Dracula on Blu-ray & DVD (1958)

Dracula details

Formats:	15 DVD, Blu-ray
Starring:	Peter Cushing, Robert Urquhart, Hazel Court, Michael Gough, Melissa Stribling, Yvonne Furneaux, Felix Aylmer, Christopher Lee
Director:	Terence Fisher
Genre:	Horror - General
Studio:	ELEVATION SALES

Name	Discs
Dracula	15 Feature
Dracula - Bonus Features	15 Bonus

DVD Information

Run time:	1 hour 19 minutes
Rental release:	18 Mar 2013
Main languages:	English

Name	Discs
Dracula	15 Feature

Blu-ray Information

Run time:	1 hour 19 minutes
Rental release:	18 Mar 2013
Main languages:	English

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Most helpful review Dracula

Hammer at its best......a great British institution of the 50s/60s

By roncoach (365 reviews) from suffolk , 24 Oct 2011

[Highly rated reviewer]

I cannot imagine British Cinema in the 50s and 60s without Ealing Comedies, 'Carry On' films and......Hammer Horror.

This early Hammer sets a yardstick for the studio which is never quite reached again, though it has many very good three and a half star films in its catalogue.

This first pairing of Lee/Cushing ( exactly the right pairing) makes this much-filmed Bram Stoker novel ( and indeed all vampire films of all eras and types, some recent ones pretty dire) my particular favourite of the story.

A host of sequels followed, with Lee/Cushing reprising their roles for Hammer but , except for singling out 'Dracula,Prince Of Darkness', I don't think any of them reached the heights of this original.

Hammer went on to make many types of horror, but are still remembered fondly for the Dracula series. And quite rightly.

These British Dracula films, and indeed all of Hammer's Horror films, make the American's attempts at Universal with Bela Lugosi look pretty poor stuff. Not very often we beat Hollywood -------but Hammer and Ealing certainly put Britain at the top of the heap in the 1950s/60s. We have to go back a long way , to Gainsborough Pictures and its contemporaries to match the best of British.

It's pretty silly now I suppose to imagine that this film had an 'X' certificate in 1958.....but it scared a young me LOL.

I really like this film, and all Hammer's work ( until it sadly degenerated like 'Carry On's' did by the mid-70s). So go back and remember those great sets of dark castles in Transylvania and wonder what Christopher Lee was really doing behind that famous spread cloak .

Fangs for the memories :))))
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dont watch alone

By a customer , 23 Apr 2013

dracula 1958 and dracula prince of darkness,are the two best films of the dracula(hammer)series. although done on a limited budget,the gothic scenery and a great cast,make the film well worth a watch. made over 50 years ago,it still stands the test of time
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Hammer at its best......a great British institution of the 50s/60s

By roncoach (365 reviews) from suffolk , 24 Oct 2011

[Highly rated reviewer]

I cannot imagine British Cinema in the 50s and 60s without Ealing Comedies, 'Carry On' films and......Hammer Horror.

This early Hammer sets a yardstick for the studio which is never quite reached again, though it has many very good three and a half star films in its catalogue.

This first pairing of Lee/Cushing ( exactly the right pairing) makes this much-filmed Bram Stoker novel ( and indeed all vampire films of all eras and types, some recent ones pretty dire) my particular favourite of the story.

A host of sequels followed, with Lee/Cushing reprising their roles for Hammer but , except for singling out 'Dracula,Prince Of Darkness', I don't think any of them reached the heights of this original.

Hammer went on to make many types of horror, but are still remembered fondly for the Dracula series. And quite rightly.

These British Dracula films, and indeed all of Hammer's Horror films, make the American's attempts at Universal with Bela Lugosi look pretty poor stuff. Not very often we beat Hollywood -------but Hammer and Ealing certainly put Britain at the top of the heap in the 1950s/60s. We have to go back a long way , to Gainsborough Pictures and its contemporaries to match the best of British.

It's pretty silly now I suppose to imagine that this film had an 'X' certificate in 1958.....but it scared a young me LOL.

I really like this film, and all Hammer's work ( until it sadly degenerated like 'Carry On's' did by the mid-70s). So go back and remember those great sets of dark castles in Transylvania and wonder what Christopher Lee was really doing behind that famous spread cloak .

Fangs for the memories :))))
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Arise Sir Dracula....its long overdue.

By Devilridesout (55 reviews) from West Molesey. England , 13 Jun 2009

If you read my review on Hammers Devil Rides Out....then you'll know I am a long standing Christopher Lee fan....I as a kid growing up thru the 60's and 70's adored all Hammer Horror films, not only because they were stylish, atmospheric and real class A movies,but because you have the likes of Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing giving you the acting of their lives.

And now today 13/06/09 we have at last recognition for one of horrors greatest ever, Sir Christopher Lee, 87 years old and still acting. In my opinion, one of the most long overdue knighthoods that should have been given at least 20 yrs ago and I may say that his arch rival in many horror films Peter Cushing deserved a knighthood as well,even though its way too late for Peter Cushing, it would recognise the fact that Hammer horror films and the actors that played those most pivotal roles, was a very special era for us that grew up with Hammer.

So congratulations to Sir Christopher Lee, it is richly deserved...:-)..Sorry this is not really a review about Dracula...but give me time and I will.
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can`t believe some of these reviews!

By stuntmanbob (51 reviews) from diss , 24 Mar 2008

THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS Show review anywayHide

Reading some of these reviews it`s obvvious that some people don`t know anything about the history of Hammer films or the context with witch they were made. They were, especially the earlier ones, made on a shoestring budget and to save money they were made back to back using the same sets. Which is why you might recognise the Dracula set with the Frankenstein set. But what the Hammer films lacked in production values they more than made up for in plot and atmosphere. They also cast young directors who were keen to make a name for themselves and pushed back the boundaries of the horror genre.

Cristopher Lee`s Dracula was the first count to introduce romance/sex into the roll and this struck a chord with many a bored housewife. Also, although set in the 19th century, the films had a contemporary feel to them, which made the films even scarier because it took out the fantasist element and laid the horror at your door. Of course once Hollywood cottened on it spelled the death knell for Hammer. There was no way they could compete with lavish productions such as 'the exorcist.' However to be fair to Hollywood they do acknowledge the importance of Hammer. Tim Burton for example cast Cristopher Lee in his 'Sleepy Hollow' movie as a tribute to the British Horror studios. So please don`t dismiss these films so readily. If it weren`t for the likes of this film you wouldn`t have had a 'Friday 13th' or a 'Nightmare on Elm Street' or any other big Hollywood bloodbath.
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One of The Guardian's 1000 Films to See Before You Die

By Halliwelll (13 reviews) from Harlow , 17 Jul 2007

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One of The Guardian's '1000 Films to See Before You Die' - Fisher's DRACULA, Widely regarded as the feature that revolutionised the British Gothic horror genre and established Hammer's blood-curdling reputation, this first full colour reworking of Bram Stoker's novel, is legendary among horror fans for introducing Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing on screen for the first time.

Although he inherited the swirling cape from Bela Lugosi (The American release was retitled THE HORROR OF DRACULA to avoid confusion with the 1931 black and white classic), Christopher Lee's inspired blend of aristocratic charm and animal magnetism (not to mention those blood-red contact lenses) made the role all his own. He still holds the record for the most film performances of the Count.

An energetic and intense experience, from the blood-drenched title credits, through an astonishingly zealous piece of improvisation by Peter Cushing, as Dr Van Helsing breaks free from the Count and desperately runs the length of the table in the Great Hall, before leaping to tear down the curtains and reach for that makeshift candlestick crucifix. The much-emulated climactic disintegration scene, seen here in its entirety for the first time, influenced the ending of GREMLINS and the disintegration of Voldemort in the first Harry Potter film.

With an interesting cameo from Michael Gough (Alfred in the Batman films playing Holmwood), lavish cinematography and James Bernard's frenetic musical score, this is a treat for horror fans and the cineaste.
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