365 Days- Day 19

movie: Dracula
starring: Frank Langella, Laurence Olivier
genre: Drama, Romance
year: 1979
format: VHS

plot: Dracula arrives in Whitby, and causes a series of misfortunes to plague the town.  From the death of Mina Van Helsing, to the insanity of Milo Renfield, who's house he's taken over, to the break up of Lucy Seward and Johnathan Harker. When Mina's father, Professor Van Helsing is called to come after her death, a quick showdown between the men and Dracula takes place.

Based on the classic novel.

Right off, the characters are changed and mixed.  (the 1931 version of Dracula also did that) Switching up the Lucy and Mina characters, making Dr. Seward the father of Lucy instead of her lover, etc.

Langella plays the role with such a commanding presence, giving the character a depth he didn't have before. The scene when Dracula feeds off of Lucy is almost hypnotizing, which is the idea, that it sweeps you up for that brief few moments, making you forget you're watching a movie.  The scene where the horse is afraid of the vampire's grave is one that few other movies have ever picked up on. (folklore says that horses can not cross over the graves of vampires or witches)
When we again see Mina, she looks more like something from the Exorcist then any kind of seductress.  

what do i think i learned from this film?
Sometimes you have no choice but to sacrifice that which you love most. 
Dracula is one of the most complicated of stories, dealing with themes of fear, freedom, obsession, lust and insanity. Manipulation plays throughout the plot, affecting all the characters in one form or another.