Productions > Films > Dracula
Dracula (1958)
UK quad poster
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Also known as:
The Horror of Dracula (USA)
Starring:
Status: In Release
Category: Film
Release dates:
May 22, 1958 (UK - Theatrical)
November 2, 2007 (UK - Re-release)
Genre: Gothic Horror
Country of origin: UK
Language: English
Running time: 81 mins
Directed by: Terence Fisher
Written by: Jimmy Sangster
Produced by: Anthony Hinds
Synopsis
Dr. Van Helsing, investigating the death of his friend concludes that Jonathan Harker was the victim of a blood-sucking vampire. When Harker's fiancée, Lucy, becomes trapped by the terrifying force and hypnotic power of Count Dracula, Van Helsing releases her tortured soul by driving a stake through her heart. But Dracula persists in seeking revenge against Harker, targeting Lucy's beautiful sister, Mina. Van Helsing swears to exorcise this evil forever by confronting the vile and depraved Count himself.
In 2007 the British Film Institute re-released Dracula in the UK in a restored and remastered version on both 35mm and digitalprint. This hybrid version restores the British title card.
Photos
Articles
29 December 2012, DRACULA on UK Blu-ray
UPDATED Friday 11th January 2013 RELEASED ON 3-DISC DOUBLE PLAY ON 18TH MARCH 2013 Hammer, Icon Film Distribution and Lionsgate are proud to present a...
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TCM are airing a salute to Hammer with their October schedule in the US and Canada. A number of classic Hammer horrors will be screened during the month,...
18 March 2011, Michael Gough (1916 - 2011)
Jonathan Rigby pays tribute to the star of Dracula and The Phantom Of The Opera, who died yesterday. In 1957, Michael Gough’s casting in Dracula was...
17 September 1998, Score Draw
Composer James Bernard, whose work dominates the forthcoming compilation album. Work is almost complete on the new soundtrack album The Hammer Film Music...
Comments
Victor
02 Mar 2013, 8:17pm
First of all, I saw HORROR OF DRACULA first run in its original U.S. release in 1958. Over the years I have seen American IB Technicolor prints in both 35mm & 16mm many times. Let me urge everyone who is actually interested in film restoration to visit this site: www.widescreenmuseum.com. It will give you technical information on aspect ratios and color printing. Now as to the new Blu-Ray remastering of DRACULA: It sounds like the BFI referenced an original check print, or "answer print". Such a print would have had correct exposures for every shot, following Jack Asher's original printing instructions to the laboratory. It would probably be an IB Technicolor print from Technicolor's London facility. Seperation matrices would have made from the original camera negative. Referencing such a print was absolutely the right thing to do! The different Technicolor labs in Hollywood, New York, London, & Rome could yield strikingly differrent results when printing the same photographic material. Dye transfer Technicolor printing involved bathing the celluloid in a solution. The mineral content of the water could affect the result, because the minerals were "imbibed" into the celluloid along with the petroleum based pigments. HORROR OF DRACULA was released by Universal-International in the U.S. American Technicolor would have made the dye transfer prints for U.S. release with a much "hotter" color balance, the way U-I typically wanted their pictures to look. Call it a house style. However, British Technicolor was known for having a more delicate, subtle color balance. I can easily believe that this was what Terence Fisher & Jack Asher would have wanted! Bear in mind that motion picture film is a chemical process, subject to variations all down the line. Digital mastering is an electronic process, subject to a different set of characteristics altogether. Reproduction in any medium is problematical, with many possible variations. The final result depends on
Hound of Hell
25 Dec 2012, 4:30pm
Sorry but i must change my vote.How couldt I get this movie 5 from 6 Scars??? (Horror of) Dracula gets 6 from 6 Scars of course,because its one of Hammers absolut finest!!!
Hound of Hell
23 Dec 2012, 8:38pm
At first,Hello to all members of this Site and to all other Hammer,Gothic,Classic Horror,Classic Scifi Fans,Maniacs(thats what many of my friends call me,a Movie,DVD Madman)! Please excuse my Bad English,its a long time ago since I left school,but I will try my best! Now i introduce myself a little because I´am a new Member of this site and its just part of good Behaviour and my Education to tell a bit of me. So I´am a huge Movie fan,-collector,I prefer the old Hammer and Universal Horror-Monster Movies but also I love old SciFi,-Fantasy Films,I collect also other classic ones from other studios.Also I loved Disney,Pixar and well made Animes(Studio Ghibli),I owned all Disney Animated Cinema Movies.all Pixarfilms and all movies made by Ghibli! I´am owner of a gigantic DVD Collection,most I by Special,Deluxe or other noble Editions. Besides hundreds,or better nearly 1000 of other DVDs I have all Universal classics and nearly 60 Hammer DVDs and all my DVDs are Full uncut and in very good Quality and Condition! Now to Dracula,I thought Dracula(Lee) or Frankenstein(with Karloff) was the first Horror Movie I ever saw and it made me love this kind of movies for ever and ever and ever! No doubt Chris Lee is the Dracula performer No.1 and Peter Cushing is the born Van Helsing. This first Hammer Dracula is one of the Best Vampiremovies at all (but not THE Best Hammer Vampire,this honour belong to Brides of Dracula) but the Atmosphere,the Equipment,the Hammer Girls (Valerie Gaunt..what a Vamp..ire!) and the Genius of Terence Fisher made a Great Gothic Horror thats part of my personal Top Ten Gothic Horrors for all Time! Its a MUST SEE MOVIE! This Great movie gets 5 from 6 Scars from me! The chill of the Tomb won´t leave your blood for hours..... ......after you come Face to Face with DRACULA!!! (Cinema Slogan´58)
VeronicaCarlsonFan
05 Dec 2012, 7:42pm
I totally agree with you about Christopher Lee being the best Dracula. Nobody can touch him in regard to this role, absolutely nobody. You can keep all your glamour boy pinups of Twilight, Vampire Diaries etc. Give me Christopher Lee any day. I have all his Dracula films on DVD - something I thought I would never have when I was a teenager, long before dvds - and it is great when I can watch them whenever I like. I also write ghost and horror Kindle books, and you can see my work on Amazon. www.trueghoststories.co.uk
JOCO7754
25 Nov 2012, 8:03am
The BEST vampire (Dracula)movie EVER. I saw the movie in the early 60's and it scared the ever living day lights out of me. Christopher Lee is Dracula like Sean Connery is James Bond. Hammer made the BEST horror movies ever. Ninety nine percent of this new stuff is CRAP.
Reddhead1881
12 Nov 2012, 11:22pm
it is in my view the best vampire movie EVER if not the horror movie ever way better than Bela's ham job of 27 years earlier and alot better than Francis Ford copla's rash of 1992
sirstephen38
07 Nov 2012, 10:06am
For me this is still the greatest film Hammer has ever made.A real masterpiece.
ShropshireLad69
24 Oct 2012, 8:14pm
It has always been frustrating that there has never seemed to be a genuine UK DVD release of this great film. Just imports from Germany seem to be available. Perhaps one day there will be a blu-ray edition.
leon.rosser1
09 Oct 2012, 8:29pm
Definently one of the more main stream hammer horror movies and an excellent one , really Like Peter Cushing and Christopher lee's acting in this one!
Sean De Lyon
03 Jul 2012, 8:14pm
This was the Dracula film that captured my young imagination when I first saw it as a young boy of 8. I was frightened to my core & excited all at the same time, as I watched in awe, at Sir Christopher Lee's Stunning! Performance and the equally outstanding performance of Sir Peter Cushing as the brave heroic fearless, Dr Van Helsing. I have the dvd of this Masterpiece of Gothic horror cinema and I love being brought down memory lane to happy childhood days of watching it, with my beloved late Uncle Richard and Parents. For me this is the greatest Dracula fiolm ever made.
kingstephen37
14 Jun 2012, 10:15am
For me not just the best Dracula film but also the best film Hammer ever made.A true and complete masterpiece.
samhain
11 Jun 2012, 9:50am
All great between here and Taste the Blood of Dracula,hope to see them all on Blu ray one day. If nothing else i'll take Horror of Dracula any day of the week on BD. Please don't forget the U.S fans
macaulaymulgte
15 May 2012, 7:17pm
the best hammer dracula ever made. I was only 12 when i saw it at the cinema and as I was tall for my age I was able to get in as they thought i was 16. I've seen over 1000 times since. a real hamer classic.
sabre
26 Mar 2012, 10:38am
I was shocked to read that some of the film was burned as there will never be another horror film like it with those two lead actors, I used to sneak into the cinema to see it as I was too young to watch it I hope you can restore it.
dracula737
22 Jan 2012, 2:18pm
This movie has a brilliant climax.It is also scary.This is a astounding and is well up there with my favourite films?
Richard Alan Scott
29 Dec 2011, 5:26am
What can I say? The classic. Best confrontation scene of all time between not only Drac and Van Helsing but Chris and Peter as well! Always known as Horror of Dracula to us, of course, and beloved, now and forever.
Satanic Rites of Simon
24 Nov 2011, 7:36pm
The entrance of Dracula in this film is a masterstroke in mis-direction. We see his shadowy form at the top of the stairs, accompanied by the crashing impact of James Bernard's score. We expect a cheesy moment of horror, but what we get instead is a slow descent followed by a polite greeting. This film is a touch of class, definately not for sadists only!
nursedave47
01 Nov 2011, 7:26pm
Great movie. Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee. Can't get better than that.
codenamecuckoo
08 Oct 2011, 8:57am
The best Dracula movie ever made, thanks to the stunning visuals and the intensity of Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee. I agree with everyone who says we need a definitive release, although I think it should be released on DVD as well as blu-ray, because not all of us own a blu-ray player :-)
philmfan
20 Aug 2011, 1:21am
There's just one issue at stake here - when is Dracula coming out in a lush, lovingly restored blu-ray edition with tons of extras, including lots of input and commentary from Christopher Lee? And not just in the U.K. but here in America as well? There are lots of great Hammer films to be released on DVD, but until Dracula comes out in a fantastic blu-ray edition you've pretty much released nothing. It is the very heart of Hammer Films. And if a blu-ray edition is NOT forthcoming then someone had better get on the ball and start compiling material (esp. commentary) for it before we lose anyone else from the production.
BaronessMeinster
11 Aug 2011, 8:54pm
Perhaps best adaptation of Stoker´s novel, although not very faithful.
Hitman
19 Jun 2011, 4:01pm
Following on from the success of Curse Of Frankenstein, Hammer tackle the lord of the Undead next. Lee is an inspired choice as Dracula bringing an air of menacing sensuality to the role. Cushing is the perfect foil as Van Helsing. The off screen duo of Fisher and Sangster once again combine to create another gothic masterpiece. The sets are great (particularly Dracula's castle) & Bernard's wonderfully gothic score add's to the atmosphere. Once again everything just clicks here. An absolute classic!
Biggfeet
20 May 2011, 4:51pm
Some of the most iconic moments ever in cinema. The best Dracula and Van Helsing ever too. One thing has always bothered me about the film. In the climatic scenes as Dracula dies we don't see a proper death but there are photographs of Chris Lee in heavy make-up as if he is burning. Did the censor cut this and is it still in preserved?
Countlee88
02 Apr 2011, 9:38pm
My favorite Dracula film, The scene where Sir Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing were fighting in library towards the end has to be one of the best HAMMER scenes ever!!!! Loved it! :)
DrLamontstein95
28 Mar 2011, 4:42pm
One of the best! I could imagine Lugosi and Lee in one Dracula picture together called "Dracula and Son"! That scene of Lee's bloody red eyes just freaked me out! Really scary in fact I would watch videos on YouTube like the trailer and just when that scene came I would run round behind my chair! Also the ending scene! Brilliant effects! I do wish we could see the full version of the ending with more of the disintegration scenes! But overall 10/10! Thank you Hammer!
kinogeek
10 Mar 2011, 11:07am
I first saw this - taped - from a late night BBC 1 double bill with Curse of Frankenstein (around December 1984?) on our rented VHS player! I was immediately drawn in by James Bernard's bombastic and truly intense title score DRA - CU - LAAA!!! and which ended with blood splattering across the Count's coffin. Peter Cushing is delivers a measured and precise performance as the investigating Van Helsing, Christopher Lee towers in his limited screen presence - so much so that you feel he is in the film much more than he actually is - and that amazing, dashing climax with Van Helsing and Dracula clashing in Castle Dracula. I love the two candlesticks being formed in the shape of a Crucifix and the light pouring into the great hall. This film will stay with me forever. Fantastic!
karloff1931
25 Oct 2010, 6:24pm
this is my second favorite hammer horror film after "the curse of frankenstein." for my money, "dracula" hasn't got quite so good a narrative but the acting, direction, music are all top notch. peter cushing plays van helsing the way only he could, as a crusading, determined, brave and strong-willed character who could prove himself a match for dracula at any time. speaking of which, christopher lee plays the character with great animal magnetism and also with a seductive and sexual air about him. it's a slight pity that he isn't in the film very often after the opening 15 minutes or so. nevertheless, the climatic scene between lee and cushing is worth waiting for as i rate it as one of the best sequences out of all the hammer films i have seen. i love the stirring and powerful music score from james bernard but especially the music that's used for the end credits. the supporting cast are pretty good and they all play their roles well but this film shall always belong to those two horror giants peter cushing and christopher lee.
Gwaan
23 Oct 2010, 11:49pm
It would be really great if a Region 2 DVD version of this great film could be released! You can currently get all of the other Dracula films in Region 2 format, but not the original and best.
Blackhaggis
17 Oct 2010, 5:20am
What can you say about this film the birth of the greatest portral of the count ever
snakeater
03 Oct 2010, 6:04am
PLEASE,PLEASE SAY IT WILL BE RELEASED HERE IN THE U.S,HAMMER NEEDS TO SEE NEW LIFE HERE ON BLU-RAY AND THIS WOULD BE IDEAL. CHRISTOPHER LEE IS THE GREATEST COUNT DRACULA THERE WAS....NO ONE WILL EVER DUPLICATE!!!!!!!!!
andy
16 Sep 2010, 10:45am
certainly hammer's best film, a cinematic tour de force that still has the power to chill blood to the bone!
alandhopewell
15 Sep 2010, 7:42pm
THIS is the one! I don't recall how many times I've seen it, but it STILL makes the donuts!
Eamonn
14 Sep 2010, 1:47pm
Surely with the new print available from the BFI this film is ripe for a lovely Blu-Ray edition?
Daripa
01 Jan 2010, 12:36pm
My favourite Dracula movie, though I don't own it at the moment. (I'm also quite fond of the BBC production of 1977 with Louis Jourdan in the title role). I used to have the Hammer Dracula (Horror of Dracula in US) on VHS but it wore out. This is a great site and it's nice to be able to contribute and comment. However, one gripe related to my opening comment: why on earth is the original Hammer Dracula not available (at least, that's how it appears) on DVD in the UK, (or to download from iTunes UK) when the others all appear to be? Universal have their original Dracula available to buy, after all. I do feel this is a glaring omission.
Victor
Report
02 Mar 2013, 8:19pm
(Continued) ... the aethetic choices that are made, as well as unpredictable chemical reactions. I applaud the Blu-Ray digital mastering team for following the BFI's lead. After seeing online screen captures, I can't wait to see the difference in the color balance from the American IB Technicolor prints that I have seen over the years. The way DRACULA was processed in its country of origin was certainly the best model for digital remastering. What matters most is that Hammer has cooperated in making a restored version of DRACULA before there coud be any additional deterioration of the original elements. BRAVO!