Dracula (1979)

Chalk this one up as something that seemed like a good idea at the time. Frank Langella had just taken Broadway by storm in a revival of the play based on Bram Stoker's classic vampire novel. He was tall, elegant, and almost painfully romantic--all qualities that failed to translate to this garish, tarted-up film version. The story remains the same, if told in greater length than in Bela Lugosi's version. The film even offered Laurence Olivier as vampire-hunter Van Helsing (in one of several roles he played during the period that required a middle-European accent) and a young Kate Nelligan as the woman whose love (and blood) Dracula most wants. But director John Badham, working from W.D. Richter's clunky script, makes a hash of most of it, relying on special effects to do the heavy lifting. --Marshall Fine Amazon.com

A Stylish, Elegant Classic

This 1979 version of Dracula is a beautiful film, harkening back to the old classic style horror film. Wonderfully cast, Frank Langella is a compelling Dracula, in an underplayed and very naturalistic performance, brimming with charm, elegence and intensity. Likewise Kate Nelligan, Lord Laurence Olivier and Donald Pleasance also give very memorable performances. The film is light on gore, stately paced and heavy on beautiful and engrossing gothic atmosphere. The sets, locations, costumes and overall production design are truly grand and the cinematography is gorgeous. John Williams provides the film with a score that fits perfectly and is one of his very best (which is really saying something) - perfectly displayed in the wonderfully psychedelic "wedding" scene designed by Maurice Bender. A modern version of an old fashioned horror film and brilliantly executed with class and style. October 31, 2008

Frank Langella is the best Dracula

I've read Bram Stoker's original novel and enjoy seeing different film versions of the Dracula story. I especially enjoy seeing different actors' take on the titular character. To properly review this 1979 version with Frank Langella allow me to briefly comment on the various Dracula films and actors in the starring role:

Bela Lugosi in "Dracula" (1931 b&w): Lugosi has the quintessential Drac accent and is charismatic in the role, but the film itself is very dated and most modern viewers will find it boring and unappealing. The film is short at a mere 75 minutes, but I can never manage to get through it.

Christopher Lee in the Hammer film series (1958-1973): Christopher is evil incarnate in the role; unfortunately he comes off one-dimensional and therefore a bit boring (he rarely ever speaks), not to mention he gets very little screen time in the grand scheme of things. The series has its share of good moments ("Tastes the Blood of Dracula"), bad ("The Satanic Rites of Dracula"), decent ("Horror of") and bizarre ("Dracula A.D. 1972").

Jack Palance in "Dracula" (1973): This is a surprisingly effective made-for-tv version of the tale. Palance is sympathetic as a man in miserable bondage to vampirism. Quite good despite its tv-oriented limitations.

Gary Oldman in Francis Ford Coppola's "Bram Stoker's Dracula" (1992): This one is visually oppulent and captivating throughout the first half. Unfortunately Oldman is unmemorable in the titular role and is only effective as the old-man Dracula seen at the beginning. Later in the story he does a great imitation of John Lennon (lol). Despite its title the film is not truly faithful to its source. Dracula here is portrayed as a not-truly-bad victim of severe love-sickness rather than a paragon of unadulterated evil as portrayed by Stoker. Still, the first half is loaded with great scenes, including Drac's Brides' seduction of Harker and the subsequent horrifying baby sacrifice. The second half unfortunately loses the film's initial captivating appeal.

Which brings us to Frank Langella's take on the character in this 1979 version. Langella plays Dracula as a gentleman with serious dark charm. Behind this facade lurks beastial evil, total arrogance and powerful supernatural abilities. The story shows that Dracula can seduce just about any woman with his hypnotic powers and dark charisma; he can also climb walls upside down and morph into a creature of the night at a whim. The story shows his weaknesses as well, which Van Helsing (Laurence Olivier) and his partner (Donald Pleasence) take advantage of.

Another highlight is Kate Nelligan's effective portrayal of Lucy, whom Drac chooses as his vampire bride.

In addition, more than any other Dracula film this one features the best dialogue bits, e.g. "Time is on my side. In a century when you are dust I will call and awaken Lucy my queen from her grave," "You fools -- You think with your crosses and your waffers you can destroy me? I AM THE KING OF MY KIND," etc. (The band Helstar utilized quotes from this film for their 1989 masterpiece NOSFERATU).

The story completely omits the initial Transylvania sequence, opting to start with Drac's arrival in England on a mysterious shipwreck of dead men. Ordinarily I'd object to this since I love that creepy opening sequence, but it works here. The rest of the film plays loose with Stoker's novel, but all the necessary elements are here. This works for those who are bored with the basic Dracula tale and require fresh ideas to stay interested.

PERSONAL RATING: A- October 30, 2008

FRANK LANGELLA AS DRACULA

OH MY GOODNESS.HE WAS THE BEST ONE EVER PLAYED,BESIDES BEING BEAUTIFUL AND CHARMING HE WAS SUCH A GREAT PERFORMER,ALTHOUGH THEY SHOULD HAVE MADE A SWITCH IN THE LADIES,LUCY SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE GIRL HE KILLED, AND THE ONE WHO WAS LUCY SHOULDVE GOTTEN THE AX,BUT THE PERFORMANCES IN ALL WAS EXCEPTIONALLY GRAND. LANGELLA I WANTED TO MARRY U FROM THE TIME I SEEN THIS PERFORMANCE. SMACK!!!!! July 6, 2008

Simply the best Dracula.

This is simply the best Dracula film ever made. Atmospheric, lavish, romantic gothic and erotic. There are other Dracula films that have charms of their own, but this brings a new and unique presentation to the classical theatrical Dracula. If you want fangs and gore, get a Hammer Films version. June 16, 2008

Dracula a Classic!

This movie is an excellent vampire movie. A must own for vampire fans. It's similar to the movie done by Bela Lugosi. But different and more gross(cuz of the bug thing). Frank Langella at his best. June 12, 2008

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