User reviews

"El Conde Dracula" is Spanish director Jess Franco's faithful yet flawed take on the Bram Stoker novel, with Christopher Lee taking a break from his British Hammer series to play the infamous vampire. Lee had high hopes for the film because Franco intended to adhere closely to the book. I think there are things to admire about this version, beginning with Lee's accurate portrayal of an old Dracula who grows steadily younger as he drinks more blood. Many of the Gothic locations are impressive as well, and it's a plus to have Klaus Kinski as Renfield and Herbert Lom as Van Helsing. The problem is that this movie, much like the 1931 Lugosi film, starts out very well and has its best moments in the beginning (say the first half hour) before growing tedious. It's a shame too, because this could have turned out to be the most faithful Dracula adaptation ever done, had Franco tried a little harder. His overbearing need to zoom in to characters' faces becomes so repetitious that you begin to anticipate it after awhile, along with the same ongoing musical cues. It also has a disappointing climax.

It's certainly a Dracula movie worth seeing for fans of the genre, but it is hypnotically draggy at times (then again, so was the book!). It should be mentioned that the print used for the newly released Dark Sky DVD is missing a really effective sequence where a crying woman outside Dracula's castle pleads desperately for the Count to return her little baby to her. **1/2 out of ****

This isn't a great movie, but probably the single most faithful screen adaptation of Bram Stoker's great story I've ever seen. It doesn't embellish or introduce a whole bunch of characters. It keeps the idea of Dracula being in an old man when we first meet him in Romania and getting younger as he drinks blood. I remember seeing it not too long after I had finished reading the book (the excellent annotated Dracula by Leonard Wolf (no relation)) and was hooked from start to finish. This is kind of an art house Dracula, faithful to story and spirit, short on special effect and expensive lighting. Kind of like Passolini's Gospel According to Matthew.

Everyone looking for the usual Jess Franco sex horror will be , and has been, let down by this movie. I myself have been kind of meh about it over the years. But a recent late night rewatch put it in a new light. Sure it's slow and a bit static but Franco captures a sense of dread that most Dracula movies can't manage. No wonder Lee said this was his favorite portrayal of the count. Plus that Nicolai music is incredible. Not perfect but it has something strong going for it.

A really good Dracula adaptation indeed! I liked it even better than Francis Ford Coppola´s multi million Dollar version of Bram Stroker´s classic novel! Unimaginable what Franco had done if he would have had a higher budget... However, it doesn´t seem to need much money to create a gothic atmosphere, which is so creepy that you can feel a cold breeze in your neck. Once more horror legend Christoper Lee is giving the demonic vampire lord and he´s as perfect as usual in the role, but the most impressive part has Herbert Lom as Dr. Van Helsing, what even makes Hollywood superstar Sir Anthony Hopkins looking like an old fogey! But Franco, who directed such mini classics like "Vampyros Lesbos" as well as awful turkeys, wouldn´t be the same of there wasn´t a bundled load of camp: Especially, I liked the plastic bats where you can clearly see the strings they were fixed on. Another problem is the part of acting genius Klaus Kinski: it´s a total riddle to me why Franco hadn´t stretched his brilliance more, because Kinski´s sitting the whole time in a rubber room, eats flys and has no text to say... A real waste of talent!! Nevertheless an underrated horror gem!! Really worth to be seen, even if you hate Franco..!

Christopher Lee returns to his most famous role, this time portraying the count getting younger every time that he takes a bite. A little bit jarring in this movie is the presence of Herbert "Commissioner Dreyfus" Lom as Prof. Van Helsing. To add to that, Klaus Kinski plays Renfield a few years before he himself would play the count in Werner Herzog's "Nosferatu". But overall, "Count Dracula" is a pretty cool movie. Dracula fans should enjoy it. I have to admit that I don't know any other of Jess Franco's movies, but if this is any indication, they should be pretty neat.

All in all, the count bids you welcome...

Dream cast here - Christopher Lee, Klaus Kinski, Herbert Lom and the beautiful Soledad Miranda, produced by Harry Alan Towers and directed by Jess Franco. I've read the novel and although in some ways this version is more authentic (e.g. Dracula being grey and moustached, his hair colour darkens and he appears to get younger throughout as a result of his blood drinking) there is no Whitby, England, a key part of the story. Lee probably has more dialogue here than in all his Hammer Dracula movies combined, and he appears to be relishing it. Kinski looks fantastic as the crazed Renfield but sadly delivers no lines. Lom is adequate as Van Helsing but he's no Peter Cushing. The sets are good, the film atmospheric. There are a few blatant day for night scenes, not unusual in horror movies, and there are a couple of comical boulders that move with barely any effort. As a Franco movie it's very tame, not much blood and zero nudity. I liked it. It's never going to be up there with the Universal or Hammer classics but still a worthwhile view for Dracula, Lee or Franco fans.

This is yet another telling of the traditional Dracula tale from Bram Stoker. While on the DVD extra interview with director Jess Franco it's obvious he made such a faithful adaptation of the story, I was still left feeling very cold by the film. That's because I had a strong notion of "been there...done that" as I watched the movie. Considering that roughly the same story was told with the Bela Lugosi Dracula and "countless" (get it?) others, I was completely bored by this movie. Had I never seen these other Dracula films, then I probably would have enjoyed it much more. But considering Lugosi, Christopher Lee (innumerable times), Frank Langella, Gary Oldman, Max Shrek and even Louis Jordan have all played the same role, the film just never peaked my interest. Overall, the production is competent but rather low energy and offering nothing particularly interesting or new. The ambiance is only okay and the best aspect of the movie is probably the better than usual treatment for the Renfield character--this time exceptionally well played by Klaus Kinski. Kinski had no trouble playing a crazy person (perhaps because it wasn't much of a stretch) and it's interesting to note that at the end of the decade, Kinski would star as the monster in the remake of NOSFERATU. Otherwise, the film was a competently made drag.

By the way, if you do watch this film, pay close attention to the ending. The way they supposedly kill Dracula is truly unique and shouldn't have hurt him at all based on what they said in all the previous vampire movies--and this results in a very, very anti-climactic conclusion.

Jess Franco's version of the Bram Stoker classic has Count Dracula (Christopher Lee) as an old man who grows younger whenever he dines on the blood of young maidens.

I recently watched the Dan Curtis version of Dracula and found that to be a very faithful adaptation, possibly the best up to that point (being later eclipsed by Francis Ford Coppola). But there is something to be said about this one, too. While some aspects are played down -- the boat ride from Transylvania to London is never shown -- others are played up. Curtis did not much focus on Renfield, while Franco makes him (played expertly by Klaus Kinski) front and center, even having him eat insects.

Some of what is shown is cheesy, especially the bat outside the window -- clearly a rubber bat on a string ,as it never flaps its wings. I love that although the effect is terrible, they use it probably ten times. And why not? When you have this level of talent (Lee, Kinski, Herbert Lom) and such beautiful sets, who needs effects?

Yes, it is trashy and cheesy and rather low budget, but it got Christopher Lee, Klaus Kinski, Maria Rohm, Herbert Lom and the most beautiful Soledad Miranda! If you like to surf on the top of the wave of pure cheese, this one will get you scream in joy. Recommended for the aficionado of the good bad stuff. Maybe not advisable for the melancholic and sensitive goth girl in your heart, but rather for the gorehound who needs some rest ;)

This film has many flaws and gaffs but that makes it all the more interesting! "Count Dracula" has a superior atmosphere and direction by Jess Franco. Christopher Lee gives an excellent performance as Dracula and Klaus Kinski is fantastic as the insane Renfield! This film is forgotten by today's film history and most people pass it as being a cheap, beyond low-budget horror film, but I see it through a different light.

Herbert Lom makes Dr. Van-Helsing so interesting, you can't stop watching. Another great thing about the film was the dark and gloomy sets such as the Borgo Pass and Castle Dracula.

The score for the film was superb, and it goes right together with the fantastic film.

I hope the people who read this take my word and just watch, "Count Dracula", for what it is. It's a film that shouldn't be forgotton.

I'd been wanting to check out Franco's 'faithful' rendition of Bram Stoker's classic vampire tale ever since I came upon a review of it in two horror-film reference books from the mid-70s written by Alan Frank. When the Dark Sky R1 DVD was announced, I was overjoyed – but this was soon dissipated by reports that their print was missing some footage; I still intended to pick up that edition for the interesting supplements (Franco interview, star Christopher Lee reading excerpts from the novel), but an upcoming German 2-Disc Set is supposed to be complete as well as featuring an Audio Commentary with Franco and co-star Fred Williams! Anyway, having watched the film now – via the Spanish DVD – I don't think the additional footage was fair trade for the lack of an option to include the English-language track (or, at least, English subtitles); while I'm obviously familiar with the storyline, so that I had no difficulty following the proceedings, I missed hearing the Stoker dialogue – not to mention Lee and Herbert Lom's distinctive voices!

Its overall effect is worlds removed from the Hammer outings which starred Lee: these were actually still going on when COUNT Dracula was made, but he had become increasingly disenchanted with their approach. Low-key, deliberately-paced and hampered by severe budgetary constraints (resulting in shoddy effects and a distinct lack of props), the film nevertheless makes the most of its Spanish locations – even if Manuel Merino's shaky camera-work displays an unwarranted propensity for zoom shots (while an attack, ostensibly taking the vampire's POV, then bafflingly reveals Dracula to be coming from a totally different direction!). The soundtrack highlights Bruno Nicolai's typically reliable score (at once evocative and moody), but it's punctuated by weird – and amusing – slurping sounds during the vampire attacks! The Spanish DVD presents the film in its correct full-frame aspect ratio, though the transfer itself lends the whole an unrealistic orange hue (as opposed to the bluish tones, for night-time sequences, which have been mentioned online with respect to the Dark Sky edition).

It has been said that Lee's performance in COUNT Dracula is superior to his various interpretations in the Hammer films: while I certainly appreciated his different approach to the role, he is still given relatively little time in which to work his magic (no pun intended); interestingly, the vampire starts off as an old man here but is gradually rejuvenated through his bloodsucking habits (a concept originating in Stoker and picked up again by Francis Ford Coppola for his BRAM STOKER'S Dracula [1992], another would-be rigorous adaptation). The rest of the main cast is virtually a "Who's Who" of Franco's filmography during this time: Herbert Lom makes for an imposing Van Helsing (due to the language barrier, I didn't understand why he was suddenly wheelchair-bound – but, from the "Eccentric Cinema" review, I gathered that the character had suffered a stroke); Klaus Kinski is a creepy Renfield (able to create a character by saying almost nothing at all – he had already done similar duties for Franco as the Marquis De Sade in the 1968 version of "Justine" and, by the way, it's interesting that the actor would himself eventually play Dracula twice, in NOSFERATU, THE VAMPYRE [1979] and the Italian-made NOSFERATU A VENEZIA [1988]); Maria Rohm as Mina (looking ravishing but who's rather underused throughout); Soledad Miranda as Lucy (she only really comes into her own when turned into a vampire, which actually precedes her iconic turn in Franco's VAMPYROS LESBOS (1970) – itself a very loose adaptation of "Dracula"!); Fred Williams as Harker; Jack Taylor as Quincey; Paul Muller as Dr. Seward; and even Franco himself as Van Helsing's dopey-looking yet vaguely sinister manservant.

For all its shortcomings (it wouldn't be a Franco film if it weren't flawed), COUNT Dracula still provides a fair quota of memorable moments: Dracula silencing the wolves outside his castle; Dracula feeding a baby to his 'brides'; Dracula's attacks on Miranda, twice interrupted by Rohm (whom he eventually gets to, of all places, at an opera house!); Miranda's bloody demise in her coffin; the stuffed animals in Dracula's London home coming to life to scare the vampire hunters; Lom burning a cross-shape on the floor in his clinic to ward off the approaching vampire; blood spurting in Taylor's face from his staking of a vampire woman in Dracula's castle; Dracula's fiery come-uppance (actually similar to Miranda's – not to mention Bela Lugosi in the 1931 Universal classic – in that he's dispatched while at his most vulnerable, i.e. asleep in his coffin).

It's unfortunate that none of the companies who released – or are set to release – the film on DVD seem to hold the rights to CUADECUC, VAMPIR (1970), a documentary shot at the time of COUNT Dracula's production. By the way, I should eventually be following this viewing of the film with several more Francos, including alternate versions of two monster mashes on similar lines (but even more idiosyncratic), namely Dracula – PRISONER OF FRANKENSTEIN (1971) and THE CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN aka THE EROTIC RITES OF FRANKENSTEIN (1972/3).

Despite some relatively poor production values, this film has the requisite quality of "creepiness" that any good Dracula film really should have. Kinski is fine. This is also Christopher Lee's most accurate performance as the Count. Too bad the editing is so jumpy. It's almost like watching a documentary, or an antique silent film (but with sound). If they had just invested a little more money, this could have become "the" authentic film adaptation of the novel. As it stands, it is only for real devotees of the genre.

Although entirely different to Hammer's Dracula films starring Chrisopher Lee, Jess Franco's "Count Dracula" aka. "Nachts, Wenn Dracula Erwacht" of 1970 is a creepy and great film, and in many aspects the most loyal adaption of Bram Stoker's novel. Director Jess Franco must be one of the most prolific directors in the history of cinema (definitely the most prolific I know), and his 180+ movies include big-time stinkers as well as masterpieces. One of his great films, "Count Dracula" is a movie with a very creepy atmosphere, a great, eerie score and an excellent cast, starring Christopher Lee as Dracula, Herbert Lom as Van Helsing and Klaus Kinski as Renfield.

As mentioned above, this movie is probably the most loyal adaption of Bram Stoker's novel, so I don't suppose a further plot description is necessary. I am a huge fan of the Hammer Dracula flicks and the 1958 Dracula is one of my all-time favorite movies. Although this Jess Franco version of the story differs entirely from these great classics of British Horror, this is a highly atmospheric, creepy and original flick that must not be missed by a Horror fan.

Christopher Lee is, as always, brilliant in the role of Dracula. The prince of darkness is wearing a mustache this time, one more aspect in which this movie is loyal to the novel. Herbert Lom is a great actor and fits very well in the role of an elderly Van Helsing, although my personal opinion is that he can't compete with Peter Cushing, who will always be unmatched in the role of Van Helsing he played in the Hammer films. Last but not least, Klaus Kinski delivers a brilliant performance as Renfield. Kinski was predestined to play madmen, and the particular role of Renfield fits this great actor perfectly. The cast furthermore includes Paul Muller (Nightmare Castle), and beautiful Maria Rohm and Soledad Miranda, and the gloominess of the atmosphere is even increased by the great, eerie score composed by Bruno Nicolai. "Count Dracula" has a few cheesy moments too, but all things considered this is another great Dracula flick starring Lee, and definitely one of the best films directed by Jess Franco. Highly recommended!

This movie is far inferior to the Hammer productions, even the girls here cannot compare to the beautiful and sexy Hammer ladies. Perhaps just watch it for the legendary Christopher Lee.

At the time of its release, this Jess Franco film was promoted as being the most faithful adaption of Bram Stoker's 19th century Gothic horror novel Dracula there had hitherto been. I think that may well have been true, as it features a mustachioed Dracula who gets visibly younger as the film progresses, as well as some other never before examined details from the book. However, it was still a very loose adaption in many other ways, with much omitted and even some bizarre inventions (those boulders at the end!). But maybe the biggest issue that hampered it achieving its lofty goal was a lack of budget. The sets are often threadbare and there are cheap props, such as rubber bats and such. But, interestingly, in many ways it is better than the later multi-million dollar Francis Ford Coppola version, which was also promoted as being the most faithful version. This newer film took far huger liberties with the story and characters and it also had a much less effective cast. For my money Franco had better-suited actors in virtually every role in his film, in particular with Christopher Lee in the title role, Klaus Kinski perfect as the insane Renfield, Herbert Lom provided nice gravitas as Van Helsing, the enigmatic beauty Soledad Miranda is wonderful as Lucy and Maria Rohm also very alluring in the role of Mina. Even the fairly unremarkable Fred Williams is still decidedly better than Keanu Reeves in the Jonathan Harker role! It's a very good cast that Franco had to work with.

It does benefit from being shot using genuine Gothic European locations and consequently is quite atmospheric. It's also notable for being one of the decidedly less salacious Franco films from the period. There's no sleaze here and it really does feel like he was going for something a bit classier than he mainly went for. It's not among his best films for be fair – he seemed to do better work when he was working more from a sexploitation direction – yet it's certainly one of his most story-driven and coherent. For Dracula devotees, this is certainly a film to check out, in order to compare and contrast with others. Ultimately, its low budget does scupper its ambitions somewhat, yet it still has enough about it that's interesting and works.

Shot with the cinematographic style of a Lifetime movie-- where everything is perfectly lit with no regard to atmosphere of mood-- the movie is more faithful than any other adaption of Dracula I've seen on film but that's not saying much.

Francis Ford Coppolla's take had more style, but his idea to change Dracula from a villain to a love starved John Lennon never sat right with me.

This version features Christopher Lee-- who has taken many turns up at Bat as the vampire count and this one ranks among his strongest performances.

BUT-- and this is a big but-- that doesn't save this from being a very boring and not the least bit scary take on Bram Stoker's classic vampire film. Someday maybe someone will combine the best elements of all of the previous films and follow the novel's storyline-- but this ain't it.

Interesting that Klaus Kinski is cast as Renfield since he himself would later go on to play Dracula in 1979.

I have the DVD of this Spanish film production from circa '70 with the great Chris Lee and Herbert Lom. Yes, it is online with what Bram Stoker wrote back in the 19th century, yet I have never been overly impressed with Jess Franco's slow and ponderous style of film-making. I am a fan of horror / thriller, so I can deal with and accept the moments of slowness and the various scenes that drag, etc. I heard that Chris Lee was most happy with this production of Dracula. Well, I hope he was paid well to travel to Spain for the film shoot. If it wasn't for his supporting cast of Herbert Lom and Soledad Miranda, I feel this film would've been no better than a stink-bomb. I do not blame the setting or the cast, but rather the lousy direction from Jess Franco. In all reality, Jess Franco is no Terence Fisher. I mean, not even close.

Everybody else just sleepwalks through their roles, while Klaus Kinski eats bugs. Lee is so wooden he's petrified. Lom is great as Dr. Van Halen however.

There's a gorgeous Selena Gomez-lookalike as Lucy and an equally hot chick as Mina to make this film bearable.

Jess Franco's adaptation of Bram Stoker's novel is brilliant. It would take 22 years before Coppola made another version of the story, which is as fantastic as Franco's film.

Christopher Lee is astonishing as Dracula (as usual), while Herbert Lom excels as Van Helsing. The rest of the cast, including Maria Rohm as Mina, Soledad Miranda as Lucy and Klaus Kinski as Renfield, are superb.

The film works well because it relies on atmosphere and mood, rather than resorting to gore every few minutes. That's what you rarely see in a horror film these days, which is a shame, as films that use these techniques frighten more.

Christopher Lee is the greatest Count Dracula of all time, probably more famous than Bela Lugosi or Max Schreck, the bald-headed creature of the night in the silent movie Nosferatu: Eine Symphonie des Grauens, also known as Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror.

A marvellous vampire film!

Jess Franco's version of the Bram Stoker classic has Count Dracula as an old count who grows younger whenever he dines on the blood of gorgeous maidens . Bram Stoker's Count Dracula" (1970) turns out to be an acceptable picture directed by Jesus Franco with a good cast as Christopher Lee , Hebert Lom , Maria Rohm and Klaus Kinski . It is a passable and average-budgeted version with splendid players , functional set design and brilliant costumes . The picture begins in a prologue: "Over 50 years ago, Bram Stoker wrote the greatest of all horror stories. Now, for the first time, we retell exactly as he wrote, one of the first--and still the best--tales of the macabre." A young lawyer named Jonathan Harker (Fred Williams) is assigned to go to a creepy castle in the mists of eastern Europe . Harker is captured and imprisoned by a strange character who is accompanied by his bloodsucker girlfriends (Emma Cohen , Jeannine Mestre) . He really is a vampire who lives on through the ages and gone back life . The undead vampire named Dracula (Christopher Lee) comes to England to seduce Mina (Maria Rhom) and Lucy (Soledad Miranda)and inflict havoc in the foreign land . As it is said that Dracula has extraordinary powers , but these supernatural powers have sinister origins ; and this is the first film in which , like in the novel, Dracula begins as an old man and becomes younger as he feeds. Later on , at a Sanitarium outside London: Harker awakens in bed with Dr John Seward (Paul Muller) at his side . Dracula goes London and starts a reign of seduction and horror, draining the life from Mina's closest friend , Lucy . But Dracula has not counted on young Lords (Fred Williams and Jack Taylor) acquiring the assistance of the Vampire hunter (Herbert Lom) .

European co-production between various countries as Spain | West Germany | Italy | Liechtenstein . This thrilling as well as terrifying film contains horrifying scenes , chills , lots of gore and red tomato was used for the blood . This version of Dracula is closely based on Bram Stoker's 1897 classic novel of the same title . Adequate version about the famous personage with an European all-star cast , poor cinematography by Manuel Merino though would have been necessary a photography similarly to Hammer Films , glamorous gowns and regular production design , including evocative sights on Victorian London , actually shot in Alicante, Barcelona, Cataluña , Estudios Cinematográficos Balcázar, Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Cataluña, Spain and Munich, Bavaria, Germany . Christopher Lee, who plays a splendid Dracula, and Herbert Lom, who plays stunningly Dr. Van Helsing , never saw each other during the filming. They shot all their joint scenes separately . Christopher Lee was reportedly tired of playing Dracula and was convinced to join the cast only after being promised that the film would be a faithful adaptation of Bram Stoker's Dracula novel , the film, however, ultimately made numerous significant changes to the story . Filmmaker Jesús Franco's first choice for the role of Van Helsing was Vincent Price. He was not able to obtain Price due to his exclusive contract with American International Pictures and second choice Dennis Price was forced to withdraw through illness , Franco was able to get his third choice, Herbert Lom, for the role. Although the producer claims that Klaus Kinski was hoodwinked into playing Renfield when producers gave him a script with a fake title, director Jesús Franco says this was not true and he claims that Klaus Kinski ate real flies as Renfield instead of fake ones. Special mention to rousing and powerful musical score composed and conducted by Bruno Nicolai . Interesting script by writers Jesús Franco Erich Kröhnke , Harry Alan Towers as Peter Welbeck, also film producer .

Other films retelling the known legend based as originally conceived on this novel are the following : ¨ Dracula¨ (1974) by Dan Curtis with Jack Palance , Simon Ward ,Nigel Davenport , ¨Bram's Stoker Dracula'with David Suchet as Abraham Van Helsing , Marc Warren as Count Dracula and Sophia Myles as Lucy ; the best results to be Francis Ford Coppola's Dracula with Gary Oldman , Winona Ryder , Gary Elwes , Keanu Reeves and Anthony Hopkins and last version ¨Dracula¨2012 by Dario Argento with Rutger Hauer as Abraham Van Helsing , Asia Argento as Lucy , Unax Ugalde as Johnathan Harker and Thomas Kretschmann as Dracula .

OK, I expect there to be bad reviews as this movie is simply awful.

So I agree with the wooden acting, the terrible effects, and the boredom because I experienced all these lows when I saw it. When I see other commenters using "classic" and "excellent" and "Lee's best Dracula" they have got me scratching my head wondering if we all saw the same film.

First bungle, Dracula's castle looks like they used the home of Imelda Marcos. It wasn't frightening and neither were the night scenes. Second bungle, the music was god awful. It was really depressing and it sounded like Ravi on the sitar.

I thought Lee would have saved it, but even his performance is uninspiring and pathetically tame compared to his Hammer Dracula. The scene of him getting staked at the end looked like some 12 year old shot it. It was like they filmed a rehearsal and used it by mistake. The music that accompanied the scene was totally off base!

So the music is wrong, the acting is bad, the effects are terrible, the sets are cheap (and wrong culture), the only good thing anyone can say about it is it tried to represent Stoker's novel as best as it could be portrayed. This movie depressed me because it was so bad. I expected it to maybe fall a bit short of the Hammer series but it doesn't even come close. A waste of 1 1/2 hours, you will curse yourself for not doing something better with your time. I'd rather watch old reruns of Full House than this again. 1 star out of 10.