Dan Curtis' Dracula
Just finished watching "Dan Curtis' Dracula" released by Dark Sky Films.
Dan Curtis is perhaps best know for his contribution to vampire and Gothic lore with the introduction of the sympathetic Vampire Barnabas Collins in the daily weekday soap opera "Dark Shadows." So when Dark Shadows ended its five year run back in 1971 it was only natural that Dan Curtis would make made-for-television supernatural horror movies, which were surprisingly highly popular in 1970s despite network censors. On a side note, Curtis would go on to direct the World War Two miniseries "The Winds of War" and "War and Remembrance" in the 1980s.
I believe "Dracula" was Curtis' second foray into supernatural Gothic horror movies for television - the first being "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," which also starred Jack Palance in the title role. It's interesting to note that this movie was released in movie theaters in Europe. Also of historical note, "Dracula" was preempted by President Richard Nixon's on-air announcement that Vice-President Spiro Agnew was resigning. It was immediately rescheduled and was a ratings hit.
Richard Matheson wrote the screenplay and took a different approach to the previous adaptations of Bram Stoker's original Gothic novel.
The Dracula shown here is unusual in that his past existence as a human being, is tied in with the main plot. Adding a touch of realistic humanity to him I've never seen managed in any other version, as well as showing a tinge of the tragedy of immortality in Dracula's loneliness and grief over his dead wife, whom he can never re- join in eternal rest.
Dracula is also menacing in his blunt and straightforward way of confronting those who displease him. His savagery casts an ever present sense of menace throughout the film.
Jack Palance came as close as any actor to date in surpassing the sensual, yet horrifying animalistic depiction of Dracula once portrayed by the late legendary great Christopher Lee.
Strongly Recommended for Palance's performance as Dracula.
Five Stars.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/303287722253...
Dan Curtis is perhaps best know for his contribution to vampire and Gothic lore with the introduction of the sympathetic Vampire Barnabas Collins in the daily weekday soap opera "Dark Shadows." So when Dark Shadows ended its five year run back in 1971 it was only natural that Dan Curtis would make made-for-television supernatural horror movies, which were surprisingly highly popular in 1970s despite network censors. On a side note, Curtis would go on to direct the World War Two miniseries "The Winds of War" and "War and Remembrance" in the 1980s.
I believe "Dracula" was Curtis' second foray into supernatural Gothic horror movies for television - the first being "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," which also starred Jack Palance in the title role. It's interesting to note that this movie was released in movie theaters in Europe. Also of historical note, "Dracula" was preempted by President Richard Nixon's on-air announcement that Vice-President Spiro Agnew was resigning. It was immediately rescheduled and was a ratings hit.
Richard Matheson wrote the screenplay and took a different approach to the previous adaptations of Bram Stoker's original Gothic novel.
The Dracula shown here is unusual in that his past existence as a human being, is tied in with the main plot. Adding a touch of realistic humanity to him I've never seen managed in any other version, as well as showing a tinge of the tragedy of immortality in Dracula's loneliness and grief over his dead wife, whom he can never re- join in eternal rest.
Dracula is also menacing in his blunt and straightforward way of confronting those who displease him. His savagery casts an ever present sense of menace throughout the film.
Jack Palance came as close as any actor to date in surpassing the sensual, yet horrifying animalistic depiction of Dracula once portrayed by the late legendary great Christopher Lee.
Strongly Recommended for Palance's performance as Dracula.
Five Stars.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/303287722253...
No comments have been added yet.
