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:

The story of the greatest lover who ever lived, died, and lived again.

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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

Actor Laurence Olivier was seriously ill during the making of this picture and some cast and crew wondered whether Larry would be able to complete the film. Ironically, working on this vampire film, Olivier had a disease that caused him to bleed incessantly at the slightest nick or scratch.

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Goofs

As Count Dracula gallops away from the graveyard, his horse's hooves make the typical sharp "clip-clop" sound of hooves on pavement or other hard surface; however, the horse and rider are on grass.

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Quotes

[talking about Dracula]
Lucy Seward: You dare try to confuse me! Tormenting him who is the saddest, the kindest of all!"
Prof. Abraham Van Helsing: Kind? If I could send his soul to everlasting, burning hell I would!

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Connections

Referenced in Caroline in the City: Caroline and the Desperate Cat (1997)

User Reviews

This is the sexiest Dracula ever made.

Having seen almost all the Dracula and vampire movies ever made, I have to say this one is my modern favorite. I never understood why all those women went so willingly with Bela Lugosi. I mean, he scares me to death. But Frank Langella. Well. What can I say? He's so beautiful and suave, I started taking iron just in case he dropped by for a sip. About 1 hour into the movie is the sexiest scene I have ever watched. And there is NO nudity. All the women I know who have seen this movie know exactly where and when this scene is. Anything else that needs to taken care of is done BEFORE this scene plays. It is always very quiet while it plays and we always watch that it more than once.