Dracula (1979)

Romanticized adaptation of Bram Stoker's 1897 classic. Set in 1913 England, the bloodsucking, but handsome, charming and seductive, Count Dracula seeks an immortal bride.

Director:

John Badham

Writers:

Bram Stoker (novel), Hamilton Deane (play),

Stars:

Frank Langella, Laurence Olivier, Donald Pleasence

1 win & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Frank Langella	...	Count Dracula
Laurence Olivier	...	Prof. Abraham Van Helsing
Donald Pleasence	...	Dr. Jack Seward
Kate Nelligan	...	Lucy Seward
Trevor Eve	...	Jonathan Harker
Jan Francis	...	Mina Van Helsing
Janine Duvitski	...	Annie
Tony Haygarth	...	Milo Renfield
Teddy Turner	...	Swales
Sylvester McCoy	...	Walter (as Sylveste McCoy)
Kristine Howarth	...	Mrs. Galloway
Joe Belcher	...	Tony Hindley
Ted Carroll	...	Scarborough Sailor
Frank Birch	...	Harbormaster
Gabor Vernon	...	Captain of Demeter

Storyline

When a ship is wrecked off Whitby, the only survivor, Count Dracula, is discovered lying on the beach by the sickly young Mina Van Helsing, who is visiting her dear friend Lucy Seward. Lucy, her fiancé Jonathan Harker (a solicitor), and her father Dr. Jack Seward (who runs the local asylum) try to make the Count feel welcome to England. The Count quickly takes the life of Mina, and proceeds to romance Lucy, with the intention of making her his greatest bride. Soon after the death of Mina, the Sewards call her father Dr. Abraham Van Helsing to come to their home. As Lucy falls deeper under the spell of the Count, Dr. Van Helsing almost immediately comes to understand that his daughter fell prey to a vampire and discovers the culprit to be none other than the Count himself. Dr. Van Helsing, Dr. Seward, and Harker work together to foil the Count's plans to take Lucy away to his native Transylvania.

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Plot Keywords:

dracula | asylum | vampire | cockroach | tragic villain | 

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Taglines:

Throughout history he has filled the hearts of men with terror, and the hearts of women with desire.

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Genres:

Horror | Romance

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA UK

Language:

English Dutch Romanian Russian

Release Date:

20 July 1979 (USA)

Also Known As:

Drácula

Filming Locations:

Carlyon Bay, St Austell, Cornwall, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$12,164,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, Mirisch Corporation, The

Technical Specs

Runtime:

109 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Along with Richard Roxburgh and Christopher Lee, Frank Langella is one of only a few actors to play both Dracula and Sherlock Holmes in film & TV.

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Goofs

Obvious stunt double when Dracula kills Van Helsing with a stake.

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Quotes

Count Dracula: Listen to them - children of the night. What sad music they make!

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Connections

Spoofed in Darakula (1982)

User Reviews

The best of the Dracula's

Having been privileged to see Mr. Langella in the Broadway production several times, This film is the best in the series. Mr. Langella is one of only a handful of actors and actresses whose persona is very keenly transferred to film. The film contained the same romance, suspense, horror and humor as the play, holding true to the Edwin Gory staging where possible. Mr. Langella's eyes danced, his stature towered and powered, and his presence was awesome. I was happy to read that there is a new DVD release from Universal. For anyone who has not seen a Dracula film, this one with Mr. Langella's fine performance is a must, to experience some of the more subtleties of the psyche of Dracula.