When it comes to the portrayal of Dracula on film, Bela Lugosi started the cape-wearing castle-dwelling aura in his 1931 film, Dracula. His Dracula is considered one of the best of the Universal Monsters. Francis Ford Coppola cast Gary Oldman as the bloodsucker in his 1992 Bram Stoker's Dracula and the actor gave his performance some nice touches, but fell prey to overacting. However, there are two actors who took the persona to new heights with their respective films.
10 Best Dracula Movies Ranked, According To IMDB
In the '60s and early '70s, Christopher Lee broke cinematic taboos as the most unique Dracula to date. In 1979, Frank Langella took his Broadway portrayal to the cinema with John Badham's Dracula. Each actor brought something unique to the role, making their versions of the bloodsucker rise above the rest.
Langella Explored The Love Inside Dracula
Frank Langella had only one shot at portraying Dracula on film and he approached the role with the dedication of a method actor. Langella agreed to sign onto director John Badham's only Horror film, 1979's Dracula. His stipulations were that he wouldn't have to wear fangs, and he'd allowed to explore Dracula's soulfulness.
The tragic, centuries-old romance that defines Count Dracula was an actor's dream, as W.D. Richter's screenplay dove deep into Dracula's need for a love long lost. Langella exuded the tragedy and loss in the character, bringing a unique touch to the performance.
Lee Used His Eyes To Great Effect
Christopher Lee was classically trained and played many of Shakespeare's biggest characters on stage, but it was the horror genre that gave Lee his biggest success on film. When the actor was called to play Count Dracula in Terence Fisher's 1958 Hammer-produced Horror of Dracula, it would be the role that would make Lee an international star.
Along with his unique baritone voice, one of Lee's greatest strengths when playing the Count was how he used his eyes. There was so much that the actor held behind those eyes. Depending on the scene and the moment, Lee masterfully portrayed the proper emotion, sometimes welcoming or seductive, but always let audiences see the sinister intent behind Dracula's eyes.
Langella Wasn't Afraid To Show Dracula's Vulnerability
Count Dracula is one of the most terrifying villains in all of horror film history. Besides of his aversion to crosses, garlic, and sunlight, he has always been portrayed as pretty invincible.
Frank Langella chose to show a more vulnerable vampire. The Count still hurts from having lost the great love of his life and, in Langella's film, some of Dracula's decisions are misguided due to his desire to find the soul of his lost mate. Langella's Dracula is a man searching for a love to share eternity with and the actor uses his face and tonal shifts to express a Dracula burdened by his need.
Lee Made Dracula Frightening
Bela Lugosi scared audiences back in the 1930s but today he is more style than creepiness. When Cristopher Lee donned the cape and fangs for his first film in 1958, he remembered to scare his audience.
Lee used his movement and towering presence to send chills through the audience. The way he held his cape, the way he would put his victims in a trance, and how he would stand stone-still in the edge of the frame like a sinister ghost made his Dracula, to this day, one of the most frightening and powerful vampires on film.
Langella Played Dracula On Broadway
Frank Langella was already a successful Dracula on Broadway, as was Bela Lugosi at the time. Tony-nominated for his work, it would still be a challenge to successfully translate his performance, and the play itself, to the big screen. The actor worked closely with director John Badham to make the film something special.
The two vowed to stick as close as they could to Bram Stoker's original novel while making the changes they needed. The film wasn't a big hit but critics were very kind and praised Langella and Badham for successfully translating the Broadway show to film.
Lee Had A Commanding Presence
Christopher Lee was very tall. At 6'5" the actor towered over most of his co-stars. When he played Dracula, he was significantly taller than everyone, and the studio purposely cast actors under 6ft to further portray the menace of Count Dracula.
In each of his Dracula films, one of the greatest strengths was Christopher Lee's dominating and commanding presence. In all of his Dracula films, Lee used his height and stare and voice to command every moment he was on screen.
Langella Knew How To Make An Entrance
While Lugosi strode into the frame and Christopher Lee would appear in the background before fully revealing himself, Frank Langella used his whole body to move into a scene. A classically trained stage actor who had a swashbuckler's physique, Langella's effortless and almost balletic movements when entering a room and/or a scene would add to Dracula's mystique.
Sometimes he would almost glide into the frame while other entrances would be more physical, including his first appearance as Dracula rides up to the camera, at first silhouetted and then majestic and refined. Every entrance from Langella's Dracula enhanced the already classically-styled adaptation.
Lee Brought A Sensuality To Dracula
One thing previous incarnations of Dracula never explored was the vampire's sensuality. Hammer Studios brought heavy sensuality and more blood to the best of their horror adaptations. For Dracula, the sensuality is built into Bram Stoker's original novel and the studio pounced on it.
Christopher Lee would seduce women with not only his trance but his pure sensuality. The actor certainly had sex appeal and it was easy to believe that his victims would come to him so easily. Lee used his natural physical allure to great use for his time as Count Dracula.
Langella Oozed Sexuality
If it was Christopher Lee who brought out the sensuality in Count Dracula, it was Frank Langella who gave the bloodsucker full-blown sex appeal.
Director John Badham allowed the seduction scenes to be bathed in a sexual heat that caused the film to receive its "R" rating. With his soft and seducing voice combined with his piercing eyes and open shirts showing his well-sculpted chest, Langella brought out pure sexuality that other Dracula films and actors never fully explored.
Lee Showed Dracula As A Monster
In many incarnations of Count Dracula, fans seem to forget one important thing: Dracula is a monster. Vampires are no longer human. They are the undead. Creatures. Ghouls. Pure monsters.
Christopher Lee chose to remember this in his portrayal. In a couple of his Dracula films, he said nothing but instead only grimaced and growled. In one scene Lee's Dracula even roars as he attacks. Lee's Count almost always has blood dripping from his fangs and during some attacks, his eyes get blood red. His Dracula is vicious and violent and, above all else, is a true a monster.