Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #9998 in DVD
• Released on: 2007-09-03
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 151 minutes

DVD Description
This Dracula fans’ favourite, three-part series from the BBC appears on DVD for the first time. Louis Jourdan stars as the deliciously blood-thirsty Count Dracula in this version of Bram Stoker's horror classic. Keeping close to the original novel, the series begins with Jonathan Harker visiting the Count in Transylvania to help him with preparations to move to England. In the Count's castle, Jonathan becomes a prisoner, and discovers Dracula's true nature and so the age-old vampiric tale unfolds... Many scenes shot on location -- such as the Gothic graveyard of London's Highgate Cemetery -- add extra atmosphere to an already powerful production.

Synopsis
Regarded as one of the best adaptations of the classic Bram Stoker tale, Count Dracula benefits from a critically acclaimed performance from Louis Jourdan as the title character. A cult classic from the seventies, the film faithfully recreates Stoker’s characters and prose.

Customer Reviews

one of the best Dracula adaptations
As a child I could never understand why so many versions of Dracula strayed so far from the novel. As much as I loved Chris Lee's films etc film makers seemed determined to avoid the original plot.
When I settled down that Christmas years ago to watch the BBC's Dracula I was over joyed to see such a faithful adaptation and a brilliant one at that. All the classic characters are there (including Renfield), they filmed in Whitby, its gory, sexy, romantic and frightening. It's done with style and class. It is a proper vampire film unlike all these Super hero martial arts vampire flicks today.
I bought it when it appeared on DVD a few years ago. I am glad to see it coming out again and hope it reaches a whole new audience.

A dracula adaptation that has bite
The BBC has always maintained a pretty solid reputation of providing great drama and adaptations of the classics and this 1977 version of stokers novel is a prime example.
"Count Dracula" is regarded by many as the most faithful working of the horror story to date and although lacking the menace of Christopher Lee's vampire, Louis Jourdan makes very good casting indeed.
But what really makes this adaptation so good? - well firstly the cast is a good one. Frank Finlay seems to be having a great time in the role as Van Helsing, while Judi Bowker and Susan Penhaligon make good vampire fodder. Also Jack Shepherd plays Renfield to perfection. But what i really love about this production are the outdoor locations. The shots of Mina and Lucy going up the huge flight of cliff steps at whitby and sitting on the clifftop bench overlooking the sea is just how you envisage stoker's novel- just as in the scene where Dracula first seduces a sleepwalking lucy in the clifftop churchyard in the dead of night. Also the confrontation between the vampire hunters and an undead Susan Penhaligon in londons Highgate cemetry is quite chilling, especially the scene where they drive a stake into her as it looks very convincing.
Lame special effects such as rubber bats and a dreadful mist effect coming though a bedroom window don't particularly help the production but one must think of the time this was made. All in all, a very good effort and this certainly ranks high above recent attempts at the dracula story.

The Definitive Count Dracula!
As previous reviews have stated this version is the Most faithful adaption of Stoker's novel. Although it lacks Coppola's budget, it makes up for it with some splendid location shooting in Whitby and London's HighGate cemetary. I was suprised at how intelligently scripted it was, when I studied Dracula at school we were shown Dan Curtis' version with Jack Palance. Why I'll never know because this is leaagues ahead.
I completely disagree with the previous reviewer who claims Jourdan was miscast. Jourdan gives Dracula a sinister charm that no other actor (accept Bela Lugosi) ever matched. His courtly manners and French accent make him seem authentic. And there is menace in his every line. This is a throughly evil Dracula, not a love sick fop. Frank Finley makes a good Van Helsing, but the scene stealer is Jack shepard as Renfield.