In
the late 1950s, the horror movie genre was in something of a state of
decline. The genre really hadn’t been taken seriously since the early
1930s, when the classic Universal Monsters were in their heyday. However,
that all changed when Hammer, a smaller English production company began a
series of remakes of those classic Universal horror movies. Hammer’s
first three productions were CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN, HORROR OF
DRACULA and THE MUMMY. The impact of these three movies was
instant, and forever changed the face of the horror genre.
So,
what made these three horror offerings special? There are a number of
factors that have to be taken into consideration, including the era in
which the films were made. Color is probably the one element that made the
most significant impact on audiences in the late 1950s. Up until this
point, horror movies were almost always black and white affairs, with the
sadly absent from DVD DR. X and MYSTERY OF THE WAXMUSEUM
being the most notable exceptions to that rule. When CURSE OF
FRANKENSTEIN, HORROR OF DRACULA and THE MUMMY arrived on
the scene, audiences were ill prepared for their use of lurid color, which
intensified that other Hammer hallmark- onscreen blood and gore. Again,
prior to these three Hammer films, horror movie violence generally
occurred off screen and was left to the imagination of audiences. Hammer
horror put "the horror" right in audiences’ faces for the
first time- where it has remained there for almost five decades, at ever
increasing degrees.
HORROR
OF DRACULA ($20) is a rather loose
adaptation of the Bram Stoker novel, but then again, so was the Universal
version of the story (which was based upon the highly popular Broadway
production of the 1920s). Jimmy Sangster’s screenplay for HORROR OF
DRACULA selectively picks elements from the novel designed to maximize
the movies elements of horror and sense of gothic style, while keeping the
film fast moving and within a rather modest budget. Terence Fisher’s
direction maintains a brisk pace and maximizes the movies shock value, by
effectively stage both the action sequences and moments of bloodletting
and gore.
Christopher
Lee is an imposing figure as Count Dracula- the role that made him both a
star and horror movie icon. The movie opens with Jonathan Harker (John Van
Eyssen) arriving at Dracula’s castle in the guise of a librarian, in a
deceptive plot to destroy the vampire count. Unfortunately, Harker falls
victim to Dracula, but not before Harker dispatches his vampire bride. As
retribution Dracula journeys to England where he transforms Harker’s
fiancée Lucy (Carol Marsh) into a vampire. Doctor Van Helsing (Peter
Cushing) was well aware of Harker’s efforts to destroy Dracula and
recognizes the vampire’s handiwork when Lucy rises from her crypt. After
Lucy’s brother Arthur Holmwood (Michael Gough) allows Van Helsing to
terminate her vampire existence, Dracula then turns his attentions towards
Holmwood’s wife Mina (Melissa Stribling). The cast of HORROR OF
DRACULA also includes Valerie Gaunt, Charles Lloyd Pack and Miles
Malleson.
Warner
Home Video has made HORROR OF DRACULA available on DVD in a 1.78:1
wide screen presentation that features the anamorphic enhancement for 16:9
displays. Right up front, let me say that compositions appear a bit tight
at the top frame in a few shots, but otherwise is generally pleasing. The
transfer itself looks terrific- coming from better film elements than
those used to produce the previous lackluster Laserdisc version of the
film. There are very few noticeable blemishes here, unlike the Laserdisc
transfer that suffered from having an entire reel that showed significant
damaged. The image is nicely crisp and provides an excellent level of
detail. Colors are vibrant, especially the reds, coming close to the
appearance of an original IB Technicolor print. All of the hues are
completely stable and are rendered without noise or smearing. Blacks are
solid and inky, whites appear clean and shadow detail is good for a film
from the fifties. The DVD doesn’t display any noticeable signs of
digital compression artifacts.
The
Dolby Digital monaural soundtrack sounds very good for its age, indicating
that that it has been digitally cleaned to remove excessive background
hiss and surface noise. Of course, there are the expected frequency
limitations in these forty plus year old recordings. James Bernard's
musical score sounds kind of thin, but the screeching strings of Dracula's
appearances remain highly effective. Dialogue is always completely
understandable and Christopher Lee's voice retains a lot of character.
There are no other language tracks on the DVD, although subtitles are
provided in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese. Music underscores the
basic interactive menus, which allow one access to the standard scene
selection and set up features, as well as a theatrical trailer and some
production notes.
Hammer
fans should be quite pleased with Warner's DVD release of HORROR OF
DRACULA, although this fan really wishes the DVD included a commentary
with horror movie icon Christopher Lee. Still, the image quality is quite
excellent, making this the finest looking home version of this Hammer
horror classic ever release. Highly recommended.
In
the late 1950s, the horror movie genre was in something of a state of
decline. The genre really hadn’t been taken seriously since the early
1930s, when the classic Universal Monsters were in their heyday. However,
that all changed when Hammer, a smaller English production company began a
series of remakes of those classic Universal horror movies. Hammer’s
first three productions were CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN, HORROR OF
DRACULA and THE MUMMY. The impact of these three movies was
instant, and forever changed the face of the horror genre.
So,
what made these three horror offerings special? There are a number of
factors that have to be taken into consideration, including the era in
which the films were made. Color is probably the one element that made the
most significant impact on audiences in the late 1950s. Up until this
point, horror movies were almost always black and white affairs, with the
sadly absent from DVD DR. X and MYSTERY OF THE WAX MUSEUM
being the most notable exceptions to that rule. When CURSE OF
FRANKENSTEIN, HORROR OF DRACULA and THE MUMMY arrived on
the scene, audiences were ill prepared for their use of lurid color, which
intensified that other Hammer hallmark- onscreen blood and gore. Again,
prior to these three Hammer films, horror movie violence generally
occurred off screen and was left to the imagination of audiences. Hammer
horror put "the horror" right in audiences’ faces for the
first time- where it has remained there for almost five decades, at ever
increasing degrees.
HORROR
OF DRACULA ($20) is a rather loose
adaptation of the Bram Stoker novel, but then again, so was the Universal
version of the story (which was based upon the highly popular Broadway
production of the 1920s). Jimmy Sangster’s screenplay for HORROR OF
DRACULA selectively picks elements from the novel designed to maximize
the movies elements of horror and sense of gothic style, while keeping the
film fast moving and within a rather modest budget. Terence Fisher’s
direction maintains a brisk pace and maximizes the movies shock value, by
effectively stage both the action sequences and moments of bloodletting
and gore.
Christopher
Lee is an imposing figure as Count Dracula- the role that made him both a
star and horror movie icon. The movie opens with Jonathan Harker (John Van
Eyssen) arriving at Dracula’s castle in the guise of a librarian, in a
deceptive plot to destroy the vampire count. Unfortunately, Harker falls
victim to Dracula, but not before Harker dispatches his vampire bride. As
retribution Dracula journeys to England where he transforms Harker’s
fiancée Lucy (Carol Marsh) into a vampire. Doctor Van Helsing (Peter
Cushing) was well aware of Harker’s efforts to destroy Dracula and
recognizes the vampire’s handiwork when Lucy rises from her crypt. After
Lucy’s brother Arthur Holmwood (Michael Gough) allows Van Helsing to
terminate her vampire existence, Dracula then turns his attentions towards
Holmwood’s wife Mina (Melissa Stribling). The cast of HORROR OF
DRACULA also includes Valerie Gaunt, Charles Lloyd Pack and Miles
Malleson.
Warner
Home Video has made HORROR OF DRACULA available on DVD in a 1.78:1
wide screen presentation that features the anamorphic enhancement for 16:9
displays. Right up front, let me say that compositions appear a bit tight
at the top frame in a few shots, but otherwise is generally pleasing. The
transfer itself looks terrific- coming from better film elements than
those used to produce the previous lackluster Laserdisc version of the
film. There are very few noticeable blemishes here, unlike the Laserdisc
transfer that suffered from having an entire reel that showed significant
damaged. The image is nicely crisp and provides an excellent level of
detail. Colors are vibrant, especially the reds, coming close to the
appearance of an original IB Technicolor print. All of the hues are
completely stable and are rendered without noise or smearing. Blacks are
solid and inky, whites appear clean and shadow detail is good for a film
from the fifties. The DVD doesn’t display any noticeable signs of
digital compression artifacts.
The
Dolby Digital monaural soundtrack sounds very good for its age, indicating
that that it has been digitally cleaned to remove excessive background
hiss and surface noise. Of course, there are the expected frequency
limitations in these forty plus year old recordings. James Bernard's
musical score sounds kind of thin, but the screeching strings of Dracula's
appearances remain highly effective. Dialogue is always completely
understandable and Christopher Lee's voice retains a lot of character.
There are no other language tracks on the DVD, although subtitles are
provided in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese. Music underscores the
basic interactive menus, which allow one access to the standard scene
selection and set up features, as well as a theatrical trailer and some
production notes.
Hammer
fans should be quite pleased with Warner's DVD release of HORROR OF
DRACULA, although this fan really wishes the DVD included a commentary
with horror movie icon Christopher Lee. Still, the image quality is quite
excellent, making this the finest looking home version of this Hammer
horror classic ever release. Highly recommended.
