Rainey Dawn Louis Jourdan as Dracula is fine to me, I have no problem with him as the Count. I really don't have a problem with most all of the other actors either - pretty much everyone was fine in the film.What I dislike about it is that it's rather drab and dry - it has no pizazz to it. The only pizazz we have is a psychedelic red and orange film with some black & white footage when something happens and I don't think that Bram Stoker would have liked or approved of the psychedelic parts of the film nor do I believe that is what he had in mind. What were they thinking? And the rest of the film is very dull.My childhood memories of this film were "it's quite good" until I saw it again recently and now I've changed my mind. I guess just seeing Dracula and the psychedelic colors were enough for me as a kid but not anymore.3/10

Prof-Hieronymos-Grost Jonathan Harker is sent to Transylvania to go over the finer details of a property purchase by one Carpathian, Count Dracula. On his journey he finds the locals making strange gestures in his direction, he asks a fellow coach passenger, the significance of this, he is told it is a sign that they wish you good luck. Harker questions why he was singled out for such a gesture, the passenger asks where is his journey taking him. Harkers reply that he is going to the Borgo Pass and then on to the home of Count Dracula on business, strikes fear into his fellow passengers, they urge the coach driver on through the grim forest, to make the pass before nightfall, where Harker is abruptly left. Out of the darkness he sees what seems to be two yellow eyes, but on closer inspection it is a coach to bring him up the hill to Dracula's castle. There he is met by the Count ( Louis Jourdan), a handsome man of some refine, together they exchange pleasantries and despite the late hour get down to business. Harker is asked to respect the history of the castle and not stray into certain rooms and under no circumstance fall asleep in the library. Harker naturally agrees to his hosts demands. The following evening, after some discussions, the count asks Harker to stay on for a month or so, Harker questions the need, but is convinced by Dracula to stay, but he soon regrets his decision and he realises just what his host is and that he is his prisoner. After the Count leaves for England with his vast shipment of ancient soil, Harker makes ready his escape without haste to stop the Count. For a TV adaptation, the production values and attention to detail are evident from the start, the build up to our first meeting with the Count is beautifully crafted with tension and apprehension of what lurks in the dark mountainous forests of Transylvania, through Harker, we see the terrified eyes of superstitious locals, their fear of this as yet unseen man is palpable and thus we await our first glimpse, what shape of form will this evil take? Harker's journey takes him to the imposing castle doors, there we meet the evil one, its none other than Louis Jourdan. There have been many great cinematic Dracula's, Lugosi perhaps being the most famous, Lee didn't speak much, but to a certain generation there is no other, Oldman camped it up nicely, Langella was a more romantic Count, so to many the choice of Jourdan as Dracula might come as a surprise and not a good one either. The viewers fears are instantly laid to rest as Harker and Dracula get down to business in the dimly lit library, immediately we see he is no monster, he is just a man, he talks like a normal man, but he is also handsome, debonair and exudes an aristocratic class. Together their conversations are literary and at times rather profound. I enjoyed these scenes immensely, never having read the original novel, it gave me an impression of it, that I haven't found in other more famous adaptations. The first hour is taken up with the dealings in Dracula's castle before we move to England as Dracula makes his moves on Mina and Lucy, Harker someway behind in pursuit of the Count. Once there we are introduced to the dealings of the Westenra family and the local asylum where one Renfield seems to be telepathically in touch with the Count. He is a different Renfield to be sure, perhaps a more realistic portrayal of a mentally disturbed man. Soon after a heavy storm, Lucy begins sleep walking and remains for some time quite ill, in a desperate attempt to save her life, her former love, Dr Seward employs the assistance of his mentor Abraham Van Helsing (Frank Finlay), a specialist in rare diseases, once he arrives his methods instantly bring an air of calm. Van Helsing instantly deduces the problem and makes plans to protect Lucy from this unseen terror. Finlay for his part is a wonderful Van Helsing, he brings the right blend of knowledge, calmness and forthrightness under pressure that the role requires, strangely in his looks, he reminded me of an older Al Pacino. Getting back to the production, they are of a very high standard indeed, the majority of the sfx are pretty good for the time, some though it must be said are rather iffy, director Saville even resorting to a swirling animated entry to a room by the Count, there's also some very very rubbery bats. Still though these can be put down to budgetary restraints and Saville certainly does seem to have a visual eye and there are a number of memorable flourishes, like the invisible Lucy in the mirror trick and the reflection of a crucifix on the face of Dracula and also a raging plume of smoke from a coffin. The cast is way above average for such a production, there's even a nice score, but for me Jourdan and Finlay make the film, at 150 mins though it might be a little long or drawn out for some, I found it riveting, I felt like I was watching a really great stage play, the dialogue is always interesting and as such this is a great success.

eugene1001us I have a comment for Author: kriitikko from Kirkkonummi, Finland. I will first use his comments and then respond."Ironically, the only performance not so faithful to Stoker, comes from Louis Jourdan as Dracula. This however is not a bad thing. Instead of copying Bela Lugosi or Christopher Lee, or playing Dracula more faithfully as a furious warlord (which Jack Palance had done few years earlier in another TV adaptation), Jourdan plays Dracula as calm, calculating demon who seduces his victims by offering them power and eternal life, but who is just coldly using them for his own advantages. In fact Jourdan portraits Dracula as a sort of Anti-Christ creature, who is looking for disciples and going against God. In one of the scenes Van Helsing raises his cross against Dracula and starts to enchant a prayer in Latin, only to receive an arrogant comment from the Count of how prayer always sounds more convincing in Latin. Jourdan may not be most faithful Dracula, but certainly one of the best, making Dracula seem far superior to humans." You are exactly correct. In the novel, Van Helsing states that because Dracula has what he attributes to a be mere "child's mind", that he is "slow to make haste". He uses the Latin term: Festina Lente, which means Hasten slowly or as Van Helsing puts it, "slow to make haste".This however proves to be Dracula's ultimate downfall.Though Van Helsing also warned Jonathan that "if he (Dracula) dared to use his full array of his powers, he would have been long beyond our (meaning the vampire hunters) reach".Thus proving his point. And Dracula's arrogance about believing himself to be vastly superior to mere mortals. He thought himself to be so superior, that in the end they finally defeated him. Because he failed to prepare for the fact that humans in the late 19th Century were better able to combat him, than human contemporaries of his 15th Century.

Shinobu_Sensui The 1970s were not the best decade for Count Dracula and vampires.(that distinction is still held by the 1960s). The horror movies of the time focused on the slasher sub genre and things were changing. But out of the dark, came the best version of Dracula ever made! The Dracula story is so well known that I will not go into it.Basically however, it is about a small group of people struggling against an epidemic of vampirism, propagated by the vampire lord known as 'Count Dracula' A vampire as you definitely know, is a dead human who has been brought back by the powers of darkness. In order to sustain this foul 'unlife' as it is called, they must regularly drink the blood of human beings. The victims then die and rise as vampires themselves. Vampires have many supernatural powers which aid them such as the ability to transform into a variety of animals and super strength. They can also control the minds of their victims.The Script features lines that work WITH Jourdan, and the rest of the dialog is well done as well, giving a perfect description of what a vampire is, and revealing that they exist in order to multiply the evils of the world. They make vampires with each victim they take, and they need victims so they can make more vampires etc. The direction is crisp, with most of the scenes presented flawlessly.The Music score deserves a special mention. The film is creepy in a subtle way and the music helps that. In particular, is an eerie flute piece which manages to build a feeling of anticipation.Four of the actors/actresses do extremely well in their roles. Louis Jourdan gives the best Count Dracula performance ever. Of all the Draculas I have seen, he behaves the most like a real person who became a vampire would act in my opinion. He is charismatic, and menacing in a very low key way. For example, in one scene, he is confronted with a cross wielded by Van Helsing saying a prayer in Latin and Jourdan says, ''It's always more convincing in Latin isn't it? You give an order to retreat, using a cross as your talisman.'' In another scene, when he doesn't reflect in mirrors, he calmly removes the mirror from another person and says, ''The trouble with mirrors, is that they don't reflect quite enough.'' He has suave sophistication and pulls the role off better than anyone else ever has or ever will.Another great performance here is Frank Finley as Van Helsing, the older vampire hunter. He does very well at capturing the essence of the role and will live on in the memories of many!Also, Jack Shepard does well as Renfield, Dracula's insane minion. He is gentlemanly, yet also eccentric at the same time and is prone to fits of rage and/or sorrow. Shepard really manages to nail the character!Last, but mentionable. Judy Bowker plays a good Mina. She is very concerned, yet she seems very wise in several scenes. She is also brave enough to take part in the final battle. As for the rest of the cast, they are adequate in their roles, but nothing special. Yet have no fear, the notorious 'Reeves brand' did not manage to get any of their wood products in here(HAHA!) What really makes this film unique however, is it's surrealistic quality. In some scenes, things are colored in unnatural ways. Other times, characters faces are superimposed over the screen in a psychedelic style. In one scene, the screen is a fuzzy black and white and everyone's voices are deep. Especially notable, is Draculas second attack on Lucy. Everything is colored red and black in a beautiful, otherworldly way. The surrealism adds a strange feel to the film that works with it to achieve near perfection......So if you are in the mood for a Dracula movie that is very well acted, yet strange and otherworldly, pick this one up! It is the best version ever made!