Dracula (1979)
Average Rating: 6/10
Reviews Counted: 12
Fresh: 7 | Rotten: 5
No consensus yet.
Release Date: Jul 20, 1979 Wide
liked it
Average Rating: 3.1/5
User Ratings: 9,525
My Rating
Movie Info
In the late '70s, Frank Langella starred in the hit Broadway play Dracula, written by Hamilton Deane and John L. Balderston. Langella's charisma and the surreal, black-and-white sets designed by cartoonist Edward Gorey were the chief outstanding features of the play, which was otherwise undistinguished. While this film production of the play boasts performances by stage veterans Lord Laurence Olivier and Donald Pleasance, as well as Frank Langella as the suavest of counts, it was neither a
Jul 20, 1979 Wide
Oct 10, 2000
Universal Studios
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Cast
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Frank Langella
Count Dracula -
Laurence Olivier
Abraham Van Helsing -
Donald Pleasence
Jack Seward -
Kate Nelligan
Lucy Seward -
Trevor Eve
Jonathan Harker -
Jan Francis
Mina Van Helsing -
Janine Duvitski
Annie -
Teddy Turner
Swales -
Joe Belcher
Tom Hindley -
Anthony Haygarth
Renfield -
Kristine Howatih
Mrs. Galloway -
Sylvester McCoy
Walter -
Gabor Vernon
Captain of Demeter -
Peter Wallis
Priest -
Frank Henson
Demeter Sailor -
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All Critics (15) | Top Critics (3) | Fresh (7) | Rotten (5) | DVD (1)
Several horror scenes, notably those not involving Dracula himself, are genuinely creepy.
This is sort of a Saturday Night Fever version of the story with a stylish, afro'ed Langella walking around with an open shirt looking for girls to take to his Castle Disco.
Granted, it's staged and composed like Masterpiece Theatre.
The casting is right on target and the atmosphere fittingly eerie in director John Badham's suspenseful, handsomely-mounted 1979 version.
Nice production values, but that's about it
Just doesn't fly.
Audience Reviews for Dracula
Super Reviewer
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- Count Dracula: Forgive me, Doctor. I hate mirrors, They reflect man's vanity.
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- Count Dracula: Listen to them, the children of the night. What sad music they make.
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- Count Dracula: You needn't shout, Mr. Harker. You frightened me.
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- Renfield: Nice and fat and juicy.
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- Count Dracula: I don't drink wine.
Discussion Forum
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Latest News on Dracula
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Foreign Titles
- Dracula (1979) (DE)
- Dracula (1979) (UK)
It's easy to admit that this version of DRACULA is seemingly less popular and less remembered than the same-titled 1992 film or even DRACULA 2000; but this one deserves the praise it does not get.
Though I'd have to say that without the performance from Laurence Olivier, this would have just been a bloody mess. Instead, it's rather well-acted, well-directed. (Maybe it wasn't just Olivier.)
Well, to sum it up, DRACULA was enjoyable. Rent it--but remember: 1979, not 1992. 1979, not 1992. And not 2000. 'Nuff said, for sure.