When I first saw this in 1979, I was a 12 year old and, even though I didn't know it at the time, I began a love affair with Frank Langella.
His charisma is the saving grace of "Dracula." It doesn't stick to the book. Some elements are retained, but characters are cut out or switched around (Van Helsing is Mina's father, Lucy's father is Dr. Seward, Arthur and Quincey are gone, but Jonathan is as boring as ever.). You can see why women would damn their souls to be with Dracula (Jonathan is so stiff, that he could be part of a new stadium bench!), because Dracula is SOOOOOOO SEXY!
It's too bad that he doesn't have more scenes, because some of the film becomes a mess once Van Helsing (Laurence Olivier, who is so hammy, he could open a Deli!)comes into the picture. Some of the film falls flat and there's some errors (The reflection thing: Why is it that they can't be seen in a mirror, yet can be seen in a pool of water?)And what's with Dr. Seward? He pretty much spends the film eating!
Years later, the film still has me giggling like a schoolgirl whenever Frank Langella appears!
His charisma is the saving grace of "Dracula." It doesn't stick to the book. Some elements are retained, but characters are cut out or switched around (Van Helsing is Mina's father, Lucy's father is Dr. Seward, Arthur and Quincey are gone, but Jonathan is as boring as ever.). You can see why women would damn their souls to be with Dracula (Jonathan is so stiff, that he could be part of a new stadium bench!), because Dracula is SOOOOOOO SEXY!
It's too bad that he doesn't have more scenes, because some of the film becomes a mess once Van Helsing (Laurence Olivier, who is so hammy, he could open a Deli!)comes into the picture. Some of the film falls flat and there's some errors (The reflection thing: Why is it that they can't be seen in a mirror, yet can be seen in a pool of water?)And what's with Dr. Seward? He pretty much spends the film eating!
Years later, the film still has me giggling like a schoolgirl whenever Frank Langella appears!