HORROR OF DRACULA

UK, 1958, 82 minutes, Colour.
Peter Cushing, Michael Gough, Christopher Lee.
Directed by Terence Fisher.

Horror of Dracula is the first of the Hammer films using Bram Stoker's story and the Dracula traditions. There had been German versions of the Nosferatu story as well as Todd Browning's Dracula in the early '30s. Christopher Lee was to make such an impact as Dracula that he appeared in this role in several other Hammer films including Dracula Has Risen From The Grave, Dracula A.D. 1972 and The Satanic Rites of Dracula. Peter Cushing who was to be Hammer's Frankenstein was also to be Dr. Van Helsing in the series. The Hammer Studios worked on a comparatively small budget and relied on vivid colour photography, and emphasis on bloodthirstiness which grew over the decades as well as an emphasis on the relationship of evil, horror and sexuality.

1. The appeal of horror films, the atmosphere of evil and menace, blood, gore? Symbols of evil? The imagination and fantasy? The popularity of horror films?

2. Audience interest in vampires: the Undead? Symbols of evil, the Devil? Evil still living in our world and menacing and destroying? The power of the vampire to transform and kill? The vampires and the lore? Dracula traditions? How well did the film present and develop these?

3. The success of the Hammer Studios over the decades in presenting the horror stories at a popular level with minimal budget? The roles of Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee in this tradition? The emphasis on period, horror, bloodthirstiness, sensuality?

4. The film's use of Bram Stoker's story? The adaptation? The very British tone given to the character and the plots?

5. The focus on Jonathan Harker and his visit, the horror of his discover. his diary? What did he learn about Dracula? The confrontation and his destruction?

6. Lucy as the potential victim? Innocence being destroyed by evil? Her having to be killed by Van Helsing and the horror of the death of such transformed beauty? The contrast with Arthur and his love for Lucy and his gradual belief in Van Helsing? Mina as heroine. as potential victim, as saved?

7. Christopher Lee's style as Dracula - appearance and manner, bloodthirstiness, character? His final destruction and agony?

8. Peter Cushing's matter-of-fact British style as Van Helsing? His visit to the castle, his understanding, persuading of Arthur to help him, the final confrontation and destruction of Dracula?

9. Arthur and the audience identifying with him, scepticism, experience of suffering and pain with Lucy's death, his wanting to help in the destruction of Dracula?

10. The details of life in the castle, the transition to the town and the death of Lucy, Mina's hiding him in the cellar, his stalking the city?

11. The destruction of Dracula - and the irony of his ability to rise from the grave?

12. How entertaining an early Hammer version of the Dracula story? How does the film stand in relationship to the original film versions both German and American and the later examples?