Stars:
Peter Cushing, Michael Gough, Melissa Stribling, and Christopher Lee
Writer:
Jimmy Sangster
From
The Novel By: Bram Stoker
Director:
Terrence Fisher
Feature
length: 81 minutes
Extras:
Theatrical Trailer
Languages:
English Monaural Sound
Subtitles:
English Captions and Closed Captions and French, Spanish, and Portuguese
Language Subtitles
Packaging:
Snap Case
Chapter
Stops: 26
Sound:
Monaural Sound
Year
of Theatrical Release: 1958/DVD Release: 2002
Theatrical
Distributor: Warner Brothers
Home
Video Distributor: Warner Home Video
MPAA
Rating: Not Rated
Reviewer:
Mark A. Rivera
“Horror Of Dracula” was the first film in the Hammer “Dracula” series and the first time Christopher Lee appeared on the big screen as the bloodthirsty and evil “Count Dracula.” The role would be closely associated with Lee as the most recognizable portrayal of “Dracula” outside of Bela Lugosi. The gothic look of the film would define the “Hammer” visual style for all time to come. Lee is so charismatic and frighteningly good in the role one wishes he had more screen time as well as more dialogue. Peter Cushing gives a terrific performance that is quite active instead of just being the knowledgeable, but sedentary vampire hunter Professor Van Helsing. Cushing’s portrayal gives the character a lot more vitality and strength. The story has Helsing struggling to destroy the pestilence left in Dracula’s wake after a failed attempt to kill the prince of darkness by Jonathan Harker. The film is very effective in creating a stark atmosphere of gloom so that even when there are no signs of Dracula on screen, we know his presence is never far away. There is also a sense of tragedy that I have not seen so eloquently dramatized on the screen afterwards since Werner Herzog’s 1979 remake of “Nosferatu: The Vampyre.”
There are a
few scratches on the print in the beginning, but otherwise Warner Home Video’s
DVD presentation of “Horror Of Dracula” is simply great with a matted
anamorphic widescreen (1.78:1) aspect ratio and a very clear and effective
English Monaural Soundtrack with English
Captions and Closed Captions and French, Spanish, and Portuguese Language
Subtitles encoded on to the DVD as options.
Like
“The Curse Of Frankenstein,” Warner Home Video has not added much in the way
of extras except for some notes on the history of the Hammer “Dracula”
series and a cast and crew list as well as the theatrical trailer. The menus are
standard interactive still frames that are easy to navigate.
“Horror
Of Dracula” is available now on DVD-Video now along with “The Curse Of
Frankenstein” and “The Mummy” sold separately from Warner Home Video.
©
Copyright 2002 By Mark A. Rivera
All Rights Reserved.