Horror of Dracula (1958) Dracula (original title)

Director:

Terence Fisher

Writers:

Jimmy Sangster (screenplay)
Bram Stoker (novel)

Release Date:

8 May 1958 (USA)

Genre:

Horror

Tagline:

Don't Dare See It...Alone!

Plot:

After Jonathan Harker attacks Dracula at his castle (apparently somewhere in Germany), the vampire travels to a nearby city...

Plot Keywords:

Dracula | Count | Vampire | Castle | Female Vampire

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Peter Cushing	...	Doctor Van Helsing
Christopher Lee	...	Count Dracula
Michael Gough	...	Arthur
Melissa Stribling	...	Mina Holmwood
Carol Marsh	...	Lucy Holmwood
Olga Dickie	...	Gerda
John Van Eyssen	...	Jonathan Harker
Valerie Gaunt	...	Vampire Woman
Janina Faye	...	Tania (as Janine Faye)
Barbara Archer	...	Inga
Charles Lloyd Pack	...	Doctor Seward
George Merritt	...	Policeman
George Woodbridge	...	Landlord
George Benson	...	Frontier Official
Miles Malleson	...	Undertaker - J. Marx
Geoffrey Bayldon	...	Porter
Paul Cole	...	Lad
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Stedwell Fulcher	...	Man in Coach (scenes deleted)
Humphrey Kent	...	Fat Merchant (scenes deleted)
Judith Nelmes	...	Woman in Coach (scenes deleted)
William Sherwood	...	Priest (scenes deleted)
Guy Mills	...	Coach Driver (uncredited)
Richard Morgan	...	Coach Driver's Companion (uncredited)
John Mossman	...	Hearse Driver (uncredited)

Directed by
Terence Fisher

Writing credits
Jimmy Sangster		(screenplay)
Bram Stoker		(novel)

Produced by
Michael Carreras	....	executive producer
Anthony Hinds	....	producer
Anthony Nelson Keys	....	associate producer (as Anthony Nelson-Keys)

Original Music by
James Bernard

Cinematography by
Jack Asher

Film Editing by
Bill Lenny

Production Design by
Bernard Robinson

Art Direction by
Bernard Robinson

Costume Design by
Molly Arbuthnot

Makeup Department
Philip Leakey	....	makeup artist (as Phil Leaky)
Henry Montsash	....	hair stylist
Roy Ashton	....	assistant makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Don Weeks	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Robert Lynn	....	assistant director (as Bob Lynn)

Art Department
Arthur Banks	....	master plasterer (uncredited)
Charles Davis	....	master carpenter (uncredited)
Eric Hillier	....	props buyer (uncredited)
Mick Lyons	....	construction manager (uncredited)
Don Mingaye	....	draughtsman (uncredited)
Tom Money	....	property master (uncredited)
Lawrence Wren	....	master painter (uncredited)

Sound Department
Jock May	....	sound recordist
Claude Hitchcock	....	boom operator (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Sydney Pearson	....	special effects
Les Bowie	....	special effects (uncredited)

Stunts
Peter Diamond	....	stunts (uncredited)
Nosher Powell	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Len Harris	....	camera operator
Jack Curtis	....	chief electrician (uncredited)
Tom Edwards	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Harry Oakes	....	focus puller (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Molly Arbuthnot	....	wardrobe
Rosemary Burrows	....	wardrobe (uncredited)

Editorial Department
James Needs	....	supervising editor

Music Department
John Hollingsworth	....	conductor

Other crew
Doreen Dearnaley	....	continuity

Production Companies

• Hammer Film Productions

Distributors

• J. Arthur Rank Film Distributors (1958) (UK) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures (1958) (USA) (theatrical)
• Universal Films S.A. (1958) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• Goldstone Film Enterprises (1963) (USA) (theatrical) (a Seven Arts Reissue) (re-release)
• Warner Home Video (1985) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (1992) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Warner Home Video (1993) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• SBS6 (2003) (Netherlands) (TV)
• Warner Home Video (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Hispamex (19??) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Universal International Pictures (UI) (195?) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (19??) (USA) (VHS)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1987) (Finland) (TV)
• Warner Home Video (2007) (Canada) (DVD) (4 film collection)
• Warner Home Video (2007) (USA) (DVD) (4 film collection)
• Warner Home Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Universal International Pictures (UI)  us releasing agent

Also Known As:

"Dracula" - UK (original title)
"Dracula 1958" - USA (informal English title)

Runtime:

82 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

UK:15 (video rating) | UK:X (original rating) | Argentina:16 | Finland:(Banned) (1958) | West Germany:12 | Sweden:(Banned) (1958-1970) | UK:12A (re-rating) (2007) | Norway:16 (1958) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | USA:Approved (PCA #18981) | Netherlands:18 (passed with cuts) (original rating) (1958) | Finland:K-16 (1987) | Australia:M | Sweden:15 (re-rating) (1970)

Filming Locations:

Bray Studios, Down Place, Oakley Green, Berkshire, England, UK

Company:

Hammer Film Productions

Trivia:

On several occasions, Christopher Lee complained about the contact lenses he had to wear for the shock scenes. Not only they were quite painful, but he could not see a thing. While running towards the vampire woman for instance, he even ran too far past the camera on the first take.

Goofs:

Incorrectly regarded as goofs: During the final fight scene when Peter Cushing jumps on the table after pulling away the curtains to let the sunlight in, he knocks over a pile of books that appear to be glued together. However, they are really tied with a cord, frequently done to make a stack of books easier to carry.

Quotes:

Doctor Van Helsing:Since the death of Jonathan Harker Count Dracula the propagator of this unspeakable evil has disappeared he must found and destroyed!

Movie Connections:

Featured in Nightmares in Foam Rubber (2004) (V)

A Cross You Need To Bear!

An outstanding film on all accounts! This is far and away a better vampire(Dracula) film then the Universal film because of its action and pace, its acting, and its rich musical score and lush cinematography. Now I like the old Universal film a lot, but this one just seems to have so much more blood coursing through its veins, so to speak. The story is a variation on the novel, and the Universal film is actually much more faithful, but Horror of Dracula compensates by having the core of the film centered around two polarized opposing forces of good and evil. Christopher Lee is excellent as Dracula, bringing to the character a genuine menace and some sophistication mixed with brutality(lacking from Lugosi's performance). The real star, however, at least for me is the venerable Peter Cushing in the role of Professor Van Helsing. Cushing's character is a man single of purpose in his quest to rid the world of Dracula. Cushing brings a great deal of charm, grace, and incredible professionalism to his role. Other performers are quite good. Michael Gough is very good in his role, and Miles Malleson is very humorous in his minute role of an undertaker. Director Terrence Fisher deserves most of the credit for the success of this film and the way vampires were to be treated afterward in film. Fisher directs with precision and creates a rich tapestry of vibrant colors and wonderful sets with his discerning eye for detail. This film's importance cannot be overlooked as it revolutionized a whole sub-genre of horror...and brought us two wonderful actors....Lee and Cushing...together in two of their greatest roles. That is enough for me!