If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

This is a dark and sometimes deeply uncomfortable drama

One of the best movies of the year! Incredible from the beginning to the end.

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

When most people think of all the great actors who've played Dracula over the years, names like Bela Lugosi, Christopher Lee, John Carradine, Gary Oldman, and maybe Frank Langella will come to mind. However, very people are likely to think of Jack Palance as a suitable Dracula since most people think of his roles in "Shane and "City Slickers". But there was a lot more to Jack than just playing cowboys and he proves it here in 1974's "Bram Stoker's Dracula". This little seen TV version, produced by Dan Curtis ("Dark Shadows") and written by the legendary Richard Matheson, portrays Dracula as centuries old warrior Vlad Tepes who journeys to London after he comes to believe that the fiancé of Arthur Holmwood ,Lucy, is the reincarnation of his lost love. If it sounds like you've heard this version before, you probably have since Francis Ford Coppola pretty much used the same storyline for his 1992 version. While I like the '92 version, I find this movie to be more straightforward and less bogged down by the romantic aspect that the Coppola version had, instead choosing to focus more on the horror aspect. Jack Palance makes an excellent Dracula by being able to use his tough guy persona to project the lord of the vampires as a figure of great strength and power, especially physically, while at the same time giving just a little hint of sympathy. Another bonus is the creepy atmosphere that is created in the movie by the filming locations in England and Yugoslavia. Rounding out the cast is Simon Ward as Arthur Holmwood and Nigel Davenport as Prof. Van Helsing, both of whom are excellent in their roles. As proof for the power of this movie, I remember seeing it when I was very young in the 90s on some cable channel and while I couldn't remember the faces very well (memory is a funny thing) I never forgot this movie, particularly the the final scene where Dracula meets his end, which I won't spoil. This is a real gem of a movie that if you ever get the chance, I highly recommend it, either on you tube (which is how I found it) or I believe you can get it on DVD. 9 out of 10

Noted sci-fi author and scenarist Richard Matheson of "I Am Legend" fame penned the script for "Dark Shadows" producer Dan Curtis' "Dracula" and excised three characters and eliminated one major setting from the Stoker saga. Nevertheless, this version of "Dracula" qualifies as an above-average endeavor. Mind you, it isn't the least bit scary, but it is well worth watching. This atmospheric yarn about the notorious vampire was produced for television in America, but it was released theatrically in Europe. Curtis and Matheson turn Dracula a tortured, sympathetic character haunted by his distant past and the woman that he lost those many years ago. Palance makes an okay Dracula. Unlike Christopher Lee and Frank Langella, the Palance fangster does not shape-shift into either a bat, a wolf, or a cloud of mist. Matheson and Curtis have scaled back his supernatural attributes, but they have endowed him with considerable strength that he displays in a scene that Stoker never wrote. Meantime, Nigel Davenport is exceptional as Dr. Van Helsing and Simon Ward plays Arthur Holmwood. The chief complaint here is that Curtis and Matheson have deleted the characters of Dr. Seward, Renfield, and Quincy Morris as well as the sanitarium setting. "Dracula" opens at Castle Dracula as the wolves howl at dusk. Dracula descends from his room to go outside. The first thing that differentiates this "Dracula" from others is the tidy abode. Dracula does not walk through any giant cobwebs, and everything looks clean and well-kept. Typically, Castle Dracula is a dilapidated edifice. Unfortunately, this lackluster entrance by the lead character adds little to his larger-than-life statue. Meanwhile, after this expendable scene, we are told that the year is 1897, and the setting is Bistritz in Hungry. Jonathan Harker (Murray Brown of "Vampyres") has arrived to show Dracula several real estate properties that might interest the nobleman in England. Dracula confines Harker to his castle and forces him to write letters that he is will remain on the continent a little longer to conclude other deals. As it turns out, once the Count has finished his business affairs with Harker, he allows his vampire brides to feast on him while he sets sail in the Demeter to Whitby, England. Curtis and Matheson do not take us on the rough seas voyage. They encapsulate everything with one shot of the beached ship and Dracula standing by his coffin. Lucy Westenra (Fiona Lewis of "The Fearless Vampire Killers") is suffering from an ailment that her doctor cannot diagnose so her fiancé summons Dr. Van Helsing. Helsing examines Lucy. He assures her that she will be fine. Secretly, he suspects that a vampire may be at work, but he is reluctant to share his superstitious sentiments with Arthur for fear the latter will not understand. Van Helsing places crosses on the windows of the room where Lucy sleeps and hangs a garlic wreath around her neck. Nevertheless, despite their best efforts, neither Arthur nor Van Helsing can maintain 24-hour surveillance without falling asleep themselves. Eventually, Dracula seduces Lucy to walk in her sleep again. After Lucy succumbs to this massive loss of blood, Arthur is shocked when she appears at the window of his study taping on the pane. Van Helsing arrives in the nick of time as the two lovers embrace. He brandishes a crucifix and prevents Lucy from sinking her fangs into poor Arthur. Incidentally, Lucy's attack on Arthur replaces the scenes in the novel where Lucy preyed on a small children at night. Reluctantly Arthur accompanies Van Helsing to the crypt where he hammers a stake through the sleeping corpse.Mina demands to know what is happening after the death of her friend Lucy. Van Helsing has decided that it would be safer if Mina and Mrs. Westenra took lodgings at the George Hotel. Van Helsing fears Dracula may return to attack them. Meantime, Arthur and Van Helsing set out to find where the vampire sleeps during the day. Van Helsing explains to Mina that vampires must rest in a coffin with some of their native soil. Predictably, Dracula is upset when he finds Lucy staked in her coffin and launches an attack on the hotel. This scene shows Dracula exerting her superhuman strength to fend off his assailants. Van Helsing and Arthur scour London for nine of the coffins that came on the Demeter. Eventually, they locate Carfax and destroy those nine coffins. Dracula uses his time well. He strikes Hillingham and attacks Mina. He makes Mina the flesh of his flesh and kin of his kin by giving her a vampire baptism. Essentially, Dracula rakes his fingernails across his chest and forces Mina to drink his blood so she can become his slave. Van Helsing and Arthur are powerless to prevent Dracula. At one point, Van Helsing tosses aside his crucifix. After Dracula departs, Van Helsing hypnotizes Mina. Van Helsing realizes that they erred in destroying his coffins because the Count has fled to his homeland. Van Helsing, Arthur, and Mina go to the continent to track Dracula down. Curtis' "Dracula" faintly resembles a Hammer Dracula with its period settings. Robert Corbert's heavy-handed music, and the ending where the principals rip the curtains down to expose him to sunlight. This "Dracula" rivals the most authoritative version, the BBC's "Count Dracula," because it retains many of the book's scenes. Sometimes, Matheson and Curtis pile on the exposition in a way that calls more attention to itself than it should. They make it a point to address Dracula's past and his service as a military chieftain who commanded armies. Sadly, Palance doesn't get any memorable dialogue, like the immortal line "Children of the night..." This version never generates anything remotely frightful, but it boasts solid production values and good thesping.

First saw this movie the night it debuted on February 8, 1974 when I was 5 years old. At the time, I was reading The Tomb of Dracula (a Marvel comic book) and the movie brought it to life for me.The director Dan Curtis said it best, "Jack Palance was the best Dracula there ever was." According to author Richard Matheson, the original version was 3 hours long but edited down to 1.5 hours. I wonder if the original footage is still available to re-create the original 3 hour version as Matheson and Curtis intended? Until that happens, fans will have to read the original Richard Matheson script available in his book, "Bloodlines" available from Amazon.com.

This version was my first Dracula movie. I was a sheltered, impressionable young girl at the time I watched it on TV. I didn't know about Dracula or Jack Palance--or horror. I stayed awake that entire night expecting Dracula to appear in the bedroom doorway. This movie should have scared me then; I was 10. After I saw this movie, I felt different about things. I know that in the oncoming decades other versions were made; I've seen some of them. I had the opportunity to see this Dracula for the second time in my life a few months back; it scared me as it scared me decades ago. There's something about the way this movie 'tastes' that enables the horror within it to remain pure and palpable. The cast and crew captured the pure essence of Dracula's horror on film for future generations to experience. From the music to the surroundings to Jack Palance, everything about this movie lends itself to the viewer's experience of a true horror classic. Jack Palance's portrayal of The Count is sheer perfection. From the top of his black patent leather hair to the bottom of his black patent leather boots, he's diabolic horror personified. So, I invite you to get your hands on a copy of this version; sit down and let this movie wash over you. Just make sure it's in the middle of the day and all the lights are on in your 'pad'. Oh, this version isn't perfect, but--the--horror--within--it--is. Bela, watch out!