amarok wrote:
Actually, watching the released film many years ago, I figured out it was Renfield's job to distract Van Helsing and others. I also found him to be a very pitiful being -- he really does not wish harm to come to Mina. If he was ineffectual as a sidekick, it was because was fighting Dracula's compulsions -- though he was too weak ever to say so to Drac's face.

Well, it's certainly not impossible to figure that out ( I understood it myself ) but, it's more obvious and logical the way it is re-edited to follow the approved script.

- GJS