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Dracula (1958 film)

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Peter Cushing as Abraham Van Helsing.
Christopher Lee as Count Dracula.

Dracula (aka Horror of Dracula in the United States) is a 1958 film in which after Jonathan Harker attacks Dracula at his castle, the vampire travels to a nearby city, where he preys on the family of Harker's fiancée. The only one who may be able to protect them is Dr. Van Helsing, Harker's friend and fellow-student of vampires, who is determined to destroy Dracula, whatever the cost.

Directed by Terence Fisher. Written by Jimmy Sangster, based on the novel by Bram Stoker.
Who Will Be His Bride Tonight? taglines

Abraham Van Helsing

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  • [dictates into grammaphone] Established that victims consciously detest being dominated by vampirism but are unable to relinquish the practice, similar to addiction to drugs. Ultimately, death results from loss of blood. But, unlike normal death, no peace manifests itself for they enter into the fearful state of the undead. Since the death of Jonathan Harker, Count Dracula, the propagator of this unspeakable evil, has disappeared. He must be found and destroyed.
  • [to Arthur] Holmwood, the study of these creatures has been my life's work. I've carried out research with some of the greatest authorities in Europe and yet we've only just scratched the surface. You see, a great deal is known about the vampire bat. But details of these reanimated bodies of the dead...the UNdead as we call them...are so obscure that many biologists will not believe they exist. Of course, you're shocked and bewildered. How can you expect to understand in so short a time? But you've read and experienced enough to know that this unholy cult must be wiped out. I hope perhaps that you will help me.

Jonathan Harker

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  • The diary of Jonathan Harker: "May 3, 1885. At last my long journey is growing to its close. What the eventual end will be, I cannot foresee. But whatever may happen, I can rest secure that I will have done all in my power to achieve success. The last lap of my journey, from the village of Klausenberg, proved to the more difficult than I had anticipated due to the reluctance on the part of the coach driver to take me all the way. However, as there was no other transport available, I was forced to travel the last few kilometers on foot before arriving at Castle Dracula. The castle appeared innocuous enough in the warm afternoon sun, and it all seemed normal but for one thing--there were no birds singing. As I crossed the wooden bridge and entered the gateway, it suddenly seemed to become much colder due, no doubt, to the icy waters of the mountain torrent I had just crossed. However, I deemed myself lucky to have secured this post, and did not intend to falter in my purpose."
  • "At last I have met Count Dracula. He accepts me as a man who has agreed to work among his books...as I intended. It only remains for me now to await the daylight hours when, with God's help, I will forever end this man's reign of terror."
  • "I have become a victim of Dracula and the woman in his power. It may be that I am doomed to be one of them. If that is so, I can only pray that whoever finds my body will possess the knowledge to do what is necessary to release my soul. I have lost a day. Soon it will be dark. While my senses are still my own, I must do what I set out to do. I must find the resting place of Dracula and, there, end his existence forever."

Dialogue

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Woman: Mr. Harker, you will help me?
Harker: If it's still possible. But, tell me, why is Count Dracula keeping you prisoner?
Woman: I cannot tell you that.
Harker: But if I'm to help you, I must know.
Woman: I'm sorry. It's not possible.
Harker: You make it very difficult for me. After all, I'm a guest here. If I'm to help you, I must have a reason.
Woman: A reason! You ask for a reason! Is it not reason enough that he keeps me locked up in this house, holds me against my will? You can have no idea of what an evil man he is or the terrible things he does. I could not...dare not...try to leave on my own. He would find me again, I know. But, with you to help me, I would have a chance. Oh, you must help me. You must! You're my only hope. You must!
Harker: [holding her in his arms] I'll help you, I promise. Please don't distress yourself.
Woman: Thank you. [She bites Harker's neck]
Van Helsing: What are you afraid of?
Innkeeper: I don't understand you.
Van Helsing: Why all these garlic flowers? Over the window? And up here? They're not for decoration, are they?
Innkeeper: I don't know what you're talking about.
Van Helsing: I think you do. And I think you know something about my friend. He came here with a purpose...to help you.
Innkeeper: We haven't asked for any help.
Van Helsing: You need it all the same.
Innkeeper: Look, sir, you're a stranger here in Klausenburgh. Some things are best left alone, such as interfering in things which are beyond our powers.
Van Helsing: Please don't misunderstand me. This is more than a superstition, I know. The danger is very real. If the investigation which Mr. Harker and I are engaged upon is successful, not only you but the whole world will benefit. Castle Dracula is somewhere here in Klausenburgh. Will you tell me how I get there?
Innkeeper: You ordered a meal, sir. As the innkeeper, it is my duty to serve you. When you've eaten, I ask you to go and leave us in peace.
Van Helsing: [after examining Lucy] Those marks on her neck. When did they first appear?
Mina: Well, I noticed them first shortly after she became ill. I asked her about them, and she said that she thought she'd been stung. It is quite possible, of course. Dr. Seward said she must have plenty of fresh air. The windows were open all the time.
Van Helsing: Between the hours of sunset and sunrise, all the windows in her room, with the possible exception of a small fanlight for ventilation, must be kept shut.
Mina: But Dr. Seward said...
Van Helsing: Mrs. Holmwood. You called me in for a second opinion. If I am to help your sister at all, there are certain things you must do to help me however unorthodox they may appear.
Mina: Yes, I know, but...
Van Helsing: If you love Miss Lucy, be guided by me, I beg you.
Mina: I'll do anything to make her well again.
Van Helsing: You must get some garlic flowers. As many as you can. Place them by her windows and her door and by her bedside. They may be taken out during the day but, under no circumstances even if the patient implores you, must they be removed at night. I cannot impress upon you strongly enough how important it is that you obey my instructions. Do exactly as I say and we may be able to save her. If you don't, she will die. I'll be here in the morning.
Police officer: Good evening, Ma'am. Good evening, sir.
Arthur: What is it, officer?
Police officer: I found this little girl here. She was very distressed indeed. Tell them what you told me.
Tania: I don't want to.
Mina: Oh, Tania. There's no need to be frightened. Now come on over here. Sit with me and tell me all about it. Now you don't want Mr. Holmwood to think you're a crybaby, do you? You're a big girl now. Now, come on, tell me what happened.
Tania: Well, I was out by myself, and she came up to me, and she said, "Hello, Tania, shall we go for a little walk?" And I said, "Yes," and we went for a walk. And then someone came along and she ran away and left me, and I was alone.
Mina: Who was she? Who did you see? Come on, tell me. Who was she?
Tania: Aunt Lucy!
Arthur: Is there no other way?
[Van Helsing shakes his head]
Arthur: But it's horrible!
Van Helsing: Please try and understand. This is not Lucy, the sister you loved. It's only a shell, possessed and corrupted by the evil of Dracula. Liberate her soul and give it eternal peace. We must destroy that shell for all time! Believe me, there is no other way.
[Van Helsing drives a stake through Lucy's heart]
[Mina gasps and faints when a crucifix is handed to her. The crucifix has burned a mark in her palm]
Arthur: You said Lucy would lead us to Dracula. Why didn't I listen to you? This would never have happened.
Van Helsing: You mustn't blame yourself for that, but you must have the courage to let Mina lead us now. We'll give her every protection we can. Tonight, we will watch the windows of her room. They face two sides, don't they?
Arthur: Yes.
Van Helsing: I know I ask a great deal of you, but you mustn't weaken now. We have it within our power to rid the world of this evil. And, with God's help, we'll succeed.
Van Helsing: It's a coach driver. He's been dead about half an hour.
Arthur: Do you think Dracula killed that coachman?
Van Helsing: Of course he did. Without a coach, he'd never get home before sunrise. He'd be dead.
Arthur: But even if he does get home, we...
Van Helsing: He'd hide in the castle vault for years. We'd lose him there.
Arthur: And Mina?

Taglines

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  • Who Will Be His Bride Tonight?
  • Don't Dare See It...Alone!
  • The chill of the tomb won't leave your blood for hours... after you come face-to-face with DRACULA!
  • The terrifying lover who died - yet lived!

Cast

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