5. Christopher Lee (Dracula, 1958)
Although Bela Lugosi had the look and the voice, Christopher Lee embodied Dracula on a whole other level. Horror of Dracula is a 1958 Hammer horror film that follows a man named Jonathan Harker who attacks Dracula at his beloved castle. Seeking vengeance, the vampire then travels to a nearby city where he preys on the family of Harker’s fiancée. In this nail-biting scene (spoilers) with heart-pumping music, Dracula (Christopher Lee) fights opposite of Doctor Van Helsing (Peter Cushing) in dramatic fighting conclusion directed by Terence Fisher.
6. Frank Langella (Dracula, 1979)
Frank Langella’s performance in the 1979 version of Dracula is hauntingly beautiful. With just a look, his performance alone stands enough. Frank Langella has a highly mannered performance, doing so much with just his eyes in this scene, enough to make you feel alarmed and scared but then somehow hypnotised and comforted. This was a far more romanticized adaption of the book and was directed by John Badham, also starring Laurence Oliver, Donald Pleasence and Kate Nelligan.
7. Christopher Lee (Dracula Has Risen From The Grave, 1968)
Seems like Christopher Lee just can’t get enough of Dracula, and neither can we. The veteran actor portrayed Dracula no fewer than 10 times on screen. In this scene from the 1968 film Dracula Has Risen From The Grave, Christopher Lee puts up a frighteningly good performance as he rises from the dead seeking revenge on those that exorcised his castle.
8. Klaus Kinski (Nosferatu the Vampyre, 1979)
Directed by renowned filmmaker Werner Herzog, Nosferatu the Vampyre sees the enigmatic Klaus Kinski portray Count Dracula; in this story about young lover Jonathan (Bruno Ganz) and Lucy (Isabelle Adjani). When The Count decides he wants a house in their picturesque hometown of Wismar, Jonathan is sent to assist him. In this scene, Klaus Kinksi is ferociously good, and it’s not just the makeup (which is uncomfortably well done and creepy) but his demeanour. The dialogue in this scene is strikingly poignant and poetic, making it powerfully memorable.
9. Willem Dafoe (Shadow of the Vampire, 2000)
Shadow of the Vampire (2000) directed by E. Elias Merhige is a different take on the Dracula myth. This dramatised retelling of the making of Nosferatu (1922) see Willem Dafoe playing Max Shreck, the actor who originally portrayed the count, who then became obsessed with the role much to his directors (John Malkovich) dismay. Dafoe was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor and won the LAFCA Award on behalf of his performance. In this scene, John Malkovich delivers an incredibly strong performance opposite of Willem Dafoe, whose performance is downright menacing yet completely captivating.
10. Jack Palance (Bram Stoker’s Dracula, 1974)
Warning: contains spoilers
Jack Palance is outstanding as Dracula in Dan Curtis’ Bram Stoker’s Dracula. In this clip, Jack Palance delivers a powerful performance with merely his body language alone. With nowhere to hide, he tries to save himself by destroying the others. The score is breathtaking thanks to Bob Cobert, composer of the film. One of the most faithful versions of Dracula to date, Palance demonstrated his great physical strength, an intimidating presence.
Words by Katelyn Connerty