photography gives it an incredibly eerie, creepy atmosphere which is missing from Horror of Dracula. Browning's film bore the influence of German Expressionism, particularly F.W. Murnau's classic Nosferatu. This sense of atmosphere, along with Bela Lugosi's knockout performance as the Count is what makes the 1931 Dracula great.
Hammer Films' Horror of Dracula from 1958 was filmed in Technicolor and has no trace of that German-Expressionist creepiness. However, Horror of Dracula has many advantages over the earlier film. For one thing, the performances are far better. Peter Cushing is perhaps the greatest Van Helsing ever, and Christopher Lee's Dracula is excellent. Horror of Dracula moves by faster and feels like a more cohesive whole, not to mention that the ending is far better than the ending of Browning's film.
Horror of Dracula is an incredibly solid variation on the story. Keeping in mind that it was made in the late '50s, I think most viewers will be satisfied. It's more enjoyable than the 1931 Dracula, but far less atmospheric. The performances of Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee propel this fine film. I just wish that Christopher Lee was given more screen time. His Dracula appeared onscreen significantly less than Bela Lugosi's. He doesn't even speak at all in the second half of the film. Lee's powerful voice is one that demands to be heard.
The DVD is nice, but could be better. The picture quality is great for a 45-year-old film. However, the disc is seriously lacking in supplemental material. Christopher Lee is an extraordinary man to listen to, and any commentary track with him is worth listening to. Lee did a commentary for the forgettable Hammer film The Devil Rides Out, but none for the classic Horror of Dracula???? At the price point that Warner is selling this DVD at, there should at least be some decent extra features. However, extras or no, this film is indispensable for horror fans.
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
My favorite horror movie of all time--probably my favorite film period--is this classic Hammer horror film. I like this picture so much because it captures the spirit of Stoker's novel better than any other version. Dracula is portrayed as a ruthless, sexual predator--he is not just a mysterious nobleman ala Lugosi or (even further off the mark) a tragic romantic hero ala Langella, et al. Christopher Lee makes the most out of his six minutes of screentime, and Peter Cushing is great as the heroic Dr. Van Helsing. I also like Michael (Alfred in BATMAN) Gough and the gorgeous Valerie Gaunt. James Bernard's music is terrific, the best ever in a horror picture; and can anything top the wonderful finale? Don't miss HOD!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Where is the Region 1 Blu Ray edition????
Does Warner Brothers still own the US rights to this film...if so, what are they waiting for? I rated it four stars based on the fact that we do not have a decent DVD edition in... Read more
Published 16 days ago by Jack "Ventura"
3.0 out of 5 stars
Basic story
I bought this and other Hammer Dracula films just for diversion. It is the same story that the other films have: Dracula comes to life, he kills the beautiful women, he is... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Robert A. Olsen
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very Well Polished for Its Time
This was made in a time when horror was barely hitting the mainstream. This movie of course may not have as much gore as
a horror fan would want, considering this was made at... Read more
a horror fan would want, considering this was made at... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Classic GameFan1991
5.0 out of 5 stars
A must have for Hammer studio fans.
One of the best "Dracula" movies in the Hammer studio line-up. A must see. Essential to any collector of vampire movies.
Published 2 months ago by Nicola Noetic
5.0 out of 5 stars
My man the historic Christoper Lee.......
The older movies are the best! There is nothing like the historic actor Christoper Lee! "Easy on the Eyes". Very highly recommended! Read more
Published 2 months ago by Johanna Smith
5.0 out of 5 stars
Horror of Dracula
Following the overwhelming success of their first Gothic Horror revival, THE CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN, Hammer Films quickly moved on to their own bloody retelling of the Bram Stoker... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Carl Manes
4.0 out of 5 stars
Needed More Lee
After having already watched several great actor's approach to this classic character, I was anxious to see Christopher Lee's version. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Doctor S.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Really Excellent!
I'm currently in a film class about vampires and I had to watch this for it. So far, the best film I've seen. Lee is an amazing, alluring Dracula that maintains the scare factor. Read more
Published 4 months ago by skagAnthropologist
5.0 out of 5 stars
Review of the whole Hammer series
From 1958 to 1976, the longest Dracula series was made. The official series only lasted until 1974 but the series main star, Christopher Lee did not like the treatment that the... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Freddy Krueger
4.0 out of 5 stars
Hammer Time
I've been a fan of the Hammer horror films since I was a kid in the '60's. They are a worthy successor to the Universal horror films of the '30's and '40's.
Published 5 months ago by tictok
