Count Dracula (BBC Mini-Series)
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Frank Finlay, Louis Jourdan, Susan PenhaligonBrand: Warner Brothers
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language)
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Full Screen, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 150 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2007-09-25
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Model: E4153
Studio: BBC Worldwide
Product features:
- This fan favorite three-part series from the BBC is now available on DVD for the first time! Louis Jourdan stars as the deliciously blood-thirsty Count Dracula in this version of Bram Stoker's horroric. Keeping close to the original novel, the series begins with Jonathan Harker visiting the Count in Transylvania to help him with preparations to move to England. It is in the Count's castle that Jon
Movie Reviews of Count Dracula (BBC Mini-Series)
Movie Review: "The trouble with mirrors is that they don't reflect quite enough. Don't you think?"
Summary: 5 Stars
On the 110th anniversary of Bram Stoker's publication of the vampire heavyweight,"Dracula," it has been a quite a year, especially on DVD, for the undying Count. First, PBS released a new version which explored the connection between disease & vampirism. Then, a great DVD came out of Jess Franco's version starring Christopher Lee.
Now, the coup de grace, with the long awaited PBS adaptation from 1977, starring Louis Jourdan. This rightly has the reputation of being closest to the original source, and insinuates a subtle and creepy gothic atmosphere not seen in very many horror movies of today.
The movie begins, much as Stoker first described, with young solicitor, Jonathan Harker (expertly played by Bosco Hogan) preparing to leave Whitby, England, and saying goodbye to his fiancee' Mina Westenra (Judi Bowker), her sister, Lucy (Susan Penhaligon) and their mother. He goes off to Transylvania to sell real estate to Count Dracula. His journey to the castle and stay there, is creepily portrayed with a sense of dread, filled with well meaning carriage passengers crossing themselves at the mention of his destination, baying wolves, and a night cold and bleak. Harker's time at the castle is also much as Stoker described, with his host, the Count, cordial but bizarre and unsettling. Harker soon begins to feel like a prisoner due to the uncompromising demands of Count Dracula, and along with being locked in his room. As in the novel, other dreadful surprises await him, including Dracula's three bloodthirsty vampire brides.
From there, Dracula sails to England, with the ship crashing onto Whitby shore in a storm. Soon, Lucy comes to display the classic signs of paleness, constant fatigue and weariness, and two red bite marks on her neck. One of her suitors and friend, Dr. Jack Seward, calls in his specialist friend, Dr. Abraham Van Helsing to examine her. Van Helsing puts the pieces together, and suspects the work of the vampire in their midst. Under Van Helsing's leadership, they seek to 'stamp out the evil' influence of the Count. For, as the Professor advises, "Evil will not disappear simply because we disapprove of it. We have to fight!" Thus the film is faithful the spirit of the novel in its portrayal of Good vs. Evil.
The movie has several strong facets managing to be quite moody and chilling due to its dark atmosphere and creepy minimalist score. All the actors turn in A level performances. Frank Finlay as Van Helsing is excellent, believably pulling off the accent, but most importantly has plenty of charm, wit, and is a determined and intelligent leader. While Peter Cushing remains my all time favorite Van Helsing, Finlay's portrayal is closest to the novel's Professor. Jack Shepherd, is hands down, the best Renfield in recent memory. His portrayal of the patient in Dr. Seward's sanitarium, with a mysterious link to the Count, is effective and full of surprises. He can leap into intense outbursts and yet be calm and reflective at the same time all as he struggles with Dracula's influence. And Judi Bowker as Mina, with her angelic looks and honesty of her portrayal, captures the novel's sense of Mina in making viewers believe the men would fight and sacrifice themselves to save her from Dracula's evil.
Finally, the most important performance, is that of the actor playing the Count himself. In that, Louis Jourdan does not disappoint, and even exceeds expectations. At first, one may be frustrated as he doesn't seem to closely resemble the Count as described in the novel, with the white hair and mustache: Jourdan is clean shaven, and looks relatively normal. However, Jourdan keeps his portrayal low key and cool and subtle. Gradually, one begins to feel his sense of evil creeping into the lives of the characters. Jourdan gives the impression of pure ominous evil, which is unlike other adaptations of Dracula at the time, such as from actors like Jack Palance, Frank Langella, and later, Gary Oldman, who are more ambiguous and lovelorn. Not so with Jourdan, and this is truly more in the spirit of the novel than in other portrayals despite their excellence in themselves. Jourdan does share distinct physical characteristics of the novel's Count, such as the fangs and black outfit, as well as clawed hands and hairy palms (which I've never seen in any other adaptation.)
Lastly, as stated before, rather than be influenced by the cynical nature of other films with their "downer" endings, writer Gerald Savory's script centers squarely on the struggle of pious good men and women against the timeless supernatural malevolence represented by Count Dracula. It was this theme, he said as a young boy in camp, that made such a strong impression on him when he encountered the book, and wanted to bring that to the fore in his adaptation. With the assured direction of Philip Saville, this is fully realized in this adaptation. The only caveats are that the movie was photographed on film and video tape, and some of the technical effects used to demonstrate Dracula's influence are dated and somewhat campy. But, these are minor distractions in this telling of the story that is as faithful, effective, and genuinely as creepy and gothic, as its original source.
Summary of Count Dracula (BBC Mini-Series)
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