# Who was the best Dracula? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 11, 2015, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-best-dracula/722266 "2015-06-11T17:03:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2015, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-best-dracula/722266/41 "2015-06-13T22:49:24Z")
> [@Larry\_Borgia](#): > > I kinda liked Rudolf Martin. His movie was different, at least, if it wasn’t great. > > [Dark Prince: The True Story of Dracula - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Prince:_The_True_Story_of_Dracula) He also played the same character on an episode of _Buffy_. Not just Dracula, but HIS Dracula. _“Poncy bugger still owes me five quid!”_ ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2015, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-best-dracula/722266/42 "2015-06-14T05:12:45Z")
Here’s how it looks 10 voters later: ================================== View Poll Results: Who was the best Dracula? This poll will close on 07-01-2015 at 12:07 PM ```auto Bela Lugosi 27 28.72% Christopher Lee 19 20.21% Gary Oldman 13 13.83% Frank Langella 12 12.77% Max Schreck 8 8.51% Louis Jourdan 4 4.26% OTHER (post and identify) 4 4.26% Klaus Kinski 3 3.19% George Hamilton 2 2.13% Jack Palance 1 1.06% Leslie Nielsen 1 1.06% ``` Voters: 94 ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2015, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-best-dracula/722266/43 "2015-06-14T05:36:26Z")
> [@BrotherCadfael](#): > > He also played the same character on an episode of _Buffy_. Not just Dracula, but HIS Dracula. > > _“Poncy bugger still owes me five quid!”_ Yes. That was awesome. I saw the Buffy episode first. Then I saw the movie and I was all “wait is that the guy from Buffy…No way” I looked the flick up on IMDB and it was! ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2015, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-best-dracula/722266/44 "2015-06-14T05:38:34Z")
Frank Langella, hands down. With understated dialogue like this, how could you pick anyone else: > [@](#): > > Count Dracula: … I must warn you to take care. > Lucy Seward: Whatever for? > Count Dracula: If, at any time, my company does not please you, you will have only yourself to blame for an acquaintance who seldom forces himself but is difficult to be rid of. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2015, 10:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-best-dracula/722266/45 "2015-06-14T10:04:47Z")
Bela…bit…_first!_ ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2015, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-best-dracula/722266/46 "2015-06-14T10:46:04Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > Willem Dafoe, playing Max Schreck, playing Dracula. This is what I am in here to post. Excellent, underrated movie. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2015, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-best-dracula/722266/47 "2015-06-14T12:40:27Z")
Here’s how it looks after 100 Voters: View Poll Results: Who was the best Dracula? This poll will close on 07-01-2015 at 12:07 PM ```auto Bela Lugosi 28 28.00% Christopher Lee 20 20.00% Gary Oldman 13 13.00% Frank Langella 12 12.00% Max Schreck 8 8.00% Louis Jourdan 6 6.00% OTHER (post and identify) 5 5.00% Klaus Kinski 3 3.00% Leslie Nielsen 2 2.00% George Hamilton 2 2.00% Jack Palance 1 1.00% ``` Voters: 100 ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2015, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-best-dracula/722266/48 "2015-06-14T13:13:15Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > [Harry Nilsson](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072189/) Dan Meaden Played Dracula in that movie-Harry payed his son, Count Downe. ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2015, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-best-dracula/722266/49 "2015-06-14T14:29:35Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > He should have easily walked away with the Best Supporting Actor Award that year instead of Benicio del Toro. He got robbed. Absolutely concur. Though I like del Toro generally. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2015, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-best-dracula/722266/50 "2015-06-16T03:39:32Z")
Not even a mention of Patrick Bergin? (A European Lux Vide modernization that had all the characters & was sold in an edited version under the title DRACULA’S CURSE.) For me, the best overall production of Stoker’s novel was the 1977 Jourdan version so that’s where my vote goes. IF Franco’s version with Lee had been that good, I’d have voted for that. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2015, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-best-dracula/722266/51 "2015-06-16T03:41:28Z")
Another unnamed TV Dracula- Denholm Elliot on 1960’s British TV’s Mystery & Imagination. Very effective! ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2015, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-best-dracula/722266/52 "2015-06-16T20:09:25Z")
Here’s how it looks after 105 voters: View Poll Results: Who was the best Dracula? This poll will close on 07-01-2015 at 12:07 PM ```auto Bela Lugosi 30 28.57% Christopher Lee 20 19.05% Gary Oldman 13 12.38% Frank Langella 12 11.43% Max Schreck 8 7.62% Louis Jourdan 8 7.62% OTHER (post and identify) 5 4.76% Klaus Kinski 3 2.86% George Hamilton 3 2.86% Leslie Nielsen 2 1.90% Jack Palance 1 0.95% ``` Voters: 105 ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2015, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-best-dracula/722266/53 "2015-06-17T01:45:53Z")
I haven’t seen all the actors, so I can’t really say for sure, but no one that I’ve seen to date has really nailed it, IMO. They’re either too campy or too sinister. Gary Oldman comes closest, if for nothing but the clever last name. ---
**Author:** ![XaMcQ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/f9ae1b/32.png) [@XaMcQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XaMcQ)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2015, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-best-dracula/722266/54 "2015-06-17T02:10:13Z")
That’s a seriously tough question. Several actors have really done great things with the role, in different ways. Bela was a true pleasure to watch, but most of the movies he was in weren’t especially good. Same with Christopher Lee. So creepy, with the hypnotic gaze, but the movies just weren’t great, for the most part. Max Schreck was good, though silent films are hard to appreciate. William Defoe playing Max Schreck was amazing. Frank Langella’s Dracula set my young teenage hormones racing, and George Hamilton’s portrayal was a riot. But I had to go with Oldman, as the best actor, and the best role. I would have liked to see some of the others given better scripts to work with. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2015, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-best-dracula/722266/55 "2015-06-17T22:29:22Z")
Update time: View Poll Results: Who was the best Dracula? This poll will close on 07-01-2015 at 12:07 PM ```auto Bela Lugosi 30 27.27% Christopher Lee 21 19.09% Gary Oldman 15 13.64% Frank Langella 12 10.91% Louis Jourdan 9 8.18% Max Schreck 8 7.27% OTHER (post and identify) 5 4.55% George Hamilton 4 3.64% Klaus Kinski 3 2.73% Leslie Nielsen 2 1.82% Jack Palance 1 0.91% ``` Voters: 110 ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2015, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-best-dracula/722266/56 "2015-06-18T11:44:09Z")
We definitely need a second poll for Dracula rip-offs and parodies so that we can vote for people like [Geena Davis](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POm7l1vTt8Y) and [Billy Van](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7XE5UCmXS8) (and also for [ducks](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-vkxpJ1w5E)). ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2015, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-best-dracula/722266/57 "2015-06-18T12:49:09Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > We definitely need a second poll for Dracula rip-offs and parodies so that we can vote for people like [Geena Davis](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POm7l1vTt8Y) and [Billy Van](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7XE5UCmXS8) (and also for [ducks](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-vkxpJ1w5E)). Please take the lead in that worthy project! Good idea! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2015, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-best-dracula/722266/58 "2015-06-18T12:52:50Z")
Here’s a sorted update : View Poll Results: Who was the best Dracula? This poll will close on 07-01-2015 at 12:07 PM ```auto Bela Lugosi 31 27.43% Christopher Lee 21 18.58% Gary Oldman 15 13.27% Frank Langella 12 10.62% Louis Jourdan 9 7.96% Max Schreck 8 7.08% George Hamilton 5 4.42% OTHER (post and identify) 5 4.42% Leslie Nielsen 3 2.65% Klaus Kinski 3 2.65% Jack Palance 1 0.88% ``` Voters: 113 ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2015, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-best-dracula/722266/59 "2015-06-18T12:56:27Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > Please take the lead in that worthy project! Good idea! 🙂 I would, but I’m afraid the three I listed, while particular favourites of mine, are also the only ones that come to mind. Perhaps someone here with a more encyclopedic knowledge of vampire spoofs could take up the task. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2015, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-best-dracula/722266/60 "2015-06-18T12:58:31Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > I would, but I’m afraid the three I listed, while particular favourites of mine, are also the only ones that come to mind. Perhaps someone here with a more encyclopedic knowledge of vampire spoofs could take up the task. Okay, but I’m not the one. 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-best-dracula/722266.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-best-dracula/722266.md?page=4)