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 When it comes to directing Eurotrash cinema, Jess Franco (or one of his other crafty pen names) has everyone beat hands down. The 175 year old director has made some 1,700 movies in his lifetime. Most of these have naked people doing naked things and often times getting massacred or hunted by ghosts in the process. That is if he actually gets them on camera. Most of his films are so amateurishly shot that you could get better results giving your seven-year-old cousin a camcorder and seven days to remake Apocalypse Now.
No. Seriously. I’m not fucking kidding you. Jess Franco is one of the worst directors of all time. Those of you who think Uwe Boll or Ed Wood, Jr. hold those trophies are just kidding yourselves.
Needless to say, I was shocked when I watched Jess Franco’s Count Dracula for the first time because it actually holds itself together, and it doesn’t appear Franco had to use any scotch tape.
How did this happen? How did Franco make a legitimate film? Well, for one, he got a legitimate and popular novel, and decided that a straight adaptation would be the best way (and an original way) to approach it. In doing so, he attracted Christopher Lee to play the Count. Not a role that Lee was inexperienced with (he played Dracula five times for Hammer Studios, not to mention a slew of other macabre characters); he was more than happy to have a chance to play for once a direct translation of Bram Stoker’s novel’s titular character.
 Further adding credibility where none should have been found is a wonderful supporting cast. Herbert Lom, probably best known in the states for his supporting roles in the Pink Panther series of films, plays a decent Van Helsing, quite a bit more active than we’ve seen with Edward Van Sloan in the original Tod Browning version of Dracula despite that there is no real final confrontation between them. Soledad Miranda, the second most tragic woman to be bitten by a vampire in cinematic history (the first being Sharon Tate in The Fearless Vampire Killers) plays Lucy. One of the most gorgeous women in film history, Miranda displays more sensuality into her character than anyone before (or after) ever even attempted. And finally, in a true moment of sheer casting genius, the role of fly-eater Renfield is given to the unequaled Klaus Kinski who will later go on to play Dracula himself in the remake of Nosferatu.
 It’s a shame that the budget of Count Dracula wasn’t large enough to deserve those actors, because the production, while decent, still shows its limitations. Obviously this is most evident in the special effects. The scenes when Dracula is in bat form are hilarious and, quite clearly, a rubber bat on a string, and the blood looks entirely unrealistic. Although I have to admit the costumes were very good, if a bit too reminiscent of the Hammer Horror style that Franco seemed to want to distance himself from. The make-up effects of Dracula gradually gaining his youth back were also very cool. Let’s face it: Dracula has been done to death a million times over, even by 1970. If you are going to do Dracula, you might as well do it with some conviction, and I think that the creative team here had all the right ideas, even if they didn’t have the right tools.
 Ultimately, the film’s biggest flaw is that it is directed by Jess Franco. Lingering close-ups can work wonders for a scene when trying to make a dramatic effect. It isn’t so much the case when every single character is viewed like this. Christopher Lee’s teeth, Klaus Kinski’s eyes and Soledad Miranda’s lips should be getting their own check for their non-credited appearance in this film. There isn’t much action at all in this film, but the atmosphere is great. You truly feel transported to gothic times, and that the victims really are under Dracula’s spell.
I sincerely doubt that Jess Franco’s Count Dracula will become your favorite Dracula movie, but it certainly is one that shouldn’t be missed. For all its flaws, it has wonderful acting and a great atmosphere that vampire completists like me are sure to find satisfying. If the actors in this film had been used in Coppola’s Bram Stoker’s Dracula, you would have had the perfect vampire movie.
 The DVD Presentation
Presented in the full frame aspect ratio in which it was shot, Jess Franco’s Count Dracula arrives on DVD for the first time with a really great transfer. Those of you seeing this film for the first time will probably be seeing a better transfer than what was shown theatrically. The audio (a dub, but I’ve seen worse, and with so many different actors there is no clear true original “language”) is quite clear with very little background noise. English subtitles are included for those who require them. All and all, it’s an incredibly well put together DVD, but I don’t usually expect anything less from Dark Sky.
And the Extras Are?
“Beloved Count” – Featurette – (26:33) This interview with Jess Franco is quite impressive. It covers every aspect of the production, what working with the cast was like, where it was shot, and the inspiration of doing a “true” adaptation of Bram Stoker’s novel. The highlights of this feature are easily Franco expressing his distaste for Coppola’s Bram Stoker’s Dracula and his holding back emotion when discussing the untimely death of actress Soledad Miranda. Thankfully, this also has optional English subs. Franco’s accent is quite thick.
Christopher Lee reads “Bram Stoker’s Dracula” – (1:24:02) Feature length in it’s own right, this is literally Christopher Lee reading the original story. I don’t have access to the original novel as I write this, so I can’t be certain if it’s unabridged or not, but even so, it is entirely epic. Christopher Lee has always had an incredible voice, and hearing him recite the story is nothing less than astounding. A truly unique and appreciated featurette. As a bonus on a bonus, this isn’t simply an audio feature. Throughout the narration, stills both from the film and behind the scenes are displayed, so you will have some cool things to see as well.
Soledad Miranda Essay – This is an eleven page text bio of the actress written by Amy Brown, webmaster of www.soledadmiranda.com. It’s wonderfully written and really puts her entire career in perspective.
 Still Gallery – 25 stills, mostly posters and lobby cards with some print ads, are included in this gallery. I’m glad to see these, but I hoped it would have the great deal more stills included in the novel reading. Not bad though for some rare images.
The Bottom Line
I really liked viewing Jess Franco’s Count Dracula, which came as something of a surprise to me considering how craptastic much of Franco’s catalog is. The production values aren’t stellar, and the imagery is stolen right out of the Hammer films, but all the actors bring their stuff to the table and it all works out together in the end. Those looking for the romanticism of Coppola’s Bram Stoker’s Dracula won’t find any here, but you will still find a lovely adaptation of the well known story respectfully done, and taken completely seriously.
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