This is a very good but sadly forgotten take on the classic gothic novel. Directed with brilliant gothic style by John Badham ( Saturday Night Fever, War Games) . The film is more of a rethink of the old book and plays fast and loose with it. The cast are superb, Laurence Olivier is great as Van Helsing, far better than Hopkins overblown performance in the 1992 version. Donald Pleasence is also on top form and seems to be having fun with his role. But Dracular films have to have a brilliant and chilling count, and sadly Frank Langella does not cut it as the count, he may be tall, and wears the cloak well, but the most he can muster to send shivers down the spine is shake his eyeballs allot, I'm sure this is a great party trick, but as the prince of darkness he should have done much better. But the real star of the film is the amazing gothic sets, that drip menace. It's also good to see an American film sticking to the Whitby / Scarbough locations of the original novel ( although the… more »

This is a very good but sadly forgotten take on the classic gothic novel. Directed with brilliant gothic style by John Badham ( Saturday Night Fever, War Games) . The film is more of a rethink of the old book and plays fast and loose with it. The cast are superb, Laurence Olivier is great as Van Helsing, far better than Hopkins overblown performance in the 1992 version. Donald Pleasence is also on top form and seems to be having fun with his role. But Dracular films have to have a brilliant and chilling count, and sadly Frank Langella does not cut it as the count, he may be tall, and wears the cloak well, but the most he can muster to send shivers down the spine is shake his eyeballs allot, I'm sure this is a great party trick, but as the prince of darkness he should have done much better. But the real star of the film is the amazing gothic sets, that drip menace. It's also good to see an American film sticking to the Whitby / Scarbough locations of the original novel ( although the film was filmed in Devon), as most adaptions seem to relocate to London. Also the film has a great sense of the early 1900's that add to the flavoure of the novel. To add more class to the film there is a great swelling music score by John Williams.
Although this is not the best adaption of the count's antics, this is still a great looking film, that although is light on the shocks, still is very entertaining, and well worth watching.
In other words the film does not suck!

There are a number of Dracula / Vampire movies that are excellent. There are also a number that are totally dismal & then there are those great many that fall in between the two poles or stakes. ( as it were ) This 1979 outing is I feel, firmly entrenched in the last category. Whilst by no means the best Drac flic, it is also nowhere near being the worst & has much to recommend it (above average acting - for the genre, good locations - Cornwall & also Stunning Photography are plus points ) Of course this film has always been a sore point with Drac Buffs & Critics alike by not being trendy enough or not completely true to the original story ( indeed, Very few versions are !! ) & whatnot. How about telling them that some of the later Hammer Drac / Vamp flics are pretty naff !! Oh no !! that would be Sacrilige !! I've always felt that this movie never really got a square deal & I think it's about time that the record was set straight on John Badham's much maligned take on Dracula. I… more »

There are a number of Dracula / Vampire movies that are excellent. There are also a number that are totally dismal & then there are those great many that fall in between the two poles or stakes. ( as it were ) This 1979 outing is I feel, firmly entrenched in the last category. Whilst by no means the best Drac flic, it is also nowhere near being the worst & has much to recommend it (above average acting - for the genre, good locations - Cornwall & also Stunning Photography are plus points ) Of course this film has always been a sore point with Drac Buffs & Critics alike by not being trendy enough or not completely true to the original story ( indeed, Very few versions are !! ) & whatnot. How about telling them that some of the later Hammer Drac / Vamp flics are pretty naff !! Oh no !! that would be Sacrilige !! I've always felt that this movie never really got a square deal & I think it's about time that the record was set straight on John Badham's much maligned take on Dracula. I Like most Horror movies (although not the rather disturbing newer trend for torture - type Horror films ) even the bad ones, of which this is not one !! & I think a great deal of pleasure can be derived from Dracula 1979 too. As far as extras are concerned, there are none, which is a pity. A commentary would have been nice, but there we are - the film still stands up without these extra trimmings & whilst I would not pay a huge amount for this DVD, a modest fee is, I think acceptable. Not Bad Badham !!