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Top 12 Count Draculas

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Well, it’s Halloween, so let’s celebrate with a “Halloweenie” sort of list, as I pay tribute to one of literature’s most famous villains. He is the King of Evil, Grand Master of Monsters, Prince of Darkness, Spawn of Satan...the Most Powerful Vampire of All Time.


Count. BLOODY. Dracula!


And since comparisons to another famous monster character are inevitable: while the complexities of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein make it, perhaps, a more compelling work of literature overall, the characters of Bram Stoker’s magnum opus, Dracula, stand out most to me; it isn’t half as “deep” as Shelley’s tale of good, evil, life, and death, but it is still a wonderfully creepy work of fiction and a treasure trove for the mass media at large. So, in honor of All Hallows Eve, when such mayhem is abounding and beloved, I present the Top 12 portrayals of the titular character to exist.


Please, keep in mind this is all strictly based on personal opinion; if you don’t agree, don’t be hatin,’ OR BY THE MASTER, THE CHILDREN OF THE NIGHT SHALL FEAST UPON YOUR SOUL! BWA HA HA HA HA!


...Let’s begin…


12.Willem Dafoe, as “Schreck,” from “Shadow of the Vampire.”

This is a very, very wierd movie. Not bad; far from it! Just...wierd. The premise of “Shadow” actually sounds like the premise to a black comedy: it’s a “mockumentary” of sorts on the making of “Nosferatu,” wherein F.W. Murnau does not actually hire Max Schreck the actor to play his vampire, but a REAL vampire (who may or may not be the real Dracula) who shares the same name/alias, which makes for a good cover-up in the end. However, while the movie certainly plays on the comedy of such an idea, it actually takes itself surprisingly seriously, to the point of it being more of a full-fledged horror flick, and a surprisingly good one at that. There are a lot of reasons for this, but I won’t go into them here. Suffice it to say that Dafoe’s portrayal of the titular character is truly stunning; he can be downright hilarious, almost adorable, in his own twisted way, but he can also be very sick and depraved, capturing the movements and attitudes of the original rather closely. In a way, “Shadow” reverses the roles between Dracula & Renfield, with the emaciated Orlok playing the slave to Murnau’s near-psychotic direction; he creates a “sympathetic” version of the character with much more wit, and several ounces more evil, than other "Nosferatu" inspired versions. I highly recommend it, though whether I’m doing it despite or because of its admitted strangeness has yet to be determined…


11. Louis Jourdan, from the 1977 B.B.C. miniseries.

If Antonio Banderas ever tried playing Dracula, my guess is it would be something like this version. This production is often regarded as the closest to the Stoker novel, though it does take liberties of its own, especially with the character of Renfield...but that’s another story. Jourdan’s Dracula is especially creepy in how utterly calm, collected, and even casual he is. He almost never raises his voice, carrying himself with intense sophistication and an air of smugness, and has a certain wit that makes his Dracula one of the most frighteningly human versions ever done; he’s not sympathetic in the slightest, but there’s no doubt this is an evil man, not a monster...which, in it’s own way, is just as horrifying as any more “monstrous” portrayal of Dracula. At times, he may be a bit TOO debonair, but it’s still a worthy attempt.


10. David Suchet, from the 2006 BBC Radio Play.

Yes, Radio. So, no, that isn’t him in the Dracula costume...however, the actual cover art for the CD of said radio play depicts one of Dracula’s brides, and therefore I felt it better to put a picture of the man himself in as “Dracula-like” an appearance as I could manage. So bite me. (Unless you’re a vampire, in which case, please don’t. The Sun gives me enough problems as it is, and I like garlic.)

This production is actually more famous for its featuring Tom Hiddleston (yes, as in Loki) in the role of Jonathan Harker. And, don’t get me wrong, Hiddleston makes a fantastic Harker, easily one of the best, but for me, it’s good ol’ David Suchet who steals the show. His Romanian accent is present, but not overpowering, and he lends an animalistic quality to his portrayal of the Count, while also keeping him sly, shadowy, and vague; his Dracula is a true creature of the night, with barely enough humanity to allow him to manipulate it, so far gone into the blackness he cannot come out. He is mesmerizing and intriguing, but by no means sympathetic, or even all that romantic; he is a controlling and dominating master of darkness. The only downside is that it IS only a vocal performance, and while that isn’t necessarily a BAD thing, I get the feeling this entire production could have benefited so much more if Suchet, Hiddleston, and all the rest had been allowed to do this as a film or miniseries.

Fun fact: the same year this version came out, BBC DID release a film version of “Dracula,” and DID feature David Suchet...as Van Helsing. (pauses) Well, that works too, I guess.


9. Duncan Regher, from 1987’s “Monster Squad.”

This film and its Dracula have no connection to the 1970’s children show of the same name. Just throwing that out there. The best way to describe Regher’s Dracula, and “Monster Squad” in general, is through his final battle scene: Dracula marches down the street, heels and silver cane clicking on the pavement, thunder and lightning flashing and cape billowing in the wind; at the other end of the street, a little girl and The Creepy Old German Guy (don’t ask; just watch the film) try to hold the Count at bay - futilely - with an ancient chant; the girl is holding a magic amulet that Dracula needs to conquer the world. Dracula never blinks, never takes his eyes off the two, as he steadily heads down the street; police swarm him from every side, but the bullets bounce off him like he’s superman, as he punches, kicks, and throws them aside, even breaking their necks at points. When he gets close, the German Guy runs up, screaming “Nosferatu!” Dracula lifts a hand gracefully, like he’s going to hypnotize him...AND SHOOTS HIM WITH A LASER.

...HOW DOES HE DO THAT?!

Also - another fun fact - Regher was once named “The Most Stylish Dracula on Film.” And I must admit, I’m tempted to agree.


8. Francis Lederer, from “Return of Dracula.”

I doubt very many of you have seen this film, but I highly recommend it; it is surprisingly good! The film sets the Count into a modern-age environment, as he seeks fresh blood in 1950’s America. The side characters, plot, and cinematography/effects are all rather well done given the time period and my expectations, but it’s Lederer’s portrayal of the Count that sells it. Born and raised in Hungary, Lederer doesn’t need to fake his European accent, and carries all the gravity and dignity of a nobleman while wearing a Lex Luthor-like business suit, but there’s also a desperation that he brings to the role, and a bizarre gentility, giving added depth to the part. It’s a noteworthy performance, and one that is vastly underrated...not surprising, given this film came out the same time Hammer was doing the first of its Dracula movies...but that’s another story.


7. Peter Stormare, from “The Batman vs. Dracula.”

The good thing about this film, and this Dracula, is you can pretty much decide whether you’ll like him/it or not based entirely on the title. The film doesn’t fool around, makes no pretense; it gives you just what you want and expect, and does it, in my opinion, at least, with style; it’s a very love-or-hate deal, and, personally, I love it. It respects the characters of both worlds, but also has fun with itself; it doesn’t shy away from the blood or the evil, but doesn’t exploit it either. (Oh, and the animation is AMAZING.) As for its Dracula, specifically: Stormare, famous for his portrayal of Lucifer himself in “Constantine” (what is with Keanu Reeves and Dracula actors?), lends a performance that is both dryly humorous and bone-chillingly cold, and his more “classic” portrayal, overall, lends itself, both in design and personality, to many of the great Draculas of the past; there’s a bit of Christopher Lee in his design, and a hint (the keyword being a HINT) of Bela Lugosi in his intonations. His “beast form” (common to many Dracula films, though, lest my memory fail me, it has no place in Stoker’s novel) is also probably one of the best, if not the best, I’ve ever seen.


6. The Version from Castlevania.

Portrayed by numerous actors, with a veritable museum of costumes and desgins, and with a personality and portrayal that varies radically from game-to-game between evil incarnate, tragic villain, anti-hero, and just-plain-hero-albeit-a-dark-one, Castlevania’s Dracula is one of the most persistent and well-known portayals of all time. Ever since the first game in the 80’s, this famous game series has had many incarnations of Dracula, some closer to the book than others, throughout its history; for me, my favorite design of Dracula goes to “Circle of the Moon” (the one seen in the picture used for my "Top 12 Video Game Villains" countdown). HOWEVER, in terms of my favorite overall portrayal, I think I’ll have to go with the version voiced by Robert Carlyle from the recent reboot series, “Castlevania: Lords of Shadow.” (Pictured here.) And why is it my favorite? Because he’s the most “solid” portrayal for me, for starters; whether you like or dislike the Lords of Shadow games, you can’t deny they kept Dracula in-character with the events that happened throughout, and gave him a backstory and motives that drove him throughout his misadventures in the games. Granted, I’m not sure why they decided to make him and most people in Transylvania sound Scottish, but Carlyle still does a fantastic job (fans of Rumpelstiltskin from “Once Upon a Time” can probably guess that), and plus, you get to PLAY AS HIM in two out of the three games, and his boss fight (well...one of them, anyway) in the remaining game out is pretty dang awesome...again, in my opinion. The recent Netflix series based on the games features a somewhat more "classic" Count Dracula, voiced by Graham McTavish, who is equally excellent in the role when compared to Carlyle. Whether you prefer the "classic" version, or the one from "Lords of Shadow," this particular Prince of Darkness will remain one of the most persistent vampires of all time.


5. Max Schreck, as Count Orlok, from “Nosferatu.”

And now we meet, at last, to the true grandaddy of all Draculas. Even to this day, “Nosferatu” is one atmospherically eerie picture. A true silent classic, its visual style and terrific acting, especially for the 1920’s, still make it a true gem among horror fanatics. Though renamed “Orlok,” apparently to avoid a copyright scandal (it didn’t really work, but I digress), this Dracula retains all the sinister, sadistic, and often psychopathic airs of Stoker’s mad vampire aristocrat, and the rat-or-bat-like physical appearance, with curved talons, pointed ears, piercing eyes, and needle-like fangs all create an indelible and menacing image; put Orlok side-by-side with a portrayl like, say, Langella’s, and I think you’ll immediately see why, as far as being a dark creature of the night goes, Schreck’s portrayal of the King of Vampires is so much higher. While Dafoe, Kinski, and a few other referrals have all done their best, the original Orlok remains a vampire who is often imitated, but never, ever truly duplicated.


4. Gary Oldman, from the 1992 film.

Admittedly, in the design department, I was never crazy about Oldman’s appearance; his young Dracula looks all right, but his old Dracula looks like an unholy hybrid between the two Queens from Tim Burton’s take on “Alice in Wonderland.” (Or, maybe they look like Oldman’s Old-Man, split apart, since that film came later...oh, whatever.) However, whether you love or hate this film, Oldman is, regardless, a well-portrayed take on the count; a near-bipolar vampiric warrior, he manages to be sympathetic, while also somehow getting six of the Seven Deadly Sins down to a tea: he is proud, almost sinfully so; his relationship with Mina Harker borders a fine line between pained, longing love and bestial lust; his greedy desire for power matched by his gluttony for blood, counteracted by his envy of humanity; and he, as a warrior, carries wrath, vengeance, and bloodthirsty madness all deep in his cold heart. He is somehow one of the most sinister of all Draculas, and yet somehow one of the most tragic. Now, if only Keanu Reeves didn’t fudge everything up...sigh…


3. Crispin Freeman, as Alucard, from “Hellsing Ultimate.”

BEHOLD! THE SCARIEST COUNT DRACULA...NAY! THE SCARIEST VAMPIRE, PERIOD, EVER TO GRACE THE SCREEN! While I’ve never read the manga, nor seen the original anime version of “Hellsing,” the OVA series, with its spectacular animation and excellent voice acting, especially for an English Dub, won me over to its bloodthirsty spell. It’s rather odd, to me, imagining the King of the Night as a slave to Van Helsing’s descendants, hunting down other vampires a-la Blade, and fighting off Neo-Nazis, but, meh, he’s certainly not going to do BADLY at it. With near omnipotent abilities, a killer costume, and, most importantly to me, Crispin Freeman’s AMAZING vocal performance - every WORD sounds like it comes from the pits of Hell itself! - this is a Dracula certainly worth checking out.


2. Bela Lugosi, from the 1931 film and “Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein.

I actually feel a bit bad that Lugosi isn’t number one; regardless of what you really think of him, this man and his performances as the Count have become the epitome of Draculaism; nearly everyone tries to go against the Lugosi grain, but no one quite succeeds. With his thick, thick accent, theatrical mannerisms, mesmerizing stare, and a charming, dapper personality that is contrasted by a far more ghoulish persona, Lugosi may have been a bit of a ham, but there is no denying that he is the definitive film Dracula...yet not my number one. So, who could possibly top this legendary Prince of Darkness…?


Ladies, gentlemen...undecided...I present to you…


1. Christopher Lee, from Hammer Horror/Jesus Franco’s “Count Dracula.”

And, yes, I am counting both versions. Why? Well, for as iconic as the Hammer films are, and as Christopher Lee himself has often said, the character isn’t really “Dracula,” if you know what I mean. It doesn’t help that Drac, throughout the Hammer series, says very, very little; heck, there’s one film where he doesn’t even APPEAR, and another where he doesn’t speak a single word! While it’s true that Dracula, in the book, actually ISN’T the focus, when he does appear, he speaks, and the words he says are powerful. For this reason, if you were to ask me for my ACTUAL favorite Drac, I’d say the Jess Franco version.

The Franco version, admittedly, is not that great a film, overall, but it still holds the record, in my opinion, as having the single best Count Dracula of all time, and possibly the closest to the book’s incarnation of the Count. Lee’s Dracula is sympathetic and layered in this film, but it isn’t done in an “in your face” way others, like Langella or Kinski or Oldman, have tried it...in other words, he isn’t WRITTEN to say anything that will make him seem sympathetic. It’s done almost entirely through Lee’s performance. His delivery of the “Children of the Night” bit is also, in my opinion, the single best; a crazed sort of smirk paints his face, revealing just the tips of his fangs, as he leans in his chair, like Dracula wants to go out and join in the singing...then, he remembers he has company, composes himself, and is once more the stiff, aristocratic Count again.

Still, though Franco’s Count is more my favorite, the inconography and sheer awesomeness, for lack of better phrasing, of the Hammer version cannot be denied...no one can wear the red-&-black cape like Christopher Lee. And, just to waste your time further: my favorite Hammer Draculas, for sake of Christopher Lee dialogue, would have to go to Horror of Dracula (the first), Dracula Has Risen From the Grave (probably the second best film of the series, after the original movie), Scars of Dracula (mostly for Lee and the visual style; most of the other actors and the script itself are a complete joke), Dracula A.D. 1972 (minus the Count’s final scene, which is sort of hilarious, it's a pretty good flick), and the last 15 or so minutes of The Satanic Rites of Dracula (because the rest of that movie is SHITE).



Honorable Mentions Include…

Count Von Count, from “Sesame Street.”

How can anyone not love this lavendar looney? This mathematically manic noble has captured the hearts of hundreds of children all over the world, and mine was no exception; even to this day, I get a warm, goopy feeling of nostalgia when thinking of him. However, he’s not REALLY Dracula, or even a vampire, for that matter (though he still makes a more convincing ghoulie than any member of the Cullen family...sorry, had to bring that up), so I must, with great regret, place him here.


Klaus Kinski, from “Nosferatu the Vampyre.”

A remake of the famed silent film, this film re-renamed all the characters to their original names from Stoker’s novel, and, being a non-silent film, was able to use more of Stoker’s text than the original, though the plot is still based around the original “Nosferatu,” which differs greatly in many places from the original book. Kinski’s portrayal was directed and performed in a more sympathetic light, even down to the makeup, which, while still repulsive and deformed, carries a sad sort of weight about it, everything about the character emphasizing his loneliness and his desperate, parasitic state...then again, they might have gone TOO far, reducing, in the film’s worst moments (well…“less good” moments, I should say), Stoker’s powerful villain to a cringing, whining emo goth who just wants a hug. Poor darling.


Other Honorable Mentions Include…

Christian Camargo, from Penny Dreadful

Jack Palance, from the 1973 film

John Carradine, from House of Frankenstein & House of Dracula

Hamilton Camp, from Scooby-Doo & the Reluctant Werewolf
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Swell-a-licous392's avatar

I really like late great deadpanned comedian from the Naked Gun trilogy Leslie Niesen as Count Dracula myself. He’s a good actor and I really like how he uses the original Dracula hairpiece as a hat.