Reprise » A Blood Sucking Movie Character Survey
It should not surprise that screenwriters over the decades have thrown change-ups with Bram Stoker’s story. Some of the dynamics relating to or in their combination of have occurred with key characters. Renfield performing Jonathan Harker’s solicitor travels to Dracula’s Transylvania castle in Tod Brownings’ and George Melford’s 1931 versions would be an example. Or, with the Lucy and Mina characters switching roles or vying for the Count’s love, meaning death (Nosferatu ’77 and the ’79 Dracula), for instance. Whichever ones you favor, there are no wrong answers.
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It Rains... You Get Wet 
32 Responses to “Reprise » A Blood Sucking Movie Character Survey”
Well this was great fun Michael, thanks very much, though I’m afraid that my love for the Coppola and Hammer versions pretty much dictated all my responses –
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Thanks so much for participating, Sergio :-).
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Good one, Michael!
I still enjoy ‘Near Dark’. Early Mrs. Cameron at her gritty, dusty, low budget best! Also like the 1979 take on ‘Dracula’ as an ABC made for TV movie with Frank Langella as the Count. And Sir Laurence Olivier as Van Helsing. A very moody and atmospheric piece!
If you have the time, and for the woman’s and Lady Bathory perspective. Look for a small film from 1971, ‘Daughters of Darkness’. Shot on the Belgian coast and holds strictly to the Lady’s rules for survival. Very cool stuff, indeed.
What?… No ‘Buffy, the Vampire Slayer’? Or ‘The Fearless Vampire Hunters’?
They’re always god for a laugh.
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John Badham’s was a moody film adaptation of the stage play, indeed. And I certainly do remember the ‘Daughters of Darkness’! One of the most memorable from the 70s ;-). Many thanks, Kevin.
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Does Nosferatu count? That’d be my favorite.
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Please, do write-in for your favorites, ckckred. The silent film Nosferatu could be argued as counting. I’m pretty sure they changed names and the story since it wasn’t an authorized adaptation of Stoker’s novel. Please vote, and pass the survey around to your friends. The more, the merrier ;-). Thanks, my friend.
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Nosferatu would be mine!
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Please write it in, Cindy. Vote, and add whatever in the comments. Many thanks :-).
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My votes are cast! Nice post Michael. I really loved reading Dracula. It’s pretty long but it’s so absorbing and there’s loads in there that I didn’t realise was vampire folklore and has now either been ignored or completely changed.
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Thank you very kindly for participating, Chris. Bram Stoker’s novel is one of the all-time greats, and I encourage anyone who hasn’t read it to give it a go. For those who have, I’ve not found one who was disappointed in the read :-).
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It has been years but I remember liking Jack Palance in the 1970s TV version of Dracula. So other than Bella Himself I’ll nominate Jack.
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You’re a man after my own heart, Richard. Thanks for the comment and the vote, my friend!
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I am and have always been fascinated with Frank Langella’s overtly sexual turn as Count Dracula. His turn in the role always felt right in that this “demon of the Night”. The ultimate night stalker.
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Langella was indeed pretty damn mesmerizing , Sal. Thanks for the read and vote, my friend :-).
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DRACULA (1931) gets all the votes from me, except Van Helsing. If only Peter Cushing and Bela Lugosi could have teamed up.
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Y’know, you can’t go wrong with Bela Lugosi in this iconic role. Many thanks, Will!
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Jack Palance had the most unique take…
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He surely did! It’s one reason I encourage those who’ve not Palance in the role to check it out. Thanks, Christian.
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Hi, Christian and Michael.
I missed out on Jack Palance as Dracula. Though, I do remember he was an intriguing and more than serviceable ‘Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde’. Again, via an earlier, 1968 ABC made for TV film. Very good and moody, lusty and violent on Hyde’s part, period piece and live stage play!
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I remember both of those TV-movies with Palance. He was wonderful in each of his stints portraying these memorable literary characters. Thanks, Kevin :-).
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I’m not the first to say this, but Christopher Lee’s portrayal of a very intelligent being that takes great pleasure in wreaking havoc on humans is the Dracula to beat, in my book. Lugosi’s performance is too locked up in the stagebound Balderston (sp?) play, which was the basis for the original movie.
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Oh, yes. Christopher Lee was extraordinary in the role. Thanks so much for participating in the survey, Steven.
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MY picks are a little unorthodox, Rob.
My favorite Dracula is actually Gerard Butler from DRACULA 2000 and my favorite Van Helsing is Christopher Plummer from the same film.
Told ya. 🙂
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Gary Oldman in Bram Stroker’s Dracula is perhaps one of the best portrayal but for guilty pleasure sake, I do love Gerry Butler’s sexy portrayal as Prince of Darkness. I mean vampires are supposed to be sexy and he’s certainly captured that dark, tortured soul (literally) persona beautifully. I like Plummer as Van Helsing as well, wish he had a bigger role though.
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Dracula 2000 is a guilty pleasure of mine. Good going, Damian! Many thanks.
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I know it is boring but i have to go with Lugosi!
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Not boring in the least, mummbles. So glad you’re participating, my friend. Thank you.
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Langella’s Drac still scares me after all these years.
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Langella certainly had presence in the role, Rich. Many thanks for your votes 🙂
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I cast my vote for 1931 b/w classic starring Boris (“I am Dracula”) Lagosi in the starring role. Black and white film gives it nice edgy feel.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0021814/
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You’re right, of course. B&W film does produce a distinct feel for scary film. Can’t go wrong with that choice either, my friend. Many thanks for participating in the movie survey.
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[…] novel later adapted to film, which I will review. The book many consider almost as influential as Bram Stoker’s Dracula is under the microscope, I Am Legend. Published by Matheson and Gold Medal books in 1954 […]
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