Dracula – back from the dead!

By John Freeman on 23 October 2007

This Hallowe’en, a stunning new restoration of Hammer’s classic Dracula will thrill audiences at over 70 cinemas across the UK thanks to the British Film Institute.

The Hammer studio’s most celebrated film, Dracula stars Christopher Lee in his first ever outing as the vampire Count. This was also the first version of Bram Stoker’s famous novel to be filmed in colour, lending greater emphasis than ever before to the physical aspects of horror.

“Of all Draculas,” says horror aficionado Kevin Jackson, “Christopher Lee is the most truly frightening.” But he is also suave, debonair and an accomplished seducer who awakens his female prey’s desire before they offer themselves as victims.

With its skilful blend of the erotic and the horrific, Dracula offers a richly satisfying big-screen experience – from the first appearance of the black-cloaked Count at the top of a flight of stairs, to the film’s breathtakingly choreographed finale.

• Watch the trailer: www.bfi.org.uk/dracula/trailer

BOOK NOW

31 October Hallowe’en Previews

• Cineworld Cinema – For list of venues nationwide visit www.cineworld.co.uk
• IMAX, London – This screening will be introduced by Dracula screenwriter Jimmy Sangster
• National Media Museum Bradford
• Derby Quad
• Watershed Bristol
• Screen on the Green
• Screen Reigate
• Screen Oxted
• Screen Winchester

Opens 2 November

• BFI Southbank
• Cineworld Cinema See full list of venues at www.cineworld.co.uk
• Irish Film Institute

About the Author
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John Freeman

John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.

He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.