Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Dracula

Count Dracula is a fictional character, but that hasn't stopped him from becoming the most famous Romanian that never lived. But he is at least partially based on a real historical figure, Vlad the Impaler. Correspondent Morley Safer traveled to Transylvania in search of Dracula. While there he found out why Romania is counting on the Count for tourist dollars.

Dracula
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Poll:

Who is your favorite movie Dracula?

Max Schreck
Bela Lugosi
Christopher Lee
Gary Oldman
Jack Palance

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DID YOU KNOW?

  • Horror icon Bela Lugosi was buried in his Dracula cape.
  • Bram Stroker published "Dracula" in 1897. The book has been translated into 44 languages.
  • Dracula has been the subject of more than 250 movies.

Comments

Sound off on this segment. Here you'll see the comments in the order they were posted.

1
i have been to Tansylvania and i can say this...the people are just the best warm and really enjoying tourists...the castle seems cold indeed the secret doors and more...if you travel Romania it's a must see and always stop at teh small eateries the food will stun you...try it all and enjoy...Buna to all....
Posted by leonard_bellmore on Wed, Oct 31, 2007 6:39 AM ET
2
Vampires are SWEET!!! I would love to visit Vlad's castle someday.
Posted by pantherpink25 on Wed, Oct 31, 2007 8:51 AM ET
3
Is kind of funny how a prince that was so horrible to his people... that his tour of terror during his reign has immortalized him into a devil icon.
Posted by yanilka1987 on Wed, Oct 31, 2007 9:01 AM ET
4
I cannot beleive people prefer Jack Palance, a game show host, over the original Max Schrek in Nosferatu. There were little to no special effects or makeup n 1922 and Schrek went through a number of agonizing ordeals to get the full costume effect, especially his eyes. Palance relied on cheesy 1974 props. People need to watch the classics first. And Shadow of the Vampire is only loosley based on the original. Watch Nosferatu and remember that it was filmed in 1922 and you will realize what an amazingly advanced piece of work it is. Please watch your classics and originals befoer you watch remakes. There's a reason that originals are known as Classic.
Posted by calico48103 on Wed, Oct 31, 2007 9:13 AM ET
5
Gary Oldman was indeed the most handsome vampire ever! I think he was the best Dracula of all the movies ever made! I then became interested in Vlad after watching Bram strokers "Dracula" It was more a love story than horror.
Posted by memphisbelle48 on Wed, Oct 31, 2007 9:15 AM ET
6
In the spirit of Halloween, I have to chime in here. As the producer of the original piece, I went through an ordeal getting the Count on the air. At one point, during the shoot, we found ourselves in a graveyard at dusk, a thunderstorm approaching, dogs howling, while Morley interviewed a priest about Romanian folklore. But you won't see that footage here, because it vanished somewhere between Europe and the United States, along with the vast majority of what we shot. The footage was never found. The editor Matt Danowski worked miracles getting the piece to air. Meanwhile, last year, I published a novel called Fangland as a means to exorcise Dracula's curse.
Posted by purplestatemarks on Wed, Oct 31, 2007 9:56 AM ET
7
I saw most of the actor's portrayals of Dracula with the exception of Jack Palance, I love Bela Legosi, he really paved the road for what Dracula would be for all future movies. I think that Gary Oldman was incredible. He is a really great actor. He can play all sorts of different characters, if anyone has ever seen True Romance, you wouldn't even have thought this guy played Dracula, hes very versitile
Posted by stephenlong485 on Wed, Oct 31, 2007 11:17 AM ET
8
I LOVED BELLA HE IS WAS MY GRANDFATHERS SOUSIN
Posted by maxjavasweetie on Wed, Oct 31, 2007 12:16 PM ET
9
This was unexpected. I researched more about this Dracula historial figure, and boy was I surprised! It spooked me. Definately something I would like to know more about...
Posted by moreno_christina on Wed, Oct 31, 2007 1:46 PM ET
10
I did not pick any of your candidates for favorite Dracula. Give me sexy Frank Langella for the best Dracula.
Posted by kelisgrandma on Wed, Oct 31, 2007 3:57 PM ET
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