WTF Happened to Bram Stoker's Dracula? 

The soundtrack is amazing! One of the greatest of all time. I used to listen to it all the time!

Ya. Whenever you hear some film student dropout say 'The best soundtrack is the one you don't remember' just look at him like he fell out of a well and keep going.

Wojciech Kilar.. Also the costumes were amazing in this. Done by a Japanese costume designer - the armors look nothing like the Romanian ones of the time yet all costumes fit the fairy tale reinterpretation of the story perfectly..

The same guy composed the score to The Ninth Gate, I believe... incredible music!

@@danymalsound He composed music to dozens of Polish films over the decades.

@@RobertIsraelKabakoff You are overly judgmental. The theme of the move is redemption.

That is the line that gets you wet, huh?

Quite cheap actually...and I said exactly the same to the OZ Racing Alloy wheels.

I’m gonna use it when I get a gf lol which will be never if I used it I’m fuckin around I’ll probably get a gf one day

I've used a variation of it on occasion.. women love it.

It is indeed “gloriously weird”...and makes no apologies for it! I think it’s a masterpiece. It’s one of the few films for which I bought a book that explained precisely how it was made. I just had to know every facet of this beautiful, amazing film.

@@scottmoore1614 Same!

You really have to rewatch the movie to appreciate the various visuals. Coppola truly appreciated the old horror movies from the Silent Era as well as British Hammer films and it shows.

Me too the same 😊🤗

Thank you. One excellent result, Dracula seems to have a reality distortion field.

Keanu Reeves performance was chilling

HA!

Meant to be

@GOD of FUCK For sure; see if Pedowood can't fuck these up too much.... Now is the time; the stench of Twilight series no longer lingers....

@BACK2BLACK IDK... remember Queen of the Damned? I'd love to see another quality Rice project.....but.....did I mention Queen of the Damned?

Nosfaratu was creepy for the time .

@BACK2BLACK honestly, I hated the QotD movie. The Queen herself is great. Everything else is a mess imo. I still have the first 5 or so chronicles in hardcover, including a signed Interview anniversary edition. If they do make more films they need to look to Interview for direction. Neil Jordan made it so very good. That film really captures the atmosphere of the novels. Queen has some bad casting, terrible wigs and wardrobe, and just all round terrible direction. That movie made me sad. I knew after that, Rice would avoid films like the plague. I was right on that one.

@@spottheturtle9568 QOTD was the best vampire movie ever.

Slater's doing well these days though, it's good to see his career getting a second wind.

I think this guy doesn't know wtf is he talking about. Depp was already famous because of 21 Jump street and Edward Scissorhands

Slater was the fill in for River Phoenix after he died before filming started on Interview with the Vampire.

Johnny Depp had already been in Nightmare on Elm Street Edward Scissorhands and Cry Baby and right after this What's eating Gilber Grape. Keanu had already been in both Bill and Ted movies, point break, and My own private Idahoa. Definently not nobodies. No idea what you're talking about.

You mean YOU considered them to be that. I've never ever heard anyone else say that.

Wait for the remake 😂

Or early 2000 CGI 😂 man Blade CGI doesn't hold up anymore

@@Jerry4050 but Blade II does !!!!

@indytbird Wtf are you talking about? Bram Stoker's Dracula is great, and it's one of the most accurate adaptations of his book ever made.

They used some cgi if i remember

Ummmmm.....why did your parents let you watch this at 9y/o....or were you raised by wolves?!!?!?

Good practice effects always will. The last good era of Hollywood.

@@pm6771 it's complicated 😂

@@josoffat7649 I'm guessing that wolves might've been an improvement??!!?? ;~)

I saw it at the cinema when I was 20 on two weed cookies. The cgi was so cool. The eyes in the sunset bit and lusting over Sadie frost was all I remembered the next day. Watched it again on DVD years later and it felt like the first time

They did it all with Barnabas Collins in "Night of Dark Shadows" 1971

@@RobertIsraelKabakoff You're right. I read the novel long ago, but it makes no mention of Vlad, or how and why Dracula became undead. Dracula himself is radically different from the one we see in Coppola's film: he does not depend on the night to do his misdeeds, he is simply stronger at night. And his physical appearance is very different: he is an unpleasant being to look at, bald (if I remember him correctly), he wears black and his breath stinks. Instead he has a cultured and interesting conversation that fascinates others, who invite him to the best tables. The vampire closest to what I imagined when reading the novel is Murnau's Nosferatu. Vlad the Impaler is mentioned in Coppola's movie because Stoker was inspired by that character to write the novel, simply. I agree with what you say about Renfield and Van Helsing, they are very interesting characters.

Vlad the Impaler's real name was Vlad III Dracula, also spelled Draculyea, meaning "Son of the Dragon," "the Dragon" being his father Vlad II Dracul. Both were Princes of Wallachia, an area south of Transylvania that is now part of Romania. At the time, Transylvania was actually part of Hungary, and both Vlad and his father were sometimes allies with Hungary against the Ottoman Empire, and sometimes allies with the Ottomans against local rivals. There is some debate about just how much Stoker really knew about the historical Dracula; most scholars seem to think he was only aware of the name and chose it for its meaning of "Son of the Dragon" or also "Son of the Devil." There is an oblique reference to the historical figure in Chapter 3 of the book: "Who was it but one of my own race who as Voivode crossed the Danube and beat the Turk on his own ground? This was a Dracula indeed! Woe was it that his own unworthy brother, when he had fallen, sold his people to the Turk and brought the shame of slavery on them! Was it not this Dracula, indeed, who inspired that other of his race who in a later age again and again brought his forces over the great river into Turkeyland, who, when he was beaten back, came again, and again, though he had to come alone from the bloody field where his troops were being slaughtered, since he knew that he alone could ultimately triumph!" It's not entirely clear which members of the Dracula family the Count is referring to here. Vlad's younger brother Radu did indeed ally with the Turks and usurped the throne from his older brother at one point, but I'm not sure who the "other of his race" from "a later age" is. Stoker's history isn't exact, but there is evidence of familiarity with general contours of Vlad's history.

@@clavicleofcernunnos I just reread that passage a couple days ago and attempted to put this in context with some amateur/poor historical research. My take was similar to yours in that Stoker used the dracula title "(son) of the dragon". I speculate that mostly it was because it sounded badass. But Stoker understood enough of the historical region and personages to write that specific passage describing some real people and events. Stoker doesn't outright claim vlad but geez we can easily see Hart/Coppola being spot on here! As far as the romance/love aspect, we'd have to ask Hart about that since he wrote the screenplay that Coppola used. i found the reincarnation elements a bit interesting even though it wasn't in the book. I think i read somewhere that coppola and ryder (apparently introducing coppola to the screenplay) that there was some hidden meaning of sorts that was to be found in Hart's version. Presumably the romance stuff. I personally think the hidden elements are more or less of the nature of nationalism (foreign element introduced to our safe bubble) and sexual suppression of the roman catholic and victorian age sort. Let's not forget who Stoker was and his primary audience. All in all i think Hart's romance bit was as an interesting plot mechanic for our beloved Dracula but definitely overdone by Coppola in several scenes. If anyone knows of a Hart interview describing his screenplay then please respond here!

Ironically, I only watched this version after having read the book - and I absolutely hated the movie because of how it just shat on the book.

She can’t act if you’re completely honest.

@@pussycats456 neither can Keanu, but he still found his niche.

I used to work in an aesthetics clinic in Primrose Hill. One day, Sadie came up to me in reception and I (not noticing her as a old woman) asked who she was and how I could help her. She glared at me and responded “Sadie, you know?” Arsehole 😂

judy lee Yeah, Dracula was really a sweet guy, just misunderstood.

The backstory in the movie was fabricated. You should read the book. Saying “how he got to be such a monster” tickles me. As if Prince Vlad was really just your average sadistic, bloodthirsty psychopath and really a nice guy once you get to know him. The “backstory” was that he was a sadistic, bloodthirsty psychopath, then he died and became an undead sadistic, bloodthirsty psychopath.

@Lilian Chase does it matter? This movie is a true piece of art, is art all about being true?

@@RobertIsraelKabakoff He's never called Vlad in the book, but a lot of people connect Count Dracula to real life Prince Vlad Dracula because that's who Stoker based him on. Book Dracula is not a sympathetic character; he is sadistic and cruel and feeds babies to his vampire wives. His feeling towards Mina is pure hatred. A real sweetheart.

@@63artemisia63 who cares? Most adaptations are not 100% faithful to the original, and they don't have to be

Touché!

Love this movie other than the title. Older Dracula movies were way closer to the original story while this one is a whole other take, so why not call it Coppola's Dracula? Bram Stoker's Dracula it is not...

@@RayDickulous80 ¹ Lol

Hell yes.

@@charliecane3621 love it too

Sir Anthony: Bogus....

Bill and Ted's Transylvanian Adventure

Like...whoa Count Chocula!

😂🍿

🤘🎸

Johnny Depp would've worked

Keanu is a nice guy but not really a good actor in any movie. Like the guy above me said, Depp would of been a great choice.

Everytime I cringe at Keanu in the film, I like to think Coppola purposefully chose a bad actor to underline how lame the character is in the novel... Or maybe I try to find excuses for the movie just because it's my all times favourite film lol

@@PizzaPartify I disagree and think he comes off and naive which made him perfect for this hole. Just my opinion

@@PizzaPartify Johnny Depp is more popular now a days, then the early 90's. Too bad Dracula came before Tim Burtons Edd wood. I think that film is when Johnny became more popular.

I miss the 1990s alot 2020 sucks badly WTF happened.

me too...maybe 16

The 80s were even BETTER!!!

@@richardclifford003 I wasn't in the 80s only good thing is Scarface Prince and MJ

Yes they were, very good.

hardly....

And still is a masterpiece

Lmao!

🤣

Cop: You are in trouble. Gary: It does not MAHHHH-TAHHH!

So he knows he was wrong.At least he's honest and mature about it abd that's why he's a good guy to be around.

Yeah he was absolutely miscast... the movie would've been better if not for the miscasting. I dont think Winona was a great choice either. And I like both of them otherwise..

@ Unlikelysp... YT LOVES your comment. For this movie - me, too!!!

Yup 🥰

I still prefer Nostferato compared to this sometimes originality is the best.

​@@Thespeedrap Originality? Lol!!! Nosferatu is literally plagiarized from Stoker's "Dracula". What you call "originality" I call "copycats trying to avoid a lawsuit... and failing". Behold originality: theclearancelab.com/nosferatudracula-film-lawsuit/

@zain mudassir I hope you're right but wrong.

She passed? That's a shame.

@@marcuswalters8093 Yes she passed away. January 21, 2012 (age 73) in Tokyo, Japan. Her last movie was Mirror Mirror (2012)

Agreed

Agreed!!

@Vicente Henriquez Thanks for the comment and Yes The Cell is amazing movie. I love the art direction and costumes. The Cell has a very special and unique style. All my best and take care.

EVERYONE !!!! Oh, sh1t, it's not the right one.

Our ways are not your ways...

I imagine he got much of his daily calorie intake just from chewing the scenery.

@Via your taste in movies is dogshit.

Only in the 1st act. You want a real hammy Dracula? Try Richard Roxburgh.

Agreed. That would have been a good project.

A bit too on the nose I think, granted he had a look of Lugosi and maybe that why you think he was a good choice idk, but I don’t think that’s what Coppola was after!

So true! And...nice plug for the wine! 😆

Ryder was fine in the role

Keanu spoiled the whole film for me . And yes Oldman is one of the greatest actors of all time.

Nothing against Winona! To me she's the best Mina ever.

I was ok with Ryder. Keanu didn't really do it for me. But I agree, this movie was amazing

wrong

In one more year Johnny Depp would star in the movie What's Eating Gilbert Grape. If the producers could see into the future they would know Depp was very capable as an actor.

@@jasonbowman9521 Maybe it's a blessing Depp didn't take this role sometimes you can't take everything that's offered to you.

Dude, what are thy sayin?

@@Thespeedrap If Keanu had made a good job; but his performance sticks out like a soar thumb... Depp would have made the film perfect!

@@pdzombie1906 I think Vampire movies are totally overrated now since Twilight came out.Its just gotten corny and weird.

It makes me sick to my ever-loving stomach to think how close we were to Depp portraying Harker...!!! He would've been utterly perfect. Instead, we get "woah" as Harker. I love Reeves in films like The Matrix and John Wick, but my goodness, he nearly ruined Bram Stoker's Dracula. And, no: it's not "easy" to see why the studio picked him (as stated in this video). It's a prime example as to why "suits"---- corporate executives---- shouldn't be directly involved in artistic decisions. Coppola wanted Depp. He insisted. But, the greed mongers only cared about the potentiality of money...aaaaaaand it really paid off didn't it? Oh, yes: the decision has stood the test of time. Lol. It's THE single most criticized element of this entire movie. I absolutely adore this film. But, Reeves remains a sore spot for me. From an artistic perspective; it's particularly arduous to overcome. It's difficult to justify, or make excuses for this film when Reeves was SO horrifically miscast. But, nevertheless, it seems the positives far outweigh the negatives. In light of Reeves laughable performance----this is a testament to just how extraordinary this film is. Now, just imagine how tremendous its legacy would be if Depp we're cast...

Ontologically Stephen amen

From their viewpoint, we had Keanu coming off of Bill and Ted and you had Depp coming off of more artsey films and horror. With pretty much only Bill & Ted to go from, you'd think Reeves had a lot more range and star power than Depp at the time. Just goes to show how wrong you can be.

Marcus Walters I don’t think that’s it. I honestly think they didn’t hire him because he was dating and then engaged to Winona at the time and I’m sure Coppola didn’t want the added stress of having this young couple and all the drama involved. If they get in a fight or worse-break up then that’s a bad and awkward experience all around. And it was a good call (not hiring Keanu over Johnny because he sucked) but Johnny and Winona DID break up and she was a mess. I just hate that he worked around Winona 🙄. He should have fired Winona, hired Depp and casted a different, better actress. Would have made a much better movie.

I was wondering why they threw over Johnny Depp for Keanu Reeves. I guess Keanu was ok but a little bit too stiff or should I say too Victorian for his attitude.

@UCU5wp9B7-cYnmDpCo6QarQQ It's far better than the goofy disco-haired Frank Langella version from 1979, which was the last American remake before this. That version also cut out the entire Transylvanian part of the story (which IMO is the best part of the novel and any movie adaptation better do it justice) and has that ridiculous flying death scene on the boat. Coppola's is a drastic improvement and uniquely artistic version compared to that mess. The sets and practical effects are gorgeous. Some of the costuming choices are great, but some are so over the top they are distracting. Old Dracula's bouffant is one choice I would have urged Coppola to nix. Also give him a mustache like the younger version (and like in the novel, and like Vlad the Impaler). Not least because Harker is supposed to somehow recognize the young mustachioed Dracula as the clean-shaven old corpse with the butt-shaped hair he met in the castle. Vlad's armor should have looked closer to functional armor from the 1400s. The love story angle kind of ruins the horror of the story, but it does give a unique center to this version. Aside from that aspect, the script follows the events and characters of the book more faithfully than any other theatrical version since the Jesus Franco adaptation (which is far worse than Coppola's in production values, acting, and overall fillmmaking competence). Some other casting choices could have been better. But I can't call this "one of the worst" when any of the 70s versions would rank lower, with far less interesting stuff to look at.

So that is the line that gets you, huh?

....ew!

🍷I hear they strain it through his beard... Ahhhhh crass joke, I couldn't help Forgive me👽

I tried watching it to other day and couldn't finish; it's just so not good.

who's bad in godfather and apocalypse now?

My exact thoughts. The only person that comes to mind is James Caan. He's alright, but he doesn't shine as bright as others around him. Apocalypse Now=Perfect

@@kevintesar6748 James Caan was the best.

@@Jutrzen I respect your opinion but I do think it's wrong. Brando, DeValue, and Pacino were the best. Caan was secondary.

@@Molimo95 Sophia Coppola in Godfather 3 lol

Coppola: "They speak "yes" where you're from mf?!" Keanu: "Yes"

Most

@@thestoicwhinger Great name Ted lol

More?

@@PizzaPenguin650 Way more.

I understood that reference

Her acting is just awful....can we at least get her to show her boob? Yes? Alright! Now we’ve got a movie!

Lol. Yeah, it wasn't just Keanu that was bad. Winona wasn't exactly great either. As someone from the UK, the accents were awful! Hilarious, but awful. :D

@@FunZies. I say these things all the time 😃

@@greenkoopa Haha. "Car-farx Abbeh." The poshest of posh people wouldn't even pronounce Carfax Abbey like that. XD

Agree

Near Dark for me.

Favourite movie of all time... perfect

exactly

I don't think this series is saying the movie came out bad, maybe not quite what it could have been, I think it's more behind the scenes drama and things like that. In this case it probably did impact the movie negatively despite still being a great movie, and decisions like Keanu over Depp I think anyone could agree wasn't the best choice. I personally didn't mind Keanu TBH back when I saw the movie, but didn't realize they could have cast Depp either lol, he would have been arguably the most perfect actor and Keanu was okay at best.

I saw it at the theater too here in Toronto. What a trip seeing Keanu after Bill and Ted.

i wrote this piece and i believe i agree with almost everything you've said in the previous threads. you should follow me back if you wish.

@@accharbs - Shucks, I'm not in the T. But I'd _love_ to start gaming again. _Especially,_ during the winter months! Gotta grab updated books, well the DM's guide & Player's manual at least. Still got my dice though & a few extra surprises for campaigns. Would you attempt playing over web cam, you know, with a small group of like minded folks? Future long term goals being playing in person. 😂

@@accharbs - Please, for your safety & privacy, you may want to delete your post meantioning Instagram? I've written it down, along with your handle. 😉

@@Digitalhunny Good call, I deleted it. And of course I'd be down for online. Let me know if you end up setting something up.

Despite the controversy, Winona continued to get good roles through the 1990s, although she was eventually overshadowed by Angelina Jolie in Girl, Interrupted. After seemingly forgotten by Hollywood for about a decade, she returned to prominence because of Stranger Things, I’m happy to write.

I highly doubt it was due to exhaustion. I have a strong feeling a certain white powder was taking over her life and they used exhaustion as the excuse

@@austintrousdale2397 There was big scandal involving her being a massive kleptomaniac back in the late 90's, early 2000's that also hurt her career.

They really should find more actors instead of working the shit out of one.

God forbid she shoplifts also

lol.

Yeah he would have for sure

1,OOO times better. RDJ has a pretty good English accent, not sure how old he was at the time this was made and if he was going through his heroin addiction at the time. So glad he turned it around. Still Depp #1 and RDJ #2

Holy crap I said the same thing.

I don't really agree. I feel like Depp would have been a swing and a miss at that role.

@@Sharkman19D You do? Why's that? He was just getting started in his career and so his approach wouldn't overwhelm the production. He'd turn in a competent and solid performance.

I think the problem was with his very poor (and inconsistent) British accent, rather than how intelligent the character was.

YOUR FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD RU-vidR Harker was not a dimwit in Stoker’s book, boring, yes, but not a dimwit. That was all Keanu. Christian Slater would have been great.

@@63artemisia63 Christian slater was good in interview with a vampire but i don't think his accent would have been any better than Keanu. Lol. Maybe dimwit was the wrong word. Naive sounds better. I think johnny depp would have been the better choice.

YOUR FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD RU-vidR Absolutely. Too bad money peeps can be so short-sighted. You’re right about CS. I must be thinking about someone else. CS not that great in Mr. Robot, serviceable at best.

Not exactly a dimwit but not suited to the life he lived and the job he held, nor the woman he loved. even if it had been Depp, he'd have been overshadowed not only by Oldman, but also Anthony Hopkins, and Tom Waits' Renfield.

It’s a judgment call, not a hard and fast rule. Even Nolan will do things digitally when its called for. Heck, this movie had a morph in the end.

Terry Gilliam is the master of in-camera, practical effects. Either method is great when performed by a competent artist, or awful when not. It often is determined by time and budget.

I agree, it’s why the original Star Wars films have aged so well compared to the new ones.

They were seamlessly added into the film and at times gave it a strange, dreamlike quality. I love it.

Can we talk for a second about Annie Lennox's theme song? It's brilliant. Somehow contemporary and having a 19th century feel to it. Lyrically, it could be in either era. I imagine a singer belting this out in a music hall as the crowd sings along with it. I'd love to hear a version with all the modern instruments swapped out with 19th century ones

A man of culture as well, I see

This is the comment I was looking for.

Yes!!! He was fantastic in True Romance as well...and anything else he's in🤓

@@LuluLaRue Yeti!

What was left of him at least.

@@LuluLaRue I absolutely hate the movie with him, Bruce Willis, Chris Tucker, I can't think of the name of it.

@@giraffesareselfish9563 5th Element? 🤓 his choice of accent was so weird...

It would have been more romantic if he added, "will you marry me, bear my child and let me die in your arms?"

The redhead is the only memory I have from this movie

You got so carried away you almost wrote red dead redemption, lol.

@Gerd Wiesler I got your hentai, right here! :p

But not quite in the same league as Jessica Chastain, or arguably, Julianne Moore....

@@thedys70 julianne moore is fugly

lolll seriously, also i was just waiting for him to go "whoaa"

Blame the suits, not the Dude!

His casting did, yes.

He was awful in many movies but you can't help but like the guy for some reason.

@@tylerdordon99 I'm with you...I love Keanu, whilst likeable and charming, he is not a good actor, although he seems to have gotten better in the last decade

@Ram Attack I think Johnny can deliver his lines better and he proved to be good in films with Gothic settings with Tim Burton. the problem with Keanu is that he struggled with delivering the dialogue.

@Ram Attack I digress. Johnny Depp will fare better than Keanu, he loves his quirky gothic movies like no other.

@Ram Attack I don't really like Johnny but he's way better than Keanu.

I'm sure Coppola's version of Frankenstein would have been a masterpiece but I didn't hate the version we got either.

Who knows he could have done his of the Wolfman, The Mummy, & The Creature From The Black Lagoon.

in my head he totally said, 'dude!' at the end XD

@@oldfrend considering his best friend was one of the Lost Boys, he wayyyyyyyyy needs to decide where his loyalty lies....

Mine is, "How can you pity such a creature?"

Bloody blue inferno!

Funnily enough if it wasn’t for one of these two young American actor, this film would have probably never reached the screen.

@@spaceodds1985 I am sure Gary Oldman and Anthony Hopkins put the bums on seats

@@spaceodds1985 I know.

Than meet me

I did, opening night! We went again 3 weeks later, we loved the FX & costumes so much.

Actually, even further back, to a production with Jack Palance as Dracula.

@@DanieleMulas-up7np That's right!

thank you.