Frank Langella brought his acclaimed role of Count Dracula from Broadway for a film version. The ultimate Dracula Bela Lugosi also did Dracula on Broadway before going to Universal to play his career role.

For the screen version a couple of veteran names got into supporting roles. Donald Pleasance plays Dr. Seward and the great vampire nemesis Dr. Van Helsing is none other than Laurence Olivier.

For those familiar with the Bela Lugosi Dracula it follows the story line fairly closely with a couple of major exceptions both involving Van Helsing. For one thing the young girl who dies played by Jan Francis is Van Helsing's daughter. The confrontation between the undead Francis and Olivier when Olivier and Pleasance are vampire hunting is a frightening one. The other thing I will not reveal lest it spoil the ending. I will say the added dimension of fatherhood for Van Helsing's character is something new and special.

Langella himself is pretty frightening as is Kate Nelligan as Lucy Seward whom Dracula selects for a new bride. At least until Trevor Eve as Jonathan Harker and Olivier affect a rescue as in the original story. The rescue itself is far from the one in the Lugosi Dracula. Still most effective.

Fright fans get ready for a big fright.

I read Bram Stoker's book when I was in sixth grade (that would be around 1959). I had seen most of the Dracula movies that existed at the time on television. I had watch the 1931 effort at least ten times. So after all the Hammer films and a host of others, I became somewhat of a connoisseur. One problem for me (as with Conan-Doyle's, "Hound of the Baskervilles") is that the book's plot, which was perfectly OK, was messed around with. I've never seen "Dracula" or "The Hound" done with integrity on the screen. Why change names? Why expand the plot to include peripheral characters? While Frank Langella's performance is wonderful, they had to do it again. They had to mess with the women. They did away with all kinds of elements. I know it's based on a state play (I actually saw the Broadway production),but why is there a need to mess with success. Of course, since I loved many of the others, I forgive them for this. I'm hoping that before I'm gone, someone will take on the task of a reasonable adaptation of Stoker's book. The Gary Oldman had the title but once again didn't follow through.

In Whitby, England, the sick Mina Van Helsing (Jan Francis) is spending some days with her friend Lucy Seward (Kate Nelligan) and her father Dr. Jack Seward (Donald Pleasence) in their house that is also an asylum at the seaside. When a ship wrecks on the coast, all the crew is dead and Mina helps the only survivor Count Dracula (Frank Langella),who has just bought the Fairfax Abbey through Lucy's fiancé Jonathan Harker (Trevor Eve). Soon Dracula drinks Mina's blood killing her. Dr. Seward summons Mina's father Prof. Abraham Van Helsing (Laurence Olivier) for the funeral but he arrives late. On the next night, the son of the patient Annie (Janine Duvitski) is attacked by Mina. Prof. Van Helsing discovers that his daughter is undead and the Count Dracula is a vampire. Now Van Helsing, Dr. Seward and Jonathan have to protect Lucy from the powerful vampire.

"Dracula" (1979) is an adaptation of Bram Stocker's novel with beautiful cinematography, haunting music score and a wonderful cast. However this is not my favorite adaptation of the novel. I prefer Werner Herzog "Nosferatu: Phantom der Nacht" of the same year and Francis Ford Coppola's version that was made thirteen years later (1992). My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): Not Available on DVD or Blu-Ray