Jack Palance

Simon Ward

Nigel Davenport

Fiona Lewis

Murray Brown

Penelope Horner

Pamela Brown

Sarah Douglas

Virginia Wetherell

Barbara Lindley

George Pravda

Hana Maria Pravda

Reg Lye

Fredrick Stone

Roy Spencer

Eddie Powell

John Challis

Nigel Gregory

John Pennington

Martyn Read

Gita Denise

Richard Matheson

Dan Curtis

Kit West

Betty Parry

Jimmy Turrell

Anthony Palk

Tim Hampton

Angela Allen

Brian Owen-Smith

Derek Kavanagh

Stuart Freeman

Jack Davies

Len Crowe

Roy Charman

Kevin O'Driscoll

Robert Singer

Ruth Myers

Richard A. Harris

Bram Stoker

Paul Rabiger

Boaty Boatwright

Trevor Williams

Oswald Morris

Bob Cobert

Bobbie Smith

Drama

Horror

TV Movie

Romance

Dracula

Latglen Ltd.

Dan Curtis Productions

United Kingdom

English

based on novel or book

vampire

reincarnation

romance

gothic horror

gothic

bloodsucker

gothic romance

Nutshell

There was no shortage of vampire movies in the early 1970s, so it's
understandable how this gem became a bit lost in the shuffle. In this
sadly underrated version, Jack Palance's interpretation of the Count is
both powerful and frightening under the skilled direction of Dan Curtis.
A great script from legendary horror / sci-fi veteran Richard Matheson
adds much to the value as well. The film has solid production values
and a standout performance from Nigel Davenport as Van Helsing.

_**Jack Palance with fangs**_

In 1897, creepy Count Dracula in Transylvania (Jack Palance) acquires London property from Jonathan Harker (Murray Brown) whereupon he moves and falls for a woman who looks like his wife from 400 years earlier (Fiona Lewis), facing the opposition of Van Helsing & his sidekick (Nigel Davenport and Simon Ward). Penelope Horner is on hand as Mina. 

"Dracula” (1974) was directed by Dan Curtis and written by Richard Matheson based on Bram Stoker’s novel of Victorian horror. The undead Count is more sympathetic here in comparison to Christopher Lee’s take in the Hammer series, but he’s still very formidable, which is particularly shown in the second half.

While a TV production in America, it was released theatrically overseas and at least had the budget of "Horror of Dracula" (1958). There’s some nice mood from the get-go with shots of canines (wannabe wolves) at a castle in Croatia. I love the Gothic/Victorian décor throughout and Palance makes for a convincing Prince of Darkness. While it doesn’t beat the 1979 version with Frank Langella or Francis Ford Coppola’s 1992 version, it’s still a worthy interpretation of the oft-done tale.  

The movie runs 1 hour, 37 minutes, and was shot at Trakoscan Castle, Croatia, and the Greater London area, England, including Oakley Court, Windsor (Carfax Abbey).

GRADE: B

Dan Curtis' Dracula (1974) - Trailer HD 1080p

Dracula( 1974)

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A review by Nutshell

Written by Nutshell on Tue Mar 03 2020

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