Max Schreck (1922) Bela Lugosi (1931) Christopher Lee (1958) Christopher Lee (1970) Jack Palance (1973) Louis Jordan (1977) Klaus Kinski (1979) Gary Oldman (1994) Marc Warren (2006)
I spent most of my younger years as a big Bela Lugosi fan. But the first version of Stoker's novel I saw as a eleven year-old kid was the one with Louis Jordan. It truly frightened me and will always be my favorite "Dracula."
Watch a movie called "Shadow of the Vampire" and you'll understand why this scene is so eerie - Dracula's been alone in that castle for hundreds of years and he has to convince Harker that he's a normal human being; he sets a table for him and serves him dinner and he doesn't even eat, he does everything the servants would normally do, all to fool Harker. It's creepy and sad at the same time.
I watched both the 1931 version and the Hammer 1958 version the other night. Both are great films and performances. I just tend to think Lee's entrance is too quick inn the 58 version, as is his dialogue when he introduces himself. The camera should have lingered on him at the top of the stairs a little longer for impact. While Lee should have then come down the stairs a little slower. Rather than moving up to the camera swiftly and quickly saying " I am Dracula welcome to my house" Bela's entrance is far more sinister and builds the tension much higher.
@ topcats 78. Although Christopher Lee did come down the steps too quickly and spoke a little to rapidly to Jonathan Harker when he introduced himself as Dracula, Lee undoubtedly did that in an effort to avoid imitating Lugosi's slower, more deliberate walk and speech pattern/speed. And yes the cameraman should have lingered longer on Lee when Lee was at the top of the stairs as was done in later Hammer Films' Dracula movies with Lee in the lead role. Lugosi will always be THE best Dracula! Lee was very scary as Dracula but lacked the authentic European aristocratic air that Lugosi as a Hungarian could bring to the role of Dracula!
In the book and in many movies Dracula seems to be fascinated by Jonathan (and by human beings) and he appreaces the conversation with him (Lugosi and Olmand also seems to enjoy scaring him). Lee is different. He simply don't care about people, he feels superior and treat them just as "food" and something to dominate (the simple fact that Harker take his time to bring his coat and suitcase instead to immediatly obey seems to surprise and annoyng him. In the first to movies he basically never interacts with other characters, and, then, he do it mainly just to give them orders). So, this introduction, and his fast and indifferent talk, is very coherent with his characters (although less climatic and powerfull)
For me, Bela Lugosi, Christopher Lee, Gary Oldman and Max Warren were the best ones for various reasons: Christopher Lee in both his portrayals was charming, and aristocratic, with a cold, lethal fury that is fascinating yet frightening. Bela Lugosi for being eccentric, charming, playful and sinister at the same time. Gary Oldman for being eccentric, wry and creepy. Max Warren for being downright creepy. I would have taken off running with the last two because of their creepy greetings, but Christopher Lee and Bela Lugosi compel you to stay because despite the silent, cold aura of menace they give off, one can't help but feel drawn in.
I would only stay the night within any of they're portrayals of the count to stay away from the dark Translavanian forests. Even if it meant I'd risk never leaving again. Rather not be slaughtered by a pack of wolves.
Lugosi was Dracula. The authentic, eastern European accent, and his expressions. For me no one can top his performance, he was the living embodiment of Count Dracula !! Christopher Lee was wooden, and too too English. Klaus Kinski was totally bizarre and flesh creepingly good, as was Max Schreck. Gary Oldman was ott and looked like Quentin Crisp. All image over content.
when harker/renfield first meets dracula especially in the 1st one with lee and that music, i was thinking of when the leader of austria went to berlin to meet hitler
In no particular order, Lugosi, Palance and Jordan were my favorites. Gary Oldman used a great accent (the way he said Drakul-a) but I don't like the makeup they used. Marc Warren also said "Drakul", he gets points for that. Lee sounded too British for Dracula, and the others were foreign films so apples to oranges.
I think the only Dracula to not have this sequence of Count meeting Harker would be Frank Langella in 1979 Dracula.. movie began with the Count arriving on the Demeter.
Very nice compilation! The spanish version of Universal could be added for comparson with the Lugosi Version (and I don´t think, that the spanish version is the superior one). I also would add the Patrick Bergin Version, because particular this scene is very different („Count is so old-fashioned, let me say Mister or Vladislav if you like!“).
I love Louis Jordans interpretation, glad to see others do too. But I also love how Lee is suddenly ' there' hinting at his power then suddenly matter of fact and ordinary..very creepy
Huge differences! I think Max Schreck was the most scary one, with Kinski being a good try imitating it. Both Lugosi and Lee were more like the gentlemand counts that wore tuxedos. I like both. Lugosi feels more authentic, but Lee in the Hammer movies was the most impressive. Palance and Jordan ere quite good, but relied heavy on the legacy of the 2 previous ones. Oldman? well, I did not like him at the start of the movie, but during the watching, he grew on to me. He is the most bombastic one, but he does charm with his own mix of both the evil and the more romantic, tragic side of the character. Warren? he has talent but not really for this rol. The monster of Frankenstein would had been a role much much more suited for him ;)
Nosferatu is a silent classic, and Max Schreck is phenomenally creepy. Bela Lugosi is really quite good, and though he physically doesn't match the character of the novel, he comes very close to embodying him, a Dracula who is actually quite lively and passionate. The Hammer films are great B movies, but Christopher Lee is given so little to do in them, they don't have much of Dracula as a character, just a bogeyman. Jack Palance pulls off a great performance, as he's a great actor, but it's in one of Dan Curtis's lesser films, his Dracula is not a very good movie. I'd say Louis Jordain is the best version of the novel, and one of the best Draculas too, he hits each line nicely but he doesn't chew them. Herzog's Nosferatu is a magnificent film, with a great interpretation of a vampire character, but Kinski hardly resembles Dracula from the novel, as great as he is in the part. Coppola's Dracula is a beautiful, painterly, dreamlike mess, it swings from bad to glorious literally from shot to shot. Oldman is game for the script, but it's often sympathetic portrayal of Dracula resembles I, Strahd far more than Bram Stoker's Dracula. No clue what the Marc Warren version is from, but from viewing the single scene it is a very interesting take on the character. Dracula appears to have very little ability to converse with human beings, totally withdrawn inside himself, as a being would become after centuries alone hunting the only people it can talk to. Again though, the Dracula of the novel is highly conversant, right off the bat, so it's a very divergent choice.
How many saw Jack Palance as Dracula? I'm a great fan of Lee and Lugosi (and others,) but Jack may well have been the best. Also did a fantastic Jekyll & Hyde.
No one can top Lugosi for creepiness. But the Dracula of my heart is, was and always will be Louis Jourdan. I saw that when it was played in the US in 1977 and it was stunning on several levels. Since then it's been slavishly copied by every version since. But Jourdan's believably aristocratic air, his intelligence (Dracula was a genius in the book) and his charisma just commend him to me totally. They're all great...well not the Oldman version...but all the others were great.
That one is my favourite as well. I always thought a nice touch was that Harker's trunk is heavy enough that he has to drag it...Yet Dracula picks it up like it weighed nothing.
I agree Louis Jordan's performance was for me the most authentic interpretation of the genius, aristocratic, regal Dracula. Lee's Dracula in the 1970 film directed by Jesus Franco was probably the most authentic in terms of appearance, with his grey moustache... Oldman was ridiculous with his double bun haircut... wtf was that..
