8mm Forum: Dracula, Hammer Films, 1958

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Posted by Paul Adsett (Member # 25) on 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

Posted by Andrew Wilson (Member # 538) on November 06, 2006, 03:35 AM:

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

Posted by David Hardy (Member # 4628) on 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.

Posted by Evan Samaras (Member # 5070) on January 07, 2017, 04:17 PM:

Any chance we can have some screen captures?!

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on 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]

Posted by Mike Newell (Member # 23) on 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.

Posted by Brian Fretwell (Member # 4302) on 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.

Posted by Daniel Perry (Member # 5802) on 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!

Posted by Oliver F. R. Feld (Member # 1911) on 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!

Posted by Burton Sundquist (Member # 5813) on 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.

Posted by Paul Adsett (Member # 25) on October 16, 2017, 05:24 PM:

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

Posted by Joe Taffis (Member # 4) on 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]

Posted by Rene Ruppert (Member # 5392) on 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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