“Horror of Dracula” (1958) starring Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee / Z-View

Horror of Dracula aka Dracula (1958)

Director: Terence Fisher

Screenplay: Jimmy Sangster based on DRACULA by Bram Stoker

Stars: Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, Michael Gough, Valerie Gaunt.

Tagline:  Important Note!! Don’t Confuse This Picture With the Other DRACULA Movies! This is the NEWEST and BEST One and the ONLY ONE in TECHNICOLOR!

The Plot…

Doctor Van Helsing (Cushing) is shocked to discover his friend Jonathan Harker has been turned into one of Dracula’s (Lee) vampire slaves.  Van Helsing realizes it is up to him to end Dracula’s reign of terror.

What chance has one man against Dracula?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Christopher Lee as Dracula has only 16 lines of dialogue in the entire film.  And they are all within the first ten minutes.

The title was changed to the Horror of Dracula for its U.S. release.  This was to avoid confusion since the original 1931 Bela Lugosi film was still available for theater showings.

When I first saw Christopher Lee as Dracula, I wasn’t a fan.  I was too sold on Lugosi as the Count.  Over the years I’ve grown to appreciate Lee’s take on the king of vampires and the movies that feature him.

Horror of Dracula aka Dracula (1958) rates 4 of 5 stars.