Who is the best Dracula?

[Earth 2 Chris]

I know most are going to say Bela, and without a doubt he deserves credit for creating the Dracula known to EVERYONE. You may have never read the book, or even seen ANY vampire movie and you know about Bela's accent, delivery, widow's peak, cape, night-at-the-opera-evening wear, etc. Heck look at Count Floyd above! Without Bela, he wouldn't be there.

But who was the BEST, Bela's impact notwithstanding? Who got the character from the book across best? Who was the most menacing, the most believable, the most tragic, etc?

Talk amongst yourselves and discuss.:biggrin:

Chris

[palitoy]

I guess it all depends on how you view Dracula, the character has been interpretted as a monster, tragic hero, romantic etc...

I like my Dracula mean personally, so I've always been fond of Christopher Lee. I don't mind Bela just find the film a touch pedestrian, which isn't his fault.

[Mego Milk]

Bela, Bela, Bela.

[BlackKnight]

Eddie Murphy ! :smiley1:

http://www.filmwad.com/fw_images/2008/06/23/vampire-in-brooklyn.jpg


& Then there is Leslie Nelson's... :grin:

http://img5.allocine.fr/acmedia/medias/nmedia/18/65/76/75/18887569.jpg

[Earth 2 Chris]

I like my Dracula mean as well. I thought Gary Oldman was great as a sympathetic Drac, but I don't like him humanized too much. So Lee gets my vote too. Frank Langella was way too smooth for me. I'd barely qualify his take as horror.

Chris

[toys2cool]

Gary Oldman with out a doubt for me,he was the closest to the real thing.He really did look like Vlad the Impaler,I even loved Bram Stoker's version of the film the best.Still one of my favorite films ever :grin:

[kryptosmaster]

Christopher Lee has always been my favorite. He actually scared me way more than Bela Lugosi as a kid. Very menacing and believable. Horror of Dracula is one of my favorite films of all time (not just Dracula films). I'm sure Bela is probably closer to the actual book Dracula (I've never read it so just assuming) but as far as what typifies the classic Dracula; Lee is the one that pops into my mind's eye every time.

Rich

[Earth 2 Chris]

Christopher Lee has always been my favorite. He actually scared me way more than Bela Lugosi as a kid. Very menacing and believable. Horror of Dracula is one of my favorite films of all time (not just Dracula films). I'm sure Bela is probably closer to the actual book Dracula (I've never read it so just assuming) but as far as what typifies the classic Dracula; Lee is the one that pops into my mind's eye every time.

As far as the events of the book, Bram Stoker's Dracula is the closest I've seen. All the characters in the book are present, and all play the parts they did in the novel for the most part. Oldman's Dracula is different from Stoker's original take, in that they added the bits about him being Vlad at the beginning, and made him a romantic, sympathetic character.

As far as the actual character of Dracula, I'd say of the famous portrayals, Lee comes closest to mimicing the tone of the Stoker character. Lugosi's Dracula seemed more concerned with being suave and smooth whereas the novel's Dracula was pretty much a calculating, evil being as I recall. Oddly enough, no on on film seems to have really tried to capture the look of the character from the book. White hair (although it gets darker as he gets younger through the book, like Coopola's version), mustache, long nails and...hairy palms!

Chris

[wolfie]

Count Duckula. :smiley1:

Also liked Klaus Kinski in the Nosferatu remake and also Richard Roxburgh in Van Helsing.

[palitoy]

As far as the actual character of Dracula, I'd say of the famous portrayals, Lee comes closest to mimicing the tone of the Stoker character. Lugosi's Dracula seemed more concerned with being suave and smooth whereas the novel's Dracula was pretty much a calculating, evil being as I recall. Oddly enough, no on on film seems to have really tried to capture the look of the character from the book. White hair (although it gets darker as he gets younger through the book, like Coopola's version), mustache, long nails and...hairy palms!

Lee did a version that is fairly book accurate, old man at the beginning, even includes the scene of walking up the castle walls. I think it's called "Count Dracula", it's European, it's been years since I saw it. As I recall, it was good, not great.

[raider5gt]

I would have to go with Christopher Lee as my favourite,i grew up watching the Hammer flicks :grin:

[Earth 2 Chris]

Lee did a version that is fairly book accurate, old man at the beginning, even includes the scene of walking up the castle walls. I think it's called "Count Dracula", it's European, it's been years since I saw it. As I recall, it was good, not great.

I've heard of that one, but never saw it. I picked up "The Vampire Book" at a discount book store a few weeks back. It's a very good reference for all things vamp, esp. Dracula. I seem to recall the author had the same opinion you did of that particular movie.


Also liked Klaus Kinski in the Nosferatu remake and also Richard Roxburgh in Van Helsing.

No offense, but I really disliked Dracula in Van Helsing. Something about that guy just didn't sit well with me. Can't put my finger on it. That whole movie was a good concept but bad execution in my mind. Way too "action movie-CGI fest".

Chris

[BlackKnight]

I loved the CGI In Van Helsing... I really liked the WereWolf Dracula fight at the end. :grin:

[Type3Toys]

Gary Oldman was Dracula in my opinion. Just perfect, realistic, evil and sad at the same time. Dont get me wrong, Bela Lugosi defined Dracula as a character, but it was Oldman who made the character beleivable. Surpized nobody mentioned Jack Palance. He was a cool Dracula in the 70's Dan Curtis production of the film.

[ctc]

Hmmmm....

Gotta go with Bela. I think his movie was really poorly done, but he was good. (And even then I don't think the movie was really BAD; but it was one of the first Universal horro movies, and I think they filmed it too much like a stage play and not enough like a movie. Makes it kinda slow.)

For strictly monsterous Drac I kinda like the guy from "The Monster Squad." No humanity, but he had that simmering hatred thing down pretty good.

Don C.

[palitoy]

Yeah Duncan Rehger, I was just watching Monster Squad last night. He was a good Dracula.

[kingdom warrior]

BLACKULA Baby!!!!!! awwww Yeah!!!!

[Earth 2 Chris]

Yeah Duncan Rehger, I was just watching Monster Squad last night. He was a good Dracula.

Is that the guy who played Zorro on that 90s Family Channel series? And the ghost in that lame ST:TNG episode about Dr. Crusher going home to Ireland?

Chris

[wolfie]

The European version you make mention of did star Christopher Lee but was totally diffrent to the Hammer version. It was directed by Jess Franco and had Herbert Lom as Van Helsing.

I have this somewhere, i must watch it again.

[Earth 2 Chris]

BLACKULA Baby!!!!!! awwww Yeah!!!!

I watched Blackula on AMC a few years back and was actually surprised how good it was. Marshall can chew scenery with the best of them. He was totally believable in it despite his boisterous delivery. Any man that can out-ham and upstage Shatner (see TOS: Ultimate Computer) has got some chops on him.

Chris

[The Bat]

Never liked Bela...I grew up watching Christopher Lee as Drac...so He's #1 in My Book!!:wink_y: But I love Gary Oldman as well...that IS probably the best version of Dracula to date!!


I also LOVED George Hamilton in "Love at First Bite'!!:smiley1:

[toys2cool]

yeah i was gonna say the monster squad guy too :grin:

[thunderbolt]

What about that time Gilligan thought he was Dracula? :)

[Bionic Joe]

Chirstopher Lee was the best and second is Gene Colon's in the TOMB OF DRACULA comic books from the 70s :grin:

[palitoy]

The European version you make mention of did star Christopher Lee but was totally diffrent to the Hammer version. It was directed by Jess Franco and had Herbert Lom as Van Helsing.
I knew it wasn't Hammer but didn't remember Franco being the director. If I recall, the scenes between Dracula and Van Helsing look like the two aren't in the same room.


Is that the guy who played Zorro on that 90s Family Channel series? And the ghost in that lame ST:TNG episode about Dr. Crusher going home to Ireland?

He was Charles on V, I don't know about Zorro.

[4NDR01D]

Call me old fashioned, but I'm going with Bela.

[kingdom warrior]

I watched Blackula on AMC a few years back and was actually surprised how good it was. Marshall can chew scenery with the best of them. He was totally believable in it despite his boisterous delivery. Any man that can out-ham and upstage Shatner (see TOS: Ultimate Computer) has got some chops on him.

Chris
I actually liked this alot. It scared me as a Kid....and I love Black exploitation movies from the 70's.

My other Fav is Gary Oldman he was Great as D.

[Hector]

1. Gary Oldman
2. Christopher Lee
3. Bela Lugosi (much better than his Spanish counterpart Carlos Villarías)

[Captain]

Is that the guy who played Zorro on that 90s Family Channel series? And the ghost in that lame ST:TNG episode about Dr. Crusher going home to Ireland?

Chris

Yep, that was him...he was a secret agent with a bum arm in a Canadian TV series Adderly as well.

As for best Drac---Leslie Nielson gets my vote...seriously. I always thought the old horror flicks were more comedy than scary, and Leslie's Drac fits right in there.

Runner up has to be Wilma Deering from that episode of Buck Rogers ...You all know the one! Dang she was smoking hot in that episode!!!!!

[fallensaviour]

I'm gonna have to go with Christopher Lee...He scared the crap outta me as a kid. :yes:

[Boris71]

bella legosi by far is the best Dracula

[Earth 2 Chris]

I reread the description of Dracula that Jonathan Harker gives at the beginning of the novel, and other than missing the big white mustache, Christopher Lee comes closest to matching Drac's physical description than any other, as well as his demeanor. He describes him as having a strong angular face, a long, thin nose with flared nostrils, a headful of hair except at the crest of his large forehead, etc. Sounds a lot like Lee to me. So he gets points for that as well.

Chris

[palitoy]

Runner up has to be Wilma Deering from that episode of Buck Rogers ...You all know the one! Dang she was smoking hot in that episode!!!!!

You're turned on by helium voices?

[madmarva]

When I think of Dracula, I see Lugosi with his piercing eyes and odd hand and finger gestures in my mind's eye.

But, Chris Lee's Dracula movies were scarier with all the garish red blood and plenty of décolletage.

Oldman's performance was fine in Coppala's Dracula, but its a travesty to call it Bram Stoker's Dracula. In the novel, Dracula's pure evil. There is on sympathy for Drac at all in the book. That being said, I like the way the film adds layers to the character. One of the novel's primary themes is repressed sexuality and society's fear and attraction to sex outside the bounds of marriage. The character Dracula represents unfettered sexuality. The sex in the novel is all metaphorical, while the film deals with sex overtly and openly. Again, I like the film, but it's certainly not from Stoker's viewpoint.

Langella's performance is good too. Very stylish and Oliver's subtle performance as Van Helsing, to me, is far more preferable than the over the top performance by Anthony Hopkins or Peter Cushing.

The 1970s BBC version of Dracula comes off stiff and stagy today, but Louis Jordan was good in the role and it is probably the most accurate adaption of the novel.

Heck, I quite enjoyed Dracula 2000, tying the vampire king to the King of Kings.

[Goblin19]

I'd go with Lee onylbecause Horror of Dracula is one of my favorite horror movies of all time. I love Bela, too. He really makes the original Dracula movie better.

[The Sentry]

I have to say Oldman was the best, but Lee was the Drac that scared the Hell outta me as a kid I loved him and I still love him! The fella from Monster Squad gets an honorable mention.

[jds1911a1]

CHristopher Lee

[Gorn Captain]

The way it's going now, the next Dracula will be played by Keanu Reeves or Will Smith.

"The creatures of the night. What music they make. Whoa, dude....."

or

"The children of the night. What music they make....Get jiggy with it...."

[Gorn Captain]

Well, Max Schreck in the 20s version is very creepy.
Nosferatu was just another take on Dracula, anyway...

But I grew up with Lee, so he'll always stick in my mind as THE Dracula....

[ctc]

>The way it's going now, the next Dracula will be played by Keanu Reeves or Will Smith.

Or Jack Black. "Er....why does Dracula have manboobs....?"

Don C.

[Earth 2 Chris]

Just watched Monster Squad for the first time in years, and I have to say that Duncan Regher was a great Dracula. Very classical take, almost a homogenized version of Lugosi, Lee, and the public image of Dracula that seem to exist more in the minds of fans and on merchandise. But he was very aristorcratic and commanding. Great villain in that movie.

I still like Lee best though.

Chris

[MIB41]

Dracula to me is very much like Frankenstein - I have a cinematic opinion and then there is the book. Unlike Frankenstein, Dracula carries much stronger elements from the book, but still takes a decidedly "Hollywood" detour with each telling. Bela is forever the "Classic" G-rated version (providing the posture and mannerisms most associated with the character), while Christopher Lee is the standard "R" rated version (giving you the bloody graphics and scantly clad females that are best suited for audiences that require a little more atmosphere). But both suffer from a degree of camp in trying to create this larger-than-life character with an 'other worldly' look that too often reads like a bad trip rather than a manipulative creature that has complete control of his mental faculties. These movies capture the atmosphere of the book, but at a cost to the development of the characters - Stereotype monster meets stereotype victim - all die fashionably.:muh:

[Earth 2 Chris]

I resurrected this thread (pun intended) to comment on Frank Langella's Dracula, which I watched for the first time in years last night. Two years ago, I wrote this:


I like my Dracula mean as well. I thought Gary Oldman was great as a sympathetic Drac, but I don't like him humanized too much. So Lee gets my vote too. Frank Langella was way too smooth for me. I'd barely qualify his take as horror.

Chris

Okay, I have to eat crow. Langella was a very effective Dracula, very commanding. I could actually believe him influencing the women like he does. He's certainly not Stoker's evil *******, but he very effectively conveys Lugosi's type Dracula, with more sexuality than Bela was permitted to ooze.

Because he is so charming, he falls into the category of the sympathetic Dracula, like Oldman. Now, I know I'm going to get flack from this, but I kind of thought Oldman's Dracula was a bit TOO sympathetic, and weepy at times. I still like his performance, but the scene of half-bat Drac crying into his drink was a bit over-the-top.

As for the rest of Langella's movie, it's definitely based more on the play, which homogenized the other characters. Flipping Lucy for Mina, and then even making Lucy the daughter of Dr. Seward, and Mina the daughter of Van Helsing. This works well in the scene where the undead Mina confronts her father and Seward. Her appearance and actions were disturbing, and the whole scene was very haunting.

Other than some overly dark scenes that were hard to follow, and the way over-blown "James Bond intro" love-making-bite scene, I thought the movie was very well done. Great music by John Williams.

Look a second look I think!

Chris

[JediJaida]

There are so many to choose from!

First off: Bela Lugosi. He was the FIRST Dracula that ever scared me as a little kid. I had to sleep with the lights on for a year because I saw that movie.

Second: Christopher Lee. The movies were campy as all hell, but HE was terrifying!

Third: Frank Langella. Very smooth, and sophisticated with a dry sense of humor.

Fourth: Duncan Regehr. Pure viciousness in every hiss.

Fifth: Louis Jourdan in the PBS adaptation of Dracula. THERE was an evil ******. Not so much into displaying fangs, but there's this shot of him done in negative with red and black that was scarier than I don't know what.

Sixth: Rudolph Martin. His portrayal of Vlad the Impaler, both on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and in the TV movie were superb.

That's about it for me.

We need a new Dracula to scare the crap out of our kids and grandkids with.

But definitely NOT Keanu Reeves!

[Werewolf]

Okay, I have to eat crow. Langella was a very effective Dracula, very commanding. I could actually believe him influencing the women like he does. He's certainly not Stoker's evil *******, but he very effectively conveys Lugosi's type Dracula, with more sexuality than Bela was permitted to ooze.


Awesome! I've always liked Langella's Dracula. A very underappreciated movie. I rank him a very close second to Bela as my favorite movie Dracs. I don't think many people realize Langella's Dracula is a remake of the 1931 Bela version and they are both based on the the same shooting script.

[The Toyroom]

Christopher Lee is the main vamp in my book :wink:

[Earth 2 Chris]

^ Lee is still my favorite too, but I can appreciate Langella's take.

I also liked Jack Palance's version, which I saw for the first time earlier this year. His Dracula was the first to be tied directly to Vlad, and have the reincarnated love storyline (which was borrowed from The Mummy, among other things). He played an almost animal-like Dracula. His actions came across more as a product of his nature than pure evil.

Lee continues to be the bad-arse, most evil Count.

Chris

[The Toyroom]

Lee continues to be the bad-arse, most evil Count.

And Peter Cushing is the best Van Helsing :yeah:

[tllgn]

bela was the best,however a real favorite vampire for me was in the night stalker tv movie,i saw that as a kid and he scared the ----- out of me.he didnt say a word,but was chilling.

[mightyquinn]

Christopher Lee scares me the most, so he's getting my vote. Dooku should have been a vampire!!

[renegade]

Has anyone mentioned Michael Nourie in that short lived 70's TV show chiffhangers? Wish I knew how to get a copy of that short lived show.

[LadyZod]

Do "Fabricated-Americans" count?

Cause no Dracula archtype is better than Greg The Bunny's Count Blah!

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e92/cpaskert/countblah.jpg

[Megotu]

Bob Denver as Gilligan the Vampire in his dream sequence.....I LIVED to see that episode as a rugrat...

[JediJaida]

What about The Count from Sesame Street? I always thought that he had a hidden dark side somewhere, and he spooked me as a kid.

I remember asking my sister, "If he's a vampire, how come he's out during the day?"

She said, "He's a Muppet vampire, he doesn't go poof on account of he's made of foam." or something to that extent.

[PNGwynne]

Is Loius Jourdan's BBC version available? I remember liking him alot--both charming/urbane & evil. Kinf of a Lee-Lugosi blend. And the script was closer to Stoker.


Langella's not bad, but the ending of that film--yechh.

I'd have to say that I don't like my Drac too sympathetic, but I did enjoy the total package of Bram Stoker's Dracula.

Dracula aside, I liked the takes on Baron Meister & Count Yorga...

[enyawd72]

Frank Langella all the way. I loved the scene of him climbing face first down the wall, and when confronted with a cross, he grabbed it and it burst into flames.

This Dracula was badass!

[JediJaida]

Well, I checked DVDReview, and it is available.

Bad news: It has three minutes of ads before the opening credits that can't be fast forwarded through or skipped and it has no Extra features at all.

Otherwise, it has a good review.

Dunno if I want it or not, but maybe they'll show it again on PBS.

[Gorn Captain]

Lee did a version that is fairly book accurate, old man at the beginning, even includes the scene of walking up the castle walls. I think it's called "Count Dracula", it's European, it's been years since I saw it. As I recall, it was good, not great.

Yeah, a film that's mostly forgotten, but especially the look of Dracula was very "book accurate"....

[Earth 2 Chris]

^ That was at Wal-Mart recently. I should have bought it. But I heard it was a mixed bag. But I should have, just for another Lee/Dracula movie, especially with a different spin!


Is Loius Jourdan's BBC version available? I remember liking him alot--both charming/urbane & evil. Kinf of a Lee-Lugosi blend. And the script was closer to Stoker.

I'm real interested to see this. I've read it's one of the better interpretations, and before Bram Stoker's Dracula, one of the more faithful adaptations, as far as following the scenes and characters in the book.

Chris

[Orion]

/\/\ Haven't seen that version in many years, but I remember really enjoying it in my youth. Jourdan can certainly act, and the rest of the cast did a good job as well. Version is very faithful to Bram Stoker's original vision.

[HardyGirl]

Bela Lugosi and George Hamilton. :grin:

[clemso]

Christopher Lee

[ben138]

Best: Lugosi

My favorite: Lee

[Bo8a_Fett]

Lee did a version that is fairly book accurate, old man at the beginning, even includes the scene of walking up the castle walls. I think it's called "Count Dracula", it's European, it's been years since I saw it. As I recall, it was good, not great.
Jess Franco's 'Count Dracula' is the film as you say good but not great. For me Lugosi and Max Schreck are great (even Defoe's version of Schreck is great), but I grew up with Mr Lee and he would be my choice, with Cushion as Van Helsing of course.