Bram Stoker's Dracula

[Wastedyuthe]

Has anyone noticed the similarity between Dracula and WotW, in the way of how they are written? They are both written from the protagonists point of view. Dracula is slightly different in that it is a diary, and also includes diary sections from other characters too.
It was watching some of the films that got me into reading the book, just like Spielbergs WotW got me into Wells novel. There was a time I was mad on Dracula, as I love comparing different versions of a story- especially when there are films based on a novel (as in both of these cases of course). It's quite sad though, that neither story has really had the definitive film adaptation, although both have had several versions made.
The book of Dracula had a good many sections. I loved it when Harker first arrived at the castle, and found it immediately strange and foreign, but was generally fine. But as the days passed, he wondered why he was always alone in the castle in the day time, and day by day, realised that he was in fact as prisoner, as there was no way to leave the castle. It gets very creepy. Then there is the Demeter ship, and the Captains diary shows that through several days, his crew disappear one by one- again very creepy. None of the films have come close to the effect the book had on me. Great stuff.

[Lensman]

I keep meaning to re-read Dracula, I enjoyed it quite a bit when I read it but have done so only once. So I don't know that I remember it well enuff to do a good comparison. But since Dracula is presented in the form of diaries and letters, it's written in first person, as is WOTW. And of course they are both Victorian novels from British Isles writers (Stoker was Irish), so there's bound to be some similarity. Also IIRC they both use a somewhat florid writing style, which is by no means unusual for the period. But, for instance, contrast the "Sherlock Holmes" stories from the same period; the description in them tends to be considerably more spare, with a lot fewer adjectives.

[Scifishocks]

Dracula is a good, good book. But is not especially well written.
The dialogue is pretty poor at times and Van Helsing's little monologues can drive you to distraction.... but the whole thing is such a fantastic work, you can forgive it's bad points.
Atmos is the key... and it has it in spades. I love it.
The part on board the 'Demeter' is my favourite part. I don't think I've ever read anything that gave me the 'willys' as much as that.

[Wastedyuthe]

Yes I'd say the only negative thing I had about the book is that some of the characters tend to drag out their speeches and descriptions etc. As you say though Nerfy, it all adds to the atmosphere. I wish I had the finances to do produce my own film of it, which would concentrate more on my favourite parts- namely Harker and his inprisonment in Draculas castle, and the Demeter.

[Scifishocks]

The part on the Demeter is also one of my favourite parts... there was going to be a film, 'The Last Voyage of the Demeter', which concentrated solely on this part...
www.upcominghorrormovies.com/movies/lastvoyage.php
Looks like it fell into development hell though.

[Wastedyuthe]

That's a shame. I think the problem with the Dracula films in general is they never stay on the best bits for long enough. Part of the problem is the original novel- only the first part takes place in Draculas castle, and so certain film versions had followed suit. Trouble is, I class the castle part the creepiest and best part. If the whole story would take place in the castle, now that would be great so long as it was done right. The movie 'The Fearless Vampire Killers' did this very well imo, and borrowed heavily from the Dracula story- even adding it's own twists like the vampire ball towards the end. One of my favourite vampire films. I would love it if a film was made of Dracula that either stayed in his castle, or followed the story of the Demeter. However, perhaps there have been too many movie incarnations of Dracula already for anyone to bother. There was of course a BBC version of Dracula which aired at Christmas, but it was pump!

[FALLINGSTAR]

It's years since I read Dracula but even though it has it's flaws it's a great book and I agree there are some similarities to WOTW in the way it's written etc. None of the films have done the book total justice but I suppose Coppolas version was the closest. The BBC version on Christmas time was disappointing.

I watched Coppolas version a few months ago and even though it has quite a few flaws [ Keanu Reeves is a bit wooden and miscast ] it's still a good film - and Gary Oldman is superb as Dracula.

[Lensman]

"Bram Stoker's Dracula" is certainly the closest to Stoker's novel. But it's not my favorite; Gary Oldman just doesn't radiate the sensual "animal magnetism" that Stoker describes. With his small stature and long curly hair, he comes across as more of a "mama's boy" to me. So the Frank Langella version (1979) remains my favorite, altho it truncates the beginning and radically changes the ending of Stoker's story.

I imagine WastedYuth and FallingStar will advocate feeding me to a coven of nosferatu for my heresy...

[FALLINGSTAR]

lensman said:

"Bram Stoker's Dracula" is certainly the closest to Stoker's novel. But it's not my favorite; Gary Oldman just doesn't radiate the sensual "animal magnetism" that Stoker describes. With his small stature and long curly hair, he comes across as more of a "mama's boy" to me. So the Frank Langella version (1979) remains my favorite, altho it truncates the beginning and radically changes the ending of Stoker's story.

I imagine WastedYuth and FallingStar will advocate feeding me to a coven of nosferatu for my heresy...

I see what you mean about Oldman but I love the way Coppola bridged Vlad the Impaler with Dracula - plus Oldman's a good actor. I suppose this film's grown on me over the years. When I first saw it many years ago I didn't like it so much but now I find the film strangely attractive.

[FALLINGSTAR]

wastedyuthe said:

That's a shame. I think the problem with the Dracula films in general is they never stay on the best bits for long enough. Part of the problem is the original novel- only the first part takes place in Draculas castle, and so certain film versions had followed suit. Trouble is, I class the castle part the creepiest and best part. If the whole story would take place in the castle, now that would be great so long as it was done right. The movie 'The Fearless Vampire Killers' did this very well imo, and borrowed heavily from the Dracula story- even adding it's own twists like the vampire ball towards the end. One of my favourite vampire films. I would love it if a film was made of Dracula that either stayed in his castle, or followed the story of the Demeter. However, perhaps there have been too many movie incarnations of Dracula already for anyone to bother. There was of course a BBC version of Dracula which aired at Christmas, but it was pump!

Definitely true about not staying on the best bits for long enough and I agree the bits in the castle and Romania are the best parts of the story. The BBC version was really rushed. One minute they were in England the next briefly in Dracs castle then a quick glimpse of the ship and bit more in England - Drac dies - the end. Why did they bother!!!!??

[Wastedyuthe]

lensman said:

"Bram Stoker's Dracula" is certainly the closest to Stoker's novel. But it's not my favorite; Gary Oldman just doesn't radiate the sensual "animal magnetism" that Stoker describes. With his small stature and long curly hair, he comes across as more of a "mama's boy" to me. So the Frank Langella version (1979) remains my favorite, altho it truncates the beginning and radically changes the ending of Stoker's story.

I imagine WastedYuth and FallingStar will advocate feeding me to a coven of nosferatu for my heresy...

Not so my friend. I too thoroughly enjoyed Langella's version, although it does differ from the novel, and changes characters role's somewhat, it was well written. Although it completely cuts Castle Dracula out of the story, it kind of makes up for it by making the abbey that he buys the creepy equivalent. I also like (although some do not) how the colours have been de-saturated to make for an almost black and white picture. This adds to the atmosphere I feel, as it does with all black and white versions. I also liked the climax of the film, and it made for a nice change. I am disappointed though that the UK dvd version is 185:1, yet the US dvd is 2.35:1, showing the full picture as it should.

[bayne]

[glow=red,2,300]What about the Universal films.. both the Lugosi one and the Spanish language one?
I love both.. Renfield's madness is seriously unnerving in the English version and i love Lugosi but there is an added sensuality and a lot of other superb qualities in the Spanish version..

For those who don't know, the Spanish language version was shot at the same time as the english version on the same sets and with the same props but during the night!

I even heard that there was going to be a film made of a romance that blossomed amongst two cast members while the Spanish film was being made but I expect that's fallen through too
[/glow]

[Scifishocks]

I hear that the Spanish version is considered, by some film scholars, as better than the English language one.
I'd like to get a DVD with both on so I can compare (I haven't seen the Spanish version). The DVD I have has is a double bill with 'House of Dracula' (why not Dracula's Daughter which is an amazing film?) and a new (optional, thankfully) musical score for the Lugosi movie... which ruins it for me.
Somehow, having music where before you had long pauses filled only with crackles and pops of the old sound, doesn't work for me. I watched a little of it with the new score and turned it off.

[bayne]

[glow=red,2,300]The universal legacy sets that came out alongside Van Hellsing have a copy in the Dracula collection, along with several of the sequals of varying dodgyness. House of Dracula IIRC has more of the wolfman then Dracula in it!
I actually like Phillip Glass's new score but also prefer the film without it.[/glow]

[Scifishocks]

Yes, Dracula's Daughter (actually intentionally funny in places) would have paired up with the Lugosi flick much better...and features some of the same cast.