{"id":35225,"date":"2015-11-07T17:36:09","date_gmt":"2015-11-08T00:36:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=35225"},"modified":"2021-02-05T20:34:37","modified_gmt":"2021-02-06T03:34:37","slug":"horror-of-dracula-1958","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=35225","title":{"rendered":"Horror of Dracula (1958)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;It only remains for me now to await the daylight hours, where I will with God&#8217;s help forever end this man&#8217;s reign of terror!&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Horror-of-Dracula-1958-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Horror-of-Dracula-1958-Poster-196x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"196\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-35226\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Horror-of-Dracula-1958-Poster-196x300.jpg 196w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Horror-of-Dracula-1958-Poster-84x128.jpg 84w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Horror-of-Dracula-1958-Poster-668x1024.jpg 668w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Horror-of-Dracula-1958-Poster.jpg 799w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 196px) 100vw, 196px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nA vampire hunter (John Van Eyssen) posing as a librarian arrives at the castle of Count Dracula (Christopher Lee), where he puts one of Dracula&#8217;s victims (Valerie Gaunt) out of her misery, but is bitten himself before he can kill Dracula. When Dracula invades the household of Van Eyssen&#8217;s girlfriend Lucy (Carol Marsh) and Lucy&#8217;s brother (Michael Gough) and sister-in-law (Melissa Stribling), Dr. Van Helsing (Peter Cushing) arrives to help.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Christopher Lee Films<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Horror<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Peter Cushing Films<\/li>\n<li>Vampires<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Response to Peary\u2019s Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nPeary writes that while &#8220;Hammer Studios&#8217; follow-up to <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=35252\"><em>The Curse of Frankenstein<\/em><\/a> is a much better and more influential horror film&#8221;, it &#8220;isn&#8217;t the definitive adaptation of Bram Stoker&#8217;s novel or much more than an introduction to the bloody-red and sexually oriented style of future Hammer vampire films&#8221;. He complains the &#8220;film is so rushed that we have a hard time realizing that <a href=\"http:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0051554\/trivia?item=tr0969167\">major parts of Stoker&#8217;s story are being either distorted or eliminated<\/a>&#8220;, that &#8220;all the performances&#8221; (other than the two leads) &#8220;are forgettable&#8221;, and that Cushing is &#8220;a little too humorless, as if his blood had already been drained&#8221;. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Horror-of-Dracula-Cushing.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Horror-of-Dracula-Cushing.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"720\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-55831\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Horror-of-Dracula-Cushing.png 1200w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Horror-of-Dracula-Cushing-300x180.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Horror-of-Dracula-Cushing-1024x614.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Horror-of-Dracula-Cushing-128x77.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Horror-of-Dracula-Cushing-768x461.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Horror-of-Dracula-Cushing-450x270.png 450w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>In favor of the film, Peary writes that the &#8220;graphic violence&#8230; fits the subject rather than being exploitative&#8221;, that the production in general is &#8220;well-mounted&#8221;, and that &#8220;Lee&#8217;s madly inspired vampire is terrific: cruel, energetic, intelligent, tall and imposing&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Horror-of-Dracula-Lee2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Horror-of-Dracula-Lee2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"720\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-55832\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Horror-of-Dracula-Lee2.png 1200w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Horror-of-Dracula-Lee2-300x180.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Horror-of-Dracula-Lee2-1024x614.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Horror-of-Dracula-Lee2-128x77.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Horror-of-Dracula-Lee2-768x461.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Horror-of-Dracula-Lee2-450x270.png 450w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Peary also points out how the film differs from &#8220;<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=18724\">Universal&#8217;s 1931 <em>Dracula<\/em><\/a> chiefly in that it conveys the sexual nature of vampirism: not only does the vampire become excited when he bites into a victim&#8217;s jugular but his victims also relish the experience&#8221;. Indeed, according to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/dvdsavant\/s619drac.html\">DVD Savant<\/a>, this film &#8220;made much more explicit the seduction-rape fantasy that underlies vampire mythology.&#8221; Savant is much more a diehard fan of this film, referring to it as &#8220;the <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=30414\"><em>Singin&#8217; in the Rain<\/em><\/a> of horror films &#8212; a show that transcends its genre and sums up what&#8217;s great about screen terror.&#8221; His praise feels hyperbolic to me, but provides evidence of the film&#8217;s cult following. Personally, my opinion lies closer to Peary&#8217;s: this remains a reasonably enjoyable, historically significant genre flick, but not must-see viewing. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Christopher Lee as Dracula &#8212; only on the screen for 7 minutes, but a menacing presence<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Horror-of-Dracula-Lee.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Horror-of-Dracula-Lee-1024x614.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"384\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-35228\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Horror-of-Dracula-Lee-1024x614.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Horror-of-Dracula-Lee-128x77.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Horror-of-Dracula-Lee-300x180.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Horror-of-Dracula-Lee.png 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Jack Asher&#8217;s atmospheric cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Horror-of-Dracula-Cinematography.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Horror-of-Dracula-Cinematography-1024x614.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"384\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-35229\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Horror-of-Dracula-Cinematography-1024x614.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Horror-of-Dracula-Cinematography-128x77.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Horror-of-Dracula-Cinematography-300x180.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Horror-of-Dracula-Cinematography.png 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nNo, though it&#8217;s certainly worth a look for its historical importance. <\/p>\n<p> (<span style=\"color:red;font-weight:bold;\">Listed in <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-static\/1001Movies.htm\"><em>1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die<\/em><\/a><\/span>) <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0051554\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/moria.co.nz\/horror\/dracula-1958-hammer-horror-of-dracula.htm\">Moria Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/dvdsavant\/s619drac.html\">DVD Savant Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1958\/05\/29\/archives\/horror-of-dracula-with-oxford-accent.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/78383\/horror-of-dracula#articles-reviews?articleId=35365\">TCM Article<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.timeout.com\/london\/film\/dracula-2007\">Time Out Capsule Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;It only remains for me now to await the daylight hours, where I will with God&#8217;s help forever end this man&#8217;s reign of terror!&#8221; Synopsis: A vampire hunter (John Van Eyssen) posing as a librarian arrives at the castle of Count Dracula (Christopher Lee), where he puts one of Dracula&#8217;s victims (Valerie Gaunt) out of her misery, but is bitten himself before he can kill Dracula. When Dracula invades the household of Van Eyssen&#8217;s girlfriend Lucy (Carol Marsh) and Lucy&#8217;s&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=35225\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-35225","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-responses-to-peary"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35225","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=35225"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35225\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":69126,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35225\/revisions\/69126"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=35225"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=35225"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=35225"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}