And it was as Count Dracula that I first heard of him. Lee took what Bela Lugosi and John Carradine before him had done and made the role his own, adding a layer of animalistic sexuality that loosened censorship would allow. He also made fangs a necessary part of any vampire's repetoire.
In Horror of Dracula, released in 1958, immediately on the heels of Curse of Frankenstein, Lee set a new standard of vampire movies, and began a spate of them for Hammer Studios over the next fifteen years. And his good friend Peter Cushing
The Good: Lee's performance, for one. He never spoke much in the entire run of Hammer Films (because Hammer was cheap), but his presence and knowing what to do at the right moments was all that was needed. Also, Peter Cushing brings great conviction to his role as Van Helsing. The supporting players give their all as well. The sets look like a fairy tale land as well.
The Bad: As I said, Hammer was cheap. So Lee isn't seen much in the film. (What he does do will stick with you, though.)
The Ugly: Have I mentioned that Hammer was cheap? None of the special effects associated with vampire films will be seen here. The characters explain this in-story to get around it. Which makes their use of such things later on a bit jarring.
Final Thoughts: To call Horror of Dracula a landmark vampire movie would not do it justice.
Now you can have Four Hammers at once:
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