8mm Forum: Dracula, Hammer Films, 1958

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Topic: Dracula, Hammer Films, 1958

Paul Adsett
Film God

Posts: 5003
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted November 05, 2006 07:17 PM

Dracula , 1958
Hammer Films
Color, 90 mins, 1800ft
Available from Derann

The definitive Dracula movie, it was directed by Terence Fisher and inspired a whole series of Hammer films based on the Bram Stoker novel, and stars Christopher Lee as Count Dracula and Peter Cushing as Doctor Van Helsing. Supporting cast includes Michael Gough as Arthur Holmwood and Melissa Stribbling as his wife Mina. This film is famous for its pioneering combination of fantasy, and romance and sexuality, and its unprecedented (at that time) gore. Of course modern audiences have been totally desensitized to this kind of stuff, and to many young people it probably appears tame, but back in 1958 this film was a ground breaking film, the first of its kind, and had an X-Certificate.
The film has great production values with impressive sets and costumes. Lee of course is superb as the Count, playing him as an imposing,intelligent and cultured person, who turns into a ferocious animal at the sight of blood. Unfortunately Lee’s speaking role is minor, and we only get to hear that magnificent voice in the first reel. Cushing is equally impressive as his adversary Van Helsing, and their final showdown together in the scene in the castle is unforgettable. This film also marked the advent of the ‘Hammer glamour’ girls, with the Vampire girl (Valerie Gouch) wearing appropriately revealing attire. Later Hammer films had progressively much more sexual content.
The Super 8 print from Derann is generally of excellent quality. My print is very sharp and color is very good. Some of the scenes are a little dark, but since these take place at night or in the dungeons of Dracula’s castle, it is no big deal. The picture is slightly masked top and bottom for a 1.85 widescreen format (you do NOT need a scope lens). Sound quality on my print could have been better. It’s clear enough, and there is no problem in comprehending the dialogue, but I think it was under-recorded as I can hear some background stripe rumble. It’s now on my list for re-recording from the DVD.
A terrific movie, perhaps the best of the many Hammer horror films available on super 8.

Print A
Sound B

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Andrew Wilson
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 784
From: dundonald,belfast,co.antrim,northern ireland.
Registered: Jan 2006

posted November 06, 2006 03:35 AM

Great view there Paul of the Best Dracula film ever made.excellent.Andy.

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David Hardy
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 955
From: Johnshaven Village , Montrose, Scotland
Registered: Jan 2015

posted January 05, 2017 12:02 PM

I watched my copy a couple of weeks ago and the colour is as good
as the day I bought from Derann many years ago.

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" My equipment's more important than your rats. "

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Evan Samaras
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 513
From: Queens, NY, USA
Registered: Oct 2015

posted January 07, 2017 04:17 PM

Any chance we can have some screen captures?!

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...When there's no more room in hell, the dead will walk the Earth...

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Tom Photiou
Film God

Posts: 4837
From: Plymouth U.K
Registered: Dec 2003

posted January 08, 2017 05:42 AM

Very good review there of a classic and one of the best Hammer Horrors. I could never find a decent copy of this one. [Wink]

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Mike Newell
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 826
From: United Kingdom
Registered: Jun 2003

posted January 08, 2017 06:55 AM

My copy was a first run and was excellent apart from a few wee blips but nothing to concern the viewer and understandable with age of film. Unfortunately, it was one of those negatives that appeared to be either be damaged by Derann or the labs when printing.

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Brian Fretwell
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1785
From: London, UK
Registered: Jun 2014

posted January 08, 2017 07:52 AM

I believe that for later prints wet gate printers weren't used and that showed up negative damage that was rendered invisible before showed up later.
The fluid used for wet gate was a chloro-flouro carbon and not allowed later.

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Daniel Perry
Film Handler

Posts: 12
From: Suffolk, VA, USA
Registered: Feb 2017

posted February 20, 2017 12:39 PM

Would love to see some shots of this in action. I have a silent black and white 8mm to DVDR transfer of the short. A fun watch!

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Oliver F. R. Feld
Master Film Handler

Posts: 447
From: Berlin, Germany
Registered: Jan 2010

posted May 16, 2017 02:39 AM

A phantastic review of the best Dracula feature ever.
I own a print but sadly the last reel has a bad focus.
And You have to watch it on the big screen!

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Burton Sundquist
Master Film Handler

Posts: 318
From: Burnaby, B.C. Canada
Registered: Feb 2017

posted October 15, 2017 09:52 AM

...As we get closer to Halloween I started screening some of my Super 8 classics of the genre to get into the "sprirt". This Derann print has very good color and sharprness, although there are scenes that have shifted to a brownish tint, and I found no flaws to the soundtrack. Overall, a nice print of this Classic Horror film from Hammer.

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Paul Adsett
Film God

Posts: 5003
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted October 16, 2017 05:24 PM

My print still looks as good as it did 12 years ago when I wrote this review.

--------------------
The best of all worlds- 8mm, super 8mm, 9.5mm, and HD Digital Projection,
Elmo GS1200 f1.0 2-blade
Eumig S938 Stereo f1.0 Ektar
Panasonic PT-AE4000U digital pj

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Joe Taffis
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1592
From: United States
Registered: Jun 2003

posted October 18, 2017 10:25 AM

I've been told that the death scene at the end has been edited, I assume by the British censors. That's a deal breaker for me [Frown]

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Joe Taffis

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Rene Ruppert
Junior
Posts: 22
From: Mainz, Germany
Registered: May 2016

posted October 18, 2017 01:46 PM

That's right, but otherwise the original version was unknown in most parts of the world until 2011 when a print was found in Japan. It's the same with Hitchcock's "Psycho" where the German version contains some shots that were eliminated from Hitchcock's final cut.
I'd love to see (and own ...) the Derann print of "Dracula" some time. The brownish colours of the film may be correct while the Blu-ray disc has a strong blue tint.

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