For many years now this has been my favourite of the dozens of horror films that Hammer Studios produced and also one of my very favourite horror films full stop. The second of the full-blooded gory masterpieces that Hammer released in the late 50s (following THE CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN, of course),Dracula is an influential, expertly-made epic which also happens to be the best screen adaptation of Stoker's famous story. It may not be particularly close to the text – not with the characters having been changed around and even the setting altered – but nonetheless it makes for fantastic, fascinating viewing and it really is a joy to watch all involved at the peak of their powers.

Terence Fisher brings excellent direction to the movie (his best) and keeps everything together. The pacing is fairly slow, yes, but as the film is packed with atmosphere (dry-ice enshrouded graveyards, spooky woodlands, etc.) and liberally peppered with bloody shocks – the various stakings for instance, now tame but back then extremely powerful. The score, by James Bernard, is simplistic but extremely evocative and ultimately thrilling. It has to be one of the best scores for a horror film that I've heard despite being old-fashioned these days. Set design is great, the cobwebby castle locations look brilliant, and of course the costumes and the props are all spot-on.

Christopher Lee is truly outstanding as Dracula and far better than Lugosi in the role (although Lugosi himself was very good, Lee is simply tremendous!). Despite later typecasting this is probably Lee's best screen role and thankfully he isn't overused in the movie, instead his character hides elusively in the shadows only to burst out in full fright at key moments. Peter Cushing is equally good as the athletic, heroic, sporting Van Helsing and again it is one of the best performances of his career, and in my opinion has never been better. Horror star Michael Gough makes a low-key appearance (as a good guy!) in his first of many horror roles and the beautiful ladies Melissa Stribling, Valerie Gaunt, and Carol Marsh are radiant to behold. Plus all the usual Hammer staples – John Van Eyssen, Charles Lloyd Pack, Geoffrey Bayldon, George Woodbridge, Miles Malleson – filling out minor but memorable roles and you have an expertly-cast little movie.

The best remembered part of the film is, of course, the conclusion, which remains unforgettable to anyone who sees it at an impressionable age. Right from the moment when Cushing learns that Dracula's coffin is in the cellar, the pacing goes through the roof, the music is upped a notch and the viewer is left on the edge of his seat for ten minutes as the terrific conclusion plays out. Who can forget the shot of Lee slowly expiring in the sunlight or Cushing's dynamism as he suddenly leaps banisters and jumps over tables using anything to hand in his battle against the Count. Primitive but nonetheless highly impressive special effects work rounds off this climatic battle between good vs. evil which is in fact one of my favourite moments in a film, ever. Fantastic stuff and a true genre classic.

Often regarded as the highlight of Hammer horror's oeuvre, The Horror of Dracula stands up today as a fresh and inventive take on what is maybe the best story ever written. Hammer is a studio that has had many a fine hour, and although this is one indeed; I think that there are several other films from their ranks that just top it. Just, being the operative word as this is certainly up there with the best of them. As you might expect, the story follows that of Bram Stoker's original novel; with a young man travelling to Dracula's castle, and not returning. This attracts the attentions of Professor Abraham Van Helsing; an authority in the field of vampirism who then sets out to slay the malevolent fiend that is the source of all the foul play in the movie; Dracula himself.

Although this is based on the classic story, Hammer very much makes it their own. Of course, the campy horror styling that that the studio has become famous for features strongly in the movie and serves in giving it that classic Hammer feel. Furthermore, this movie features both of Hammer's greatest stars; Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing. Christopher Lee may be no Bela Lugosi, but if there was anyone other than Bela Lugosi that I would want to play Dracula; Christopher Lee is that man. He isn't actually in it that much, but the moments when he is are the best in the movie. He has an incredible amount of screen presence, and all of that is transferred into the character of Dracula. In a similar way, Peter Cushing plays Van Helsing. Like Lee, Cushing has buckets of screen presence, but it's all in a very different style. While Lee is a defined evil, Cushing is more subdued, which allows him to adequately play the hero as well as well as he plays the villain. I've got to be honest, I prefer Cushing in the bad guy role; but he still makes an excellent hero.

Terence Fisher, one of Hammer's premier directors, directs the film and does a great job with it. The atmosphere of the Gothic period setting is spot on, and a constantly foreboding, and intriguing atmosphere is created throughout. The way that the smoke drifts across the graveyard in the movie is among the most atmospheric things Hammer ever shot. Dracula is a great story, and this Hammer yarn more than does it justice.

I'm not a big fan of horror films but I was very impressed with this one, titled "Horror Of Dracula." (For some reason, it's just called "Dracula" here on the IMDb site.

This is a solid re-telling of the Dracula story with some legitimate thrills provided to the viewer along with pretty photography and sets and a tasteful lack of blood.

I'm curious how this looks and sounds on DVD. Story-wise, they might have embellished some of the action scenes and made Dracula a little more powerful. (I can't see him feeling a regular human being which he did here in the end.) Other than that, it's a well-done movie with no exaggerated characters, nice colors, no problem understanding accents....one of the better Dracula films ever made, just maybe the best. It's that good!

It also features two of the best classic 'horror" actors of all-time: Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee. Highly recommended, particularly for people who might be hesitant to watch a "Dracula" film. I'll think you'll like this version.