Horror of Dracula
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Movie Reviews of Horror of Dracula
Movie Review: "I am Dracula and I welcome you to my house"
Summary: 5 Stars
Although Curse of Frankenstein launched Hammer's gothic cycle, it is their 1958 production of Bram Stoker's Dracula that remains their greatest aesthetic and narrative achievement. There are of course many Hammer films that rival Dracula, but in Hammer's most successful phase (1957-64) all the key ingredients reach their most successful synthesis. Director Terence Fisher, first and foremost an editor, creates some excellent parallels and doubles, and the film in fact is centred around a series of oppositions and dualities, in the shape of characters, spaces, gender, class and culture. This makes Fishers carefully composed shots and editing procedures particularly effective. Jack Asher's gorgeous cinematography drapes the film in sumptuous colour, and the beautiful gothic set designs gives the impression of a production far more expensive than the £81,000 it took to make. Furthermore the narrative hares along at breakneck speed, thanks to a Jimmy Sangster screenplay that removed much extraneous baggage from the novel. For Stoker purists, this version of Dracula would probably be rejected, but the result is a freedom and pace that almost every other version of the story has lacked. If all this isn't enough we get to see a snarling bloody mouthed Christopher Lee in one of horror cinema's greatest close ups, and the magnificent Peter Cushing leaping athletically onto a table and bringing the curtain down on the Count. Hammer's Dracula series never reclaimed the spirit of the first film, despite some interesting attempts ("Dracula has Risen from the Grave" and "Brides of Dracula" for example) and this film has now rightly taken its place in the pantheon of horror masterpieces.Movie Review: Classic Hammer Horror!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
This British-produced film, the first Dracula film from Hammer Studios, is brilliantly directed by Terence Fisher and is a true classic in the long-standing tradition of Hammer Horror. The story is slightly different from the original novel and also from the Bela Lugosi 1931 version, in that the budget only allowed for the story to take place basically within the same area of land. Arriving at Castle Dracula, Jonathan Harker (John Van Eyssen) meets the Vampire Prince (played wonderfully by Christopher Lee), but does not survive his experience unscathed. His undead corpse is found by friend Professor Van Helsing (Peter Cushing, once again turning in a strong performance and playing off Lee very well), and Van Helsing releases Harker's soul. He then travels to the town Harker lived in and informs Arthur Holmwood (Michael Gough) and his wife, Mina (Melissa Stribling) as well as Holmwood's sister, Lucy (Carol Marsh). A series of occurrences bring Dracula to the town, where he vampirizes Lucy and she is found out and released also by Van Helsing. Then, Mina begins acting strange, and Van Helsing begins to suspect the Prince of Darkness has something to do with it. A climactic chase, the confrontation between Dracula and Van Helsing and the terrific ending really highlight this stellar production. The DVD of this production is a bit bare-boned when it comes to special features, with only a trailer and cast and production biographies, but it is still a true classic 50 years after its original release. I do highly recommend seeing this one and getting it if you can find it. 4 3/4 stars out of 5.Movie Review: Hammer's Best Horror Movie.
Summary: 5 Stars
One of the top ten Horror movies of all time is this 1958 classic that revolutionized the genre.
Changing the plot drastically from Stoker's novel and the early Lugosi version,the result is a lightning paced film that is pure,gothic excellence.
All the performances are very well constructed and delivered to add to the film considerably,but the leads create two of the most memorable ever seen in the genre.
Christopher Lee is a truly frightening Count Dracula,more animalistic and imposing than earlier portrayals with an emphasis on sexuality.
Peter Cushing delivers the defintive portrayal of Dracula's arch nemesis,Van Helsing,proving more than a match for the bloodthirsty Count,even engaging in hand to hand combat at one point!
The use of Gore and the emphasis on sex gives the story a more visceral punch that the earlier adaptions lacked and makes for a more powerful experience,that few of it's imitators will understand how to meld as well.
The film's ending is justifiably one of the greatest in film history accompanied and accentuated by the wonderfully,bombastic score by James Bernard.
This is also probally the best film of Horror and Hammer director,Terence Fisher,who creates a wonderfully gothic Technicolor classic.
The only unfortunate thing is the DVD does not do the film justice,offering a so-so Letterbox print of the film and being almost a bare bones release with nothing of interest to the fan.Hopefully,Warners will release a better DVD of this cinema essential in the future.
Movie Review: The Blood Is RED and The Fangs are Bared!
Summary: 5 Stars
This picture is seminal in that it is the first partnership between Christopher Lee and the wonderful Peter Cushing in the Hammer Dracula series. Arguably the best of the series. This film still holds the power to shock today--despite the lack of heads being ripped from their torsos. From the first moment, one is transfixed by the Scarlet Blood dripping over the tomb with "Dracula" engraved upon the crypt lid. This was very alluring in the 1950's. Vampirism and colour were a very new thing indeed. Peter Cushing while maintaining some semblance of humanity is every bit as ruthless to destroy Dracula as Dracula is to destroy those who dared to violate his sanctum. Though not completely faithful to the book, one will find this movie an enjoyable and frightening venture into the Hammer world of Horror. I am only waiting for the equally terrible: Brides of Dracula to be released on DVD. The immediate sequel to Horror of Dracula, though missing Lee as Dracula, this film is even more inspired in its images of horror. And it is a master stroke to have one of Dracula's disciples: David Peel, actually appear with blond hair. The perfect angel, which makes him the perfect devil when he suddenly transforms. Peter Cushing is also in Brides of Dracula. Hurry and release this terrifying film (one of the top five best vampire films ever done!).IN CHRIST JESUS: THE LIVING GOD,
W Braithwaite
*Gospel John Ch. 1; John 3:16-18*
Email: wbraithwaite@tampabay.rr.com
Movie Review: Dracula
Summary: 5 Stars
This is the quintessential Hammer Horror movie. And this is the greatest Dracula movie of the series, Christopher Lee is magnificent here and definitely Dracula's never looked so terrifying and gruesome! Recently hearing that Hammer Horror Productions have started up again i am exited to bits..but whether or not they could ever create something like this again is hard to imagine.Times have certainly changed and what you have here is a horror film from the golden age of British cinema.rarely does a film so much these days captivate a sheer undergoing of things that go bump in the night to such dramatic effect. As the steering protagonist and nemises of Christopher Lee's Dracula is 'Doctor Van Helsing' Played by none other than Peter Cushing. Who plays again in this role as a perfect counter part to Lee's shadowly stranger of the night.Peter embodies every bit into his role as the the opposition serving for the light in the darkness of this ungoing battle between good and evil. I picked this up recently, and thought to myself is this going to be as good as it was as a child? Had it lost it's lustre and worn with time? Not atall, surprisingly! The music and the two main leading men hold it togeather perfectly and still works in truly horrorfying effect. Thats why they call these classics.
Pros- Brilliant Acting, Scares, music on screen performances by counterparts.
Cons- ???! They should have been given oscars for this! Horror deserves more.