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:

Bloodsucker | Countryside | Noble | Gothic | Fear

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

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:

Featured in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Lie to Me (#2.7)" (1997)

Something To Sink Your Teeth In

This seldom-seen, seldom-discussed Dracula film is all in all pretty entertaining. It is a fairly faithful adaptation of the Bram Stoker novel, although it integrates the Vlad Tepes myth into the storyline as well. One definitely can see this film being an inspiration for Francis Ford Coppola's trashy film of the 90's. Jack Palance may not have been the best choice for the role of the toothsome lead. He does overact with his somewhat ludicrous sneers and temper tantrums, but that not withstanding the rest of the cast is quite good(all of them British coincidentally) with Nigel Davenport standing out in a Van Helsing role which I wish had been bigger and Fiona Lewis just being scrumptuous! Dan Curtis does a very competent job directing and the sets, costumes, props, etc... are lavish and beautiful. This is certainly an interesting film to see in the long line of Dracula films made.