It saved Universal Studios from bankruptcy in 1958. It was Sammy Davis, Jr’s 10^th favorite movie. It propelled Peter Cushing & Christopher Lee into international stardom. It killed off the ‘lead character’ in 23 minutes two years before killing off Janet Leigh in Psycho.

It spawned six sequels. England’s Hammer Film’s Horror of Dracula in blazing color with a spectacular three-note music motif.

The first act plays like a perfect mini-horror-feature. The character of Jonathan Harker comes to Dracula’s castle, not for business, as in the book, but to “end Dracula’s reign of terror.” A brilliant idea from the screenwriter to ramp up the suspense.

 The 2^nd act introduces Cushing as Van Helsing and speeds off to conclude at the 81 minute mark with an action-packed, final confrontation between good and evil.

The color photography and performances are all first rate with Dracula’s performance vacillating between charming, sexy and animalistic.

Lee said, “I wanted to emphasize Dracula’s ‘loneliness of evil’ and high-speed action.”

Lee also said:

“Peter Cushing and I went to the premier in New York as we promised we would. There was a lot of rowdy people that night. When the movie came on, people were chatting and laughing during the titles and opening minutes. I told Peter, ‘We’ve got to get out of here.’

Peter said, ‘We can’t leave. We promised to stay through the screening.’ Then, at the seven-minute point, when Dracula first comes on the screen, walks into close-up and says,'I am Dracula and I welcome you to my house', the crowd hushed and remained quiet and attentive for the rest of the movie.”

During the length of the movie, Lee is on the screen for only seven minutes total, giving only 16 lines of dialogue, yet his presence is felt throughout the entire story.

In America, the film reviewers were revolted and outraged because of the bloody stake-driving and erotic blood-sucking, but the theaters showing the movie had lines around the block.

Much more can be said of the movie’s images, eroticism, action, music & drama, but suffice to say that it still holds its power today. It can be seen on Amazon for $2.99 via the link below.