Horror of Dracula (1958)

Directed by Terence Fisher. Starring Peter Cushing, Michael Gough, John Van Eyssen, Christopher Lee, Melissa Stribling, Carol Marsh, Valerie Gaunt, George Woodbridge, Barbara Archer.

First entry in the Hammer Horror series of Dracula pictures casts Lee as the title vampire and Cushing as his dogged nemesis, Dr. Van Helsing. Hardly resembles the Bram Stoker story (mostly just character names), but still a good Gothic hair-raiser. Lee can be wooden as a stake when the count is playing it straight, but as both a brooding seducer and a fanged monster, he’s a full-bodied maestro of the macabre. Creaky storytelling and some overly theatrical moments (Dracula even sleeps with bright blood still dribbling down his lips) spoil its scare potential, but the extravagant costuming, lavishly gloomy sets, and Eastmancolor gore make it a good addition to the monster’s lengthy legacy. Exciting climax ranks among the best of all Dracula pictures. Ominous score by James Bernard. Simply known as Dracula in Britain.

72/100