# The Infamous Count Dracula **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 17, 2002, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-infamous-count-dracula/98769 "2002-03-17T20:18:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MagicalSilverKey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@MagicalSilverKey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MagicalSilverKey)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2002, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-infamous-count-dracula/98769/1 "2002-03-17T20:18:17Z")
I wasn’t sure if this should go here, or in IMHO. Since my query is about the character on _film,_ I felt it should go here. Who do _ **you** _ feel is the most befitting actor to have portrayed Count Dracula on film? While The Count will always remain immortalized through Bela Lugosi’s portrayal, I have to say that my _personal_ favorite Count, has always been **Christopher Lee.** There’s just something about Lee (and the Hammer experience) that brings a certain wonderful authenticity to the character and the atmosphere. The Coppola / Oldman Dracula, is probably the best since Hammer / Lee, but I feel like I am watching two entirely different subjects. The Gary Oldman Dracula, just isnt sinister and evil enough for my taste. However, Coppola’s adaptation is extremely true to the Stoker novel, and is visually stunning. To put it another way: If I met Gary Oldman-Dracula in a dark alley, I’d probably have the attitude of, “You poor lost soul.” Oldman-Dracula became evil because he lost the love of his life, renounced God as retalliaton, and became cursed. One kinda feels sorry for the poor ol’ bastard. Whereas, if I met Christopher Lee-Dracula in a dark alley, my thoughts would be, “Oh, SHIT! RUN, MSK, RUN!” Lee Drac’ was just _born_ to be bad, and lives for being evil. “Prince of Darkness” couldn’t be a better label for this guy. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2002, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-infamous-count-dracula/98769/2 "2002-03-17T21:36:24Z")
There was a series on PBS over twenty years ago(I was still married). Naive as I still was, I had never realized that the story of Dracula could incorporate intense sexual overtones. The Count was portrayed by Louis Jourdan. I nearly crushed my husband’s hand while watching, it was so terrifying.(To me at least) ---
**Author:** ![Manatee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/50afbb/32.png) [@Manatee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manatee)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2002, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-infamous-count-dracula/98769/3 "2002-03-17T22:33:28Z")
I’d agree with the OP; Lee wins on the intimidation front. But as for the following: > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MagicalSilverKey \* > **However, Coppola’s adaptation is extremely true to the Stoker novel, and is visually stunning.** I’ll grant you the latter (as the visuals–well, most of them, any way–are the strength of that film), but as for the former: this movie should _not_ be prefaced with the words “Bram Stoker’s.” Most of what happens in Coppola’s version has little to nothing to do with what happens in Stoker’s novel. ---
**Author:** ![MagicalSilverKey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@MagicalSilverKey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MagicalSilverKey)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2002, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-infamous-count-dracula/98769/4 "2002-03-17T23:29:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Manatee \* > \*\*I’d agree with the OP; Lee wins on the intimidation front. But as for the following: > > I’ll grant you the latter (as the visuals–well, most of them, any way–are the strength of that film), but as for the former: this movie should _not_ be prefaced with the words “Bram Stoker’s.” Most of what happens in Coppola’s version has little to nothing to do with what happens in Stoker’s novel. \*\* D’oh!!! :eek: Pardon moi. I guess I had better dust off my hardbound volume of Dracula, by Bram Stoker, and see where I am wrong. Been a long time since I’ve read the book. ---
**Author:** ![Mondeo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Mondeo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mondeo)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2002, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-infamous-count-dracula/98769/5 "2002-03-18T00:07:10Z")
Definately Lee! ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2002, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-infamous-count-dracula/98769/6 "2002-03-18T01:03:04Z")
Just to be wacky and unexpected, I’ll say **John Carradine** , who played the role in _House of Frankenstein_ and _House of Dracula_. He was, perhaps, a bit more of a southern gentleman than a Transylvanian count, but he had a certain suavity and presence. It’s too bad he never got to play Dracula in a decent movie, because he could have done interesting things with the role. Lee is okay, but I’ve always found him a bit over-athletic. All that leaping about–Dracula should be a sinister stalker, not a gymnast. While his interpretation was quite different than Stoker’s (and completely unauthorized), we can’t overlook **Max Schreck** of _Nosferatu_. In my opinion, still the best film adaptation of Stoker’s novel ever done. I stop short of saying Schreck is the best _actor_, however. Gotta agree with **Manatee** : Coppala’s film is completely unfaithful to the novel. The whole business of Dracula and Mina “dating” (for want of a better word) is quite unprecedented, and the idea that Mina is a reincarnation of Dracula’s lost love is swiped from the old Boris Karloff film _The Mummy_ without so much as a by-your-leave. It looks nice, and it’s not too bad a film, but it’s not a faithful adaptation.