Dan Curtis' Dracula

Customer Reviews:

Solid production.......2006-08-18

This 1974 version of Dracula, starring good old Jack Palance, is a nice solid production. Palance gives a somber, but at the same time also a ferocious portrayal of the legendary count and warrior prince.
This movie has a nice gothic feel to it, and most of the actors are decent. That said, I don't think that younger people will enjoy this film, since it doesn't contain a lot of action and special effects. Remember that it was made in the 70's. But if you are looking for a vampire movie with some nice atmosphere and one of the best Dracula interpretations ever, then this is for you.

An excellent film version of the Bram Stoker classic. .......2005-11-23

Although this is neither the best, nor the most faithful film verison of Bram Stoker's novel (that honor goes to "Count Dracula" with Louis Jordan), it scores well on several levels.

Jack Palance is perfectly cast as Dracula, truly frightening at times, yet also a somewhat sympathetic and tragic figure. The film makes passing reference to his (very) long career as warrior and leader and the crushing loss of his wife, which has clearly haunted him through the centuries. These references effectively echo actual events in the life of 15th Century Wallachian prince Vlad Tepes ("Vlad the Impaler"), Stoker's inspiration for the fictional vampire Count, which few Dracula films do. Palance also adds a degree of sexuality to the role that few actors have achieved, particularly in his "love" scenes with Fiona Lewis.

Like most film adaptations, this one is not entirely faithful to Stoker's novel. The character of Renfield is missing, for example, and Jonathan Harker is reduced to a hapless victim, who disappears for most of the film, reappearing near the end as yet another vampire, who is quickly dispatched. This is one of several similarities to the 1958 Hammer film "Horror of Dracula," which also includes a similar death scene for the Count. Palance's interpretation is also closer to that of Christopher Lee's in the Hammer film than any other film portrayal and it stands in sharp contrast to Bela Lugosi's seminal performance in Universal's 1931 "Dracula."

The film also drops many of the traditional movie Dracula set pieces. For example, the Count never turns into a bat, a misty cloud, or a wolf (although he does employ wolves as his familiars). The usually reliable cross and garlic aren't very effective as vampire deterrents.

All of that said, this is one of the better Dracula films. It is atmospheric, well written, paced and filmed, and captures the essence of the good Count - both the terror he spread and his own tragedy.

AW

Jack Palance is miscast, but Richard Matheson's script is interesting.......2005-09-04

This 1974 television movie version of "Dracula" is an attempt to adapt Bram Stoker's original novel. Director Dan Curtis had some bona fides in the realm of vampires as the producer of the television soap "Dark Shadows" and the prime time drama "The Night Stalker." More importantly, the script was written by Richard Matheson, who just in terms of his television resume was the renowned writer of not only classic episodes of "The Twilight Zone" but also the scripts for the television movies "Duel" and "The Night Stalker." The problem here is the decision to cast Jack Palance as Dracula. He is not as bad as John Carradine, but he is heading in that direction, not because Palance is a bad actor but because he is just flat out wrong for this role, especially since there is a sense of presenting the Count as a tragic figure, which should manifest itself in more ways than looking sad.

The fidelity to Stoker's novel is the main strength of the first part of the film where Jonathan Harker (Murray Brown) goes to meet the Count in Transylvania, and Matheson earns bonus points for linking the vampire to Vlad the Impaler. However, because the movie is made for television there are some extensive cuts. Reducing the band of vampire hunters who join with Dr. Van Helsing (Nigel Davenport) to just Arthur Holmwood (Simon Ward) is understandable, but the decision to jettison everything at the lunatic asylum hurts (although I supposed once you lose Renfield you really cut your link to Universal's 1931 "Dracula"). What we get in its place are the flashbacks that try to create sympathy for Dracula mixed in with what happens in England where Jonathan's fiancée, Mina Murray (Penelope Horner) visits Whitby to be with her friend Lucy Westenra r (Fiona Lewis), who starts sleepwalking and evidencing a loss of blood. Holmwood calls in Dr. Van Helsing to solve the case, and it is he who tells them about the nosferatu. However, Lucy is doomed and that leads to the final mad dash to beat the Count back to his castle in Transylvania. In terms of finishing off Dracula, this one comes up with one of the better endings.

Palance is miscast, actually being closer to the portrayal of Dracula by Christopher Lee, saying little but trying to look vicious. If this were a Hammer film, fine, but that is not what the script indicates. Meanwhile, Davenport is simply making bad choices in the role of Van Helsing, so that you never feel the Doctor is smart enough to take down the Count. You can decide for yourself which one of these two you would most like to get rid of, but I will maintain that a different actor as Dracula, one who would bring to life the charming and dangerous Count of the novel, could have made this one of the best Dracula adaptations ever. Everybody else in the cast is okay, although seeing Pamela Brown as Mrs. Westenra is bittersweet; the actress who made her mark as Jennet Jourdemayne in Christopher Fry's "The Lady's Not for Burning" died the year after making this film.

"Dracula" was the last of a series of classic horror stories that Curtis remade for television, going back to 1968's "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," and then versions of "Frankenstein" and "The Picture of Dorian Grey" in 1973, and "Turn of the Screw" and this film in 1974. However, the main reason I round up on this one in the end is simply because of Matheson's script. You just need to try and look past the casting to see what he was trying to do in adapting Stoker's novel. Then you can decide where this adaptation stands in relationship to "Nosferatu," the Lugosi "Dracula," "The Horror of Dracula" from Hammer, "Count Dracula" by Jess Franco with Christopher Lee, the BBC adaptation of "Count Dracula" with Louis Jordan, the Frank Langella "Dracula," the Werner Herzog remake of "Nosferatu the Vampyre, " Francis Ford Coppola's opulent "Bram Stoker"s Dracula" with Gary Oldman, and, for something interestingly different, Guy Maddin's ballet adaptation "Dracula: Pages from a Virgin's Diary." Just do not be surprised if this one comes out dead (or undead) in the middle.

ok but should have had a different ending.......2005-05-15

this is a good adaption of the novel but i thought the ending of the movie was too common. i saw that ending in the "horror of dracula", made in 1958. another thing, in the book, johnathan harker did not become a vampire. i dont know why they did that and i would only get this if you dont like the book, otherwise, stay away.

Decent Adaptation. Notable for Introducing Lovelorn Dracula........2005-03-04

This version of "Dracula" was shown on American television in 1973, but had a theatrical release in Europe. It was adapted and directed by Dan Curtis, who changed what he felt was weak reasoning to explain why Count Dracula wants to move to England in Bram Stoker' s novel. Instead of vague ambitions of conquest in England, Curtis made Count Dracula the un-dead incarnation of the real 15th century Wallachian Prince, Vlad Tepes, who travels to England in order to be reunited with the reincarnation of his long lost love. This love storyline was inspired by the vampire television series "Dark Shadows", for which Dan Curtis was executive producer. It was borrowed by Francis Coppola and writer James Hart in Coppola's lavish 1992 film "Bram Stoker's Dracula".

The story is set in the year that Bram Stoker's gothic horror novel "Dracula" was published. In 1897, an English real estate agent named Jonathan Harker (Murray Brown) arrives in the town of Bistritz, in what was then Hungary, to offer a selection of properties to a nobleman by the name of Count Dracula (Jack Palance), who plans to relocate to England. Harker finds the Count a demanding host, and Dracula proceeds to England leaving Jonathan imprisoned in his castle, terrorized by his blood-thirsty wives. Several weeks later, in the seaside town of Whitby, where Dracula's sailing ship has beached, Jonathan's fiancée, Mina (Penelope Horner) arrives to visit an ailing friend. Mina's dear friend Lucy (Fiona Lewis) has taken ill. Lucy's fiancé Arthur (Simon Ward) has called a specialist named Dr. Van Helsing (Nigel Davenport) to diagnose her. Van Helsing believes that Lucy is the victim of a vampire, an un-dead creature that sucks the blood of the living to survive, but he and Arthur are unable to protect her, and she is transformed into the living dead herself. When Dracula discovers that his new vampire bride has been destroyed, he is enraged and plans to take his revenge on Mina.

This version doesn't have the emotional depth of some of the better theatrical adaptations of "Dracula". But it is not a low-rent production. We get to see the interiors of many lovely mansions. This Count Dracula is supposed to be a sympathetic monster, who wishes only to be reunited with his lady love. But he is ungracious and blunt. And Palance's expressions seem campy -nothing new in Dracula films. In contrast to the novel and most adaptations, Jonathan is absent from the major action of the film, Van Helsing is level-headed, and the vampire and his hunters confront each other directly on several occasions. Their battle isn't covert. Everyone is well aware who his enemies are. This is a solid adaptation, but not a great one. It's most notable for being the originator of the lovelorn Dracula storyline -or the romantic hero persona. 3 1/2 stars.

The Dan Curtis Macabre Collection (Dracula (1973) / The Turn of the Screw (1974) / Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1968) / The Picture of Dorian Gray (1973))

Average customer rating:

poor audio on discs 3 & 4. Beware!
Where's Dan Curtis's FRANKENSTEIN in this set?
Sound problem apparently solved
a great set of movies from dan curtis
Excellent Value

The Dan Curtis Macabre Collection (Dracula (1973) / The Turn of the Screw (1974) / Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1968) / The Picture of Dorian Gray (1973))
Starring: Jack Palance , Simon Ward , Nigel Davenport , Pamela Brown , and Fiona Lewis
Director: Dan Curtis , and Charles Jarrott
Manufacturer: Mpi Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000060MVF
Release Date: 2002-08-27

Customer Reviews:

poor audio on discs 3 & 4. Beware!.......2007-09-01

The DORIAN GRAY and TURN OF THE SCREW discs presented me with the same audio problem described by other reviewers: the actors sound like thier mouths are full of cotton. I played the discs on several different DVD players with the following results: no audio problem on Sony players, inaudible dialogue on Panasonic players. (JEKYLL/HYDE and DRACULA discs played perfectly on ALL players.) Conclusion: DORIAN GRAY and TURN OF THE SCREW discs contain defect making the audio incompatible with some players. MPI continues to ignore the problem.

Where's Dan Curtis's FRANKENSTEIN in this set?.......2007-07-21

I remember watching all these on ABC's late-night "Wide World of Entertainment" back in the '70's. Palance is good as DRACULA, which actually does identify him as Prince Vlad, but too much of the story is
streamlined (no Renfield!). I don't recall much of TURN. Palance was great as JEKYLL/HYDE, as was Simon Ward as DORIAN GRAY. However, I am sad to see that the collection omits the truly touching FRANKENSTEIN with Bo Svenson as the most sympathetic portrayal of the Monster I've ever seen.

Sound problem apparently solved.......2006-12-12

I'm simply reviewing the sound issue mentioned in a previous review, since the story and picture are great. I was hesitant to order this since a few reviewers stated that the 3rd & 4th discs(Dorian Gray & Turn Screw) were almost inaudible and further, MPI knew nothing about it. Well, i think its the old "failure to admit a mistake" stance on MPI's part. I received my set yesterday and not only is the sound fine on these last two discs, IT'S ACTUALLY LOUDER THAN THE FIRST TWO DISCS(Dracula & Jekyll). It seems they overcompensated for the problem of volume. With it comes a little more hiss, but i'd rather be able to hear these great movies. So order freely without fear.

a great set of movies from dan curtis.......2006-05-04

in the 70's dan curtis gave t.v. some of its best horror movies and shows,the 4 in this collection are the best.
1.dracula features jack palance as the count and it is a very nice production.
2.turn of the screw stars lynn redgrave as the governess to two possised children.
3.dr.jekyll and mr. hyde stars jack again and is a very good take on the oft told tale
4.the picture of dorian gray is good but to me is the weakest of the lot.
still a very nice collection of movies to run a cold streak up your back.

Excellent Value.......2004-03-12

This package contains four films either produced or directed by Dan Curtis, creator of TV's "Dark Shadows." The most successful piece is "The Picture of Dorian Gray", featuring a moodier, more atmospheric interpretation than the classic film starring George Sanders (not yet on DVD, alas). The Dracula adaptation stars Jack Palance as the nefarious Count, and follows the novel much more closely than the Lugosi or Christopher Lee versions. Still, it's not as gripping as it could be.

Palance also stars as Jekyll/Hyde, and this film is easily the weakest of the bunch. Overlong and plodding, it never catches fire. Palance's understated performance is a plus, and there are several strong sequences, especially at the beginning, but towards the end it starts to drag.

The Turn of the Screw is excellent, a definitive adaptation of the Henry James novel. (The review below mentions an audio problem on this disc, but I didn't experience anything like that.) It's not often that I find a horror flick genuinely scary, but this one does the trick.

Customer Reviews:

Good films, lousy DVD.......2003-07-15

These two Dan Curtis productions are well worth watching, particularly Dracula which features a great performance by the underrated Jack Palance as the Count. However....

The reason I have given this such a low rating is because of the appalling quality of the transfers. Dracula starts out so dark that you can't see anything. My VHS copy (not from MPI but a UK tape) clearly shows a lake, Castle Dracula, and a pack of dogs running to the castle. Here, we hear the dogs but the screen is almost pitch black. Things don't get any better later on as brighter colours bleed (no pun intended) into each other, particularly reds. There's barely a moment in the film where I wasn't distracted by the lousy transfer.

Jekyll and Hyde's problems lie with the source material and is marginally more watchable. It was filmed on videotape and looks like a second or third generation copy. This is more forgiveable considering that the original print may have been in poor condition, but no restoration work has been performed which is a shame.

Hopefully Dracula will get another DVD release sourced from the same print used for my VHS copy. It's not perfect, but at least it's more watchable than MPIs terrible DVD version. I have no idea what the later single MPI DVD release of Dracula is like, but I'm assuming it's of exactly the same appalling quality as this one.

Double the Palance, Double the Fun.......2002-01-29

This 2fer disc is definietly worth it's weight in gold. Produced by Dan Curtis (the man behind Dark Shadows) these 2 movies originally aired on television in 1968 and 1972. The Dracula was improvised making the woman Dracula goes after as the reincarnation of a lost love (ala Barnabas Collins and Josette Dupres). I would love to know Jonathan Frid and Kathryn Leigh Scott's opinions of this movie. The Jekyll/Hyde was shot live on tape in the same way Dark Shadows was. In fact several of the sets and music can be recognized from Dark Shadows. Definitely an improvement over the VHS releases of both which were included with commentary by Elvira, which if you ask me was a waste of time and energy. Important note: to anyone who buys 2 sided discs by MPI Homevideo. The feature usually listed as being on side A is usually on side B and vice versa. In other words, the side labeled as Dracula is the side with Jekyll and vice versa. I've had this experience with 2 sided MPI discs before and have already emailed them about this. Although they replied with gratitude of pointing this out, I don't know if they rectified newer copies. Buy this disc by all means, but watch out for this.

Jack Palance As Dracula? YES!.......2001-11-20

I remember waiting for "Dracula" to air on network television. The creator of the Dark Shadows soap opera was bringing the novel of Bram Stoker's "undead stalker" to the small screen. Jack Palance was announced to play the lead. To tell you the truth, this would not be the first name that would come to mind to cast the role that has been played over and over, but Palance makes one of the greatest "Counts" of all! There is just enough sympathy created for the character to make you almost care, but they don't overdo this element. He's still a bloodthirsty vampire stalking victims. This is a great DVD to add to your horror collection. The companion "Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde" was equally good for atmospheric sets, acting, and great direction. I was glad this became available.

Very good adaptations of two horror classics.......2001-02-16

This two sided dvd contains two films from producer Dan Curtis (who was responsible for the famous gothic soap opera "Dark Shadows"). The first is a very good adaptation of Bram Stoker's "Dracula". This novel seems to be an awkward one to film because almost every version you see changes the plot somewhat or takes liberties with the characters, especially Lucy and Mina. This version is actually the closest I've seen to the original novel. Like the novel, Dracula falls in love with Lucy and later uses Mina as a pawn for revenge (various versions, like the recent Coppola film, have Dracula falling in love with Mina instead of Lucy). The only plot change from the original novel (that I recall) in this version is the way Dracula is killed. In addition to the faitfulness to the novel, this is a handsome production. It was made for television (in the U.S.), so you do have the awkward editing (for commercial breaks) and zoom shots. It has an excellent gothic feel to it and was filmed in beautiful houses and castles in Europe. Jack Palance plays a great Dracula - he is hulking and menacing and brings a sympathetic edge to the character. Also included is the original European theatrical trailer and brief interviews with Dan Curtis and Jack Palance.

The opposite side of the dvd is "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde" which also stars Palance. This production also has handsome production values but was filmed on videotape, so you feel like you are watching a PBS drama. Also, Palance's transformation to Mr. Hyde is somewhat humorous - his makeup job makes him look like the Joker from "Batman". Acting is good all around, especially Denholm Elliot and Billie Whitelaw, who was introduced in this film.

On the technical side, these films apparently have not been restored and there is some nicks and scratches (especially on "Dracula") but not enough to distract. Many of the outdoor scenes in "Dracula" are very dark. Some enhancement on these scenes would have been welcome.

A recommended purchase, especially for "Dracula".

Jack Palance into Horror Palace.......2000-09-19

Jack Palance make two brilliant performances in this two tv movies. In the first, the teleplay of Richard Matheson conects Bram Stoker's charachter with a lost love before Coppola's movie. The second is a very reliable version of Stevenson's classic. Filmed in videotape, the look is, perhaps, a little ugly, but it's very interesting by the vision of the two classics and the great casting (not only Palance).

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