Younger fans of one of the most adapted books in history who have been only familiar with Bram Stoker’s immortal and infamous character through Francis Ford Coppola’s 1992 film version BRAM STOKER’S DRACULA, as well as a recent BBC mini-series will do well to check out this atmospheric and stylish 1979 adaptation which is partly based on the novel, but also a 1924 stage play by Hamilton Deane and John L. Balderston.
Frank Langella (who also played the title role in the 1970s revival, which won a Tony Award for its’ production) is portrayed here as an aristocratic property magnate who takes a passing interest in an old house in the North of England seaside town of Whitby. Dr. Seward (Donald Pleasance) lives with his daughter Lucy (Kate Nelligan) in his own mental institute, whilst Dracula’s new English lawyer Jonathan Harker (Trevor Eve) is involved with Lucy.
Lucy is looking after Mina Van Helsing (Jan Francis, later of TV’s JUST GOOD FRIENDS) who wanders out one stormy night and discovers Dracula amidst a shipwreck and in turn he is forever grateful for her help. He proves to be a rather hypnotic man in more ways than one and creates a rather unhealthy bond with Mina – and sure enough, he crawls down her building and into her bedroom.
Meanwhile Milo Renfield (Tony Haygarth) who is an inmate at the institutionm, has his own taste for bugs and becomes an ally in Dracula’s desire to establish himself as new royalty in the area…..
At the time of its’ original release in cinemas, DRACULA was touted as a more adults only version of the tale, with an extra dose of sex (although there isn’t a great deal on show here, save for one silhouetted love scene in red). It’s remarkably faithful for all that, but keeps the action confined to the single locale of Whitby.
Langella (who later played Richard Nixon in both the film and stage versions of FROST/NIXON opposite Michael Sheen) makes a fine, charismatic Count, backed up by an excellent cast – and there is the added bonus of the legendary Laurence Olivier, who was getting a third act of his own in the acting and film world, as Dr. Abraham Van Helsing.
Kate Nelligan and Jan Francis make an attractive pair of female support as Lucy and Mina. Nelligan went on to appear in another film version of a stage play in 1991, FRANKIE AND JOHNNY, with Al Pacino and Michelle Pfeiffer.
John Williams’ fine score is another ace in this film, as is the cinematography by veteran cameraman Gilbert Taylor, who also lensed the likes of THE OMEN and the original 1977 version of STAR WARS.