Count Dracula (1970)

Count Dracula released in 1970 was a notable film. It was the first and only time veteran actor Sir Christopher Lee would portray the Count outside Hammer Films.

Sir Christopher had become tired of the Hammer series in which he felt the scripts were getting more and more repetetive. A year after this film was made, his feelings towards the series would sour further when Hammer made the decision to bring Dracula into contemporary settings. Despite bringing back old onscreen nemesis Peter Cushing as Professor van Helsing, Lee felt that Dracula didn't fit a modern setting and would ultimately leave the role for good after the second modern Dracula film.

This film was a welcomed break from the Hammer cycle for Lee. It meant starring in a Dracula film that remained true to Bram Stokers original story...

...for the most part.

There are really three reasons to watch this film. Some really great peformances from Lee in the title role, Herbert Lom as Professor Van Helsing and future Dracula actor Klaus Kinski as Renfield.

Given Kinski's volitile personality in real life, this might have possibly been the best casting of all time.

However, Jess Franco's vision of Dracula is EXTREMELY low budget. And the performance given by the rest of the cast is mediocre at best.

FYI, the actresses who played Mina and Lucy had both acted in soft-core porn.

Despite the costumes and sets, you never get the feeling that this film is taking place in the 1890's when the story was supposed to take place. And the special-effects, although clever in spots, hardly exist.

This is a film where you REALLY need to suspend your disbelief to enjoy. But despite all that it is worth seeing for Christopher Lee. Despite all the shortcomings of this film, he seems to put his all into the film. True, he doesn't make (and never has) made an effort to put on an accent as the Count. You forgive that just to hear his marvelous speaking voice.

Which shines its brightest as he speaks the immortal "Children of the night" speech.

I would definitely recommend renting this film on Netflix or Amazon.com if you're just wishing to see this film in passing. Unless you are a fan of Sir Christopher Lee and wish to have a complete collection of his work. It was released on DVD a couple years ago. Not a lot of special features. However, the interview with Jess Franco is very interesting.

Its worth checking out for those who wish to see Sir Christopher Lee's non-Hammer Dracula effort.