Donald Pleasence, Frank Langella, Jan Francis

Chalk this one up as something that seemed like a good idea at the time. Frank Langella had just taken Broadway by storm in a revival of the play based on Bram Stoker's classic vampire novel. He was t...( read more  read more... )all, elegant, and almost painfully romantic--all qualities that failed to translate to this garish, tarted-up film version. The story remains the same, if told in greater length than in Bela Lugosi's version. The film even offered Laurence Olivier as vampire-hunter Van Helsing (in one of several roles he played during the period that required a middle-European accent) and a young Kate Nelligan as the woman whose love (and blood) Dracula most wants. But director John Badham, working from W.D. Richter's clunky script, makes a hash of most of it, relying on special effects to do the heavy lifting. --Marshall Fine

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53% liked it

8,292 ratings

R, 109 min.

Directed by: John Badham

Release Date: July 20, 1979

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DVD Release Date: October 10, 2000

Stats: 285 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (285)


  • August 20, 2007
    The marketing was good, but it's so terribly dated now.
  • May 29, 2007
    Rather unfairly slated by critics, I actually think this is one of the better tellings of the count's story. Sticking quite closely to the literary source, and with a strong supporting cast of thesps it's much better than Coppolla's irritatingly self absorbed vanity project.
  • November 16, 2006
    Rather smokin' adaptation. This time round, The Count is played by Frank Langella, who not only tackles the material with aplomb, but looks considerably younger than Lugosi or Lee, altering his sense of threat somewhat, giving it an uncanny... boyishness. As future adaptations we...( read more)re to explore, the sense of sexual threat is heightened here, giving the film a claustophic horror. This is aided by some marvellous sweeping camera work (cinematographer Gilbert Taylor worked on The Omen and frequently with Roman Polanski). The supporting parts are finely played too (Renfield is played to a T). Will always be in the shadows of Hammer and Browning's version, but definately worth a look.
  • October 3, 2006
    Langella's performance is often maligned but, at the very least, he's doing something completely different than Lugosi and Lee. Worth seeing just for that (and an appropriate, creepy atmosphere.)
  • November 21, 2009
    well umn just seen this movie 4 the 1st time n think that this is a good movie 2 watch,......its got a good cast of actors/actressess throughout this movie....i think that donald pleasence, frank langella, jan francis, kate nelligan, laurence olivier play good roles/parts through...( read more)out this movie....i think that the director of this horror/classics movie had done a good job of directing this movie because you never know what 2 expect thorughout this movie.....i think that this is a good movie 2 watch.....its a really freaky movie 2 watch its got a good cast i think that frank langella is great as dracula, laurence olivier is good as van helsing, donald pleasence is amazing as dr, jack seward.....i think that this is a good movie 2 watch n its enjoyable movie
  • October 12, 2009
    My FAVORITE Dracula film! Langella was quite the looker in his younger days, and hasl always been a magnificent actor! The cinematography and special effects are pretty darn good for that era. Frank has got the hypno-stare down pat!!!! Renfield will always be one of them most dis...( read more)gusting characters EVER! GREAT job was done by all involved. Poor Olivier was already ill when asked to portray Van Helsing..bless his heart he got through it with the help of the cast and crew! This is something he wanted to do. Olivier passed away 10 years later..R.I.P.
  • May 21, 2009
    I've been dying to see this version for so long!
  • April 4, 2009
    Love Dracula! I loved the scenery!
  • April 4, 2009
    The sexiest vampire ever!!!!!!!
  • April 2, 2009
    It was a pretty good version of dracula.

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Dracula Trivia


  • In Bram Stoker's Dracula, who played Jonathan?  Answer »
  • Which book has been adapted into a film the most times?  Answer »
  • *Name the Actor by his Characters* Zorg Dracula Jim Gordon Sirius Black  Answer »
  • Bela Lugosi was the original dracula, when he died in 1956 what was he wearing when he was buried?  Answer »

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