Rent Dracula (1958)
3.8 of 5 from 141 ratings
1h 19min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
- Classic Hammer horror starring Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing. Jonathan Harker (John Van Eyssen) journeys to Castle Dracula, where he is turned into one of the undead by the famous vampire (Lee). Professor Van Helsing (Cushing) arrives and drives a stake through Harker's heart, but must then pursue Dracula to London, where the Count intends to make Harker's fiancée Lucy Holmwood his bride.
- Actors:
- Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, Michael Gough, Melissa Stribling, Carol Marsh, Olga Dickie, John Van Eyssen, Valerie Gaunt, Janina Faye, Barbara Archer, Charles Lloyd-Pack, George Merritt, George Woodbridge, George Benson, Miles Malleson, Geoffrey Bayldon, Paul Cole, Stedwell Fulcher, Humphrey Kent, John Maxim
- Directors:
- Terence Fisher
- Producers:
- Anthony Hinds
- Writers:
- Jimmy Sangster, Bram Stoker
- Studio:
- Lionsgate Films
- Genres:
- Classics, Horror
- Collections:
- A Brief History of Hammer Horror, Films to Watch If You Like..., Holidays Film Collection, Horror, Kings and Queens of Scream, A Brief History of Film..., Top 10 Screen Kisses (1896-1979), Top 13 Halloween Films For Kids, What to Watch Next If You Liked Dracula
- BBFC:
- Release Date:
- 28/10/2013
- Run Time:
- 82 minutes
- Languages:
- English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono
- Subtitles:
- English Hard of Hearing
- Formats:
- Pal
- Aspect Ratio:
- Widescreen 1.66:1
- Colour:
- Colour
- BLU-RAY Regions:
- B
- Bonus:
- New Audio Commentary with Marcus Hearn and Jonathan Rigby
- Dracula Reborn - New Documentary About The Film's Creation And History Featuring Jimmy Sangster, Mark Gatiss, Jonathan Rigby, Kim Newman And Janina Faye
- Resurrecting Dracula - New Documentary About The Film's Restoration Including The Integration Of The 'Losr Footage
- Censoring Dracula - New Documentary On The Original Cuts To The Film Ordered By The British Board Of Film Censors
- The Demon Lover - Christopher Frayung On Dracula
- All 4 Surviving 'Japanese Reels' (6-9) Unrestored
- The World Of Hammer: Dracula And The Undead
- Janina Faye Reads Stoker At The Vault Festival
- Stills Gallery
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Reviews (1) of Dracula
Colourful Revamp. - Dracula review by Steve
Low budget reboot of the eternal literary legend. With the previous year's The Curse of Frankenstein, this revived the horror film across the world and made genre stars of Peter Cushing as Dr. van Helsing, and Christopher Lee in the title role. This is a long way from the rodent-like Max Schreck in the original Nosferatu (1922).
This Dracula is an erotic figure. When a repressed suburban housewife (Melissa Stribling) comes home to her husband (Michael Gough) with bite marks in her neck, she is glowingly post-coital. She never knew it could be like this! These women leave their windows open for the Prince of Darkness. So he is a threat to christianity and suburban values...
The film begins with the open pages of Bram Stoker's novel and a narrative voice. But this isn't remotely faithful, especially compared with FW Murnau's classic. Though it doesn't take the liberties of some of Hammer's sequels. Most of the changes are to accommodate the budget, but many of the most famous episodes are lost.
Apart from the schlock of the flesh and the Technicolor blood, this is a film about addiction. Dracula's desire is always described as a drug. There is actually quite a lot of exposition, describing the rules of the vampire film, which everyone now already knows. It's a stripped down sexy romp, and while not the definitive version, still a landmark in UK cinema.
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