Dracula

The Movie

Based on Dracula, by Bram Stoker

Directed by John Badham

Frank Langella as Count Dracula
Laurence Olivier as Abraham Van Helsing
Donald Pleasence as Dr. Jack Seward
Kate Nelligan as Lucy Seward
Trevor Eve as Jonathan Harker
Jan Francis as Mina Van Helsing
Janine Duvitski as Annie
Tony Haygarth as Milo Renfield
Teddy Turner as Swales
Sylvester McCoy as Walter

Theatrical Release: July 20, 1979
Production Company: Universal Pictures, Mirisch Corporation

Review

Despite some simpering reviews, mostly on the star qualities of Langella and Olivier, this is really a fairly bad movie. Slow, ponderous, changes from Stoker's for no visible reason, and generally wooden performances form the actors.

Much has been made of the fact that the movie was overshadowed at release by Nosferatu the Vampyr and even Love At First Bite - if it wasn't for them, the lovie argument goes, this film would have shone. Well actually, if it was overshadowed, perhaps the critics should ask why.

Nosferatu featured a monstrous Dracula, who happened to be more sensuous than Langella, who camped it up as much as Love At First Bite - but without the comedy to go with it.

Had they stuck to the story, they'd at least have that in their favour ... as it is, it's just one more lumpen movie.

The DVD

Studio: Universal Studios
Run Time: 109 minutes