Dracula (1973/I) (TV)

Director:

Dan Curtis

Writers:

Richard Matheson (writer)
Bram Stoker (novel)

Release Date:

8 February 1974 (USA)

Genre:

Horror

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

Atmospheric | Victim | Vampire Bat | Aristocrat | 19th Century

Cast

Jack Palance	...	Count Dracula
Simon Ward	...	Arthur Holmwood
Nigel Davenport	...	Dr. Van Helsing
Pamela Brown	...	Mrs. Westenra
Fiona Lewis	...	Lucy Westenra
Penelope Horner	...	Mina Murray
Murray Brown	...	Jonathan Harker
Virginia Wetherell	...	Dracula's wife (as Virginia Wetherall)
Barbara Lindley	...	Dracula's wife
Sarah Douglas	...	Dracula's wife
George Pravda	...	Innkeeper
Hana Maria Pravda	...	Innkeeper's wife (as Hanna-Maria Pravda)
Reg Lye	...	Zookeeper
Fred Stone	...	Priest
Roy Spencer	...	Whitby Inn clerk
John Challis	...	Stockton-on-Tees clerk
Nigel Gregory	...	Midvale shipping clerk
John Pennington	...	Richmond shipping clerk
Martin Read	...	Coast Guardsman
Gita Denise	...	Madam Kristoff
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Sandra Caron	...	Whitby Inn maid (uncredited)

Directed by
Dan Curtis

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Richard Matheson		writer
Bram Stoker		novel

Produced by
Dan Curtis	....	producer
Robert Singer	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Bob Cobert		(as Robert Cobert)

Cinematography by
Oswald Morris

Film Editing by
Richard A. Harris

Casting by
Boaty Boatwright Baker

Production Design by
Trevor Williams

Costume Design by
Ruth Myers

Makeup Department
Paul Rabiger	....	makeup artist
Bobbie Smith	....	hair stylist
Hillary Smith	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Tim Hampton	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Derek Kavanagh	....	first assistant director
Bill Westley	....	first assistant director

Sound Department
Roy Charman	....	sound mixer
Gerry Humphreys	....	dubbing mixer
Mike Le Mare	....	dubbing editor

Special Effects by
Kit West	....	special effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Maurice Arnold	....	focus puller
Jimmy Turrell	....	camera operator (as James Turrell)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Brian Owen-Smith	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Jack Davies	....	assistant editor
Anthony Palk	....	editor: UK (as Tony Palk)

Music Department
Bob Cobert	....	conductor (as Robert Cobert)

Other crew
Angela Allen	....	continuity
Stuart Freeman	....	location manager
Ruth Kennedy	....	assistant to producer
Kevin Marshall	....	production assistant

Production Companies

• Dan Curtis Productions
• Latglen Ltd.

Distributors

• CBS Television (1974) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• EMI Distribution (1974) (UK) (theatrical)
• Live Home Video (USA) (VHS)
• Live Home Video (USA) (laserdisc)
• MPI Home Video (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• MPI Home Video (USA) (laserdisc)
• New Age Entertainment (1994) (UK) (VHS)
• Thriller Video (video)

Also Known As:

Bram Stoker's Dracula (USA)

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-18 | UK:15 (video rating) (1994) | UK:X (original rating)

Filming Locations:

England, UK

Company:

Dan Curtis Productions

Trivia:

Jack Palance admitted to being glad once the film was completed. A method actor, he felt that he was "becoming" Dracula more than he wanted.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Dracula flips over Lucy's coffin, the supposedly dead actress inside can clearly be seen to quickly raise her arms to cover her chest and face, presumably to shield herself from the fall.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Dracula: A Cinematic Scrapbook (1991)

One of the best takes on Bram Stoker's Dracula Ever

MORD39 RATING: *** out of ****

At first glance, Jack Palance would seem to be the wrong type for the lead in this television version of DRACULA; but once the movie is well under way, he is purely magnificent in the role. He admittedly truly got "into" the character, so much so that he sometimes feared he might never be able to get out again!

In the disastrous 1990's we were fed Coppola's BRAM STOKER'S DRACULA, which was a huge disappointment. It stole elements from this 1973 version, most notably the idea of Dracula as a more sympathetic character searching for the reincarnation of his old lover (here she's played by the stunning Fiona Lewis). But the 1992 version failed miserably because we grew to really like Dracula, and that should NEVER happen. But with this Dan Curtis production, we can feel sad for the Count's dilemma, yet still fear and despise him as the villain despite his tragedy. Palance's vampire comes off as a monster, but with just a hint of his past life of humanity which even he seems to miss.

The direction is sound, and the scenery is simple but atmospheric.

To this date, not one version of Stoker's novel has been adapted exactly as he intended it, including this one. There are liberties taken here, but it still remains a better choice than the Coppola film. This is a relatively unseen item that should be re-discovered.