As a result of a recent discussion Ive had with fellow CHFB poster Joe Karlosi regarding the faithfulness (or otherwise) to their original source novel of James Whales FRANKENSTEIN (1931) and Terence Fishers DRACULA (1958), I thought it would be interesting to list and rank all their various cinematic adaptations. Naturally, the copious sequels from Universal, Hammer, etc. dont count. So here goes:
Dracula:
1. NOSFERATU (1922) **** Max Schreck
2. DRACULA (1958) **** Christopher Lee
3. DRACULA (1931) ***1/2 Bela Lugosi
4. NOSFERATU THE VAMPYRE (1979) ***1/2 Klaus Kinski
5. DRACULA (1931) *** Carlos Villarias
6. DRACULA (1973; TV) *** Jack Palance
7. COUNT DRACULA (1977; TV) *** Louis Jordan
8. BRAM STOKERS DRACULA (1992) *** Gary Oldman
9. THE LIVING CORPSE (1967) *** Rehan
10. LOVE AT FIRST BITE (1979) *** George Hamilton
11. DRACULA: PAGES FROM A VIRGINS DIARY (2002; TV) *** Zhang Wei-Qiang
12. BLOOD FOR DRACULA (1974) **1/2 Udo Kier
13. DRACULAS CURSE (2002; TV) **1/2 Patrick Bergin
14. DRACULA (1979) ** Frank Langella
15. DRACULA: DEAD AND LOVING IT (1995) ** Leslie Nielsen
Frankenstein:
1. FRANKENSTEIN (1931) **** Boris Karloff
2. YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN (1974) ***1/2 Peter Boyle
3. THE CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN (1957) ***1/2 Christopher Lee
4. MARY SHELLEYS FRANKENSTEIN (1994) **1/2 Robert De Niro
5. FLESH FOR FRANKENSTEIN (1973) ** Srdjan Zelenovic
6. FRANKENSTEIN (2004; TV) ** Luke Goss
7. FRANKENSTEIN (1910) ** Charles Ogle
Some may take exception at a few of my inclusions but I tried to balance out the two characters: a Silent each, a Universal, a Hammer, an erotic version, a spoof, an "official" version, etc. Frankly, I was surprised by how few Frankensteins I've watched and, in hindsight, there are several of them I'd like to - none more so, perhaps, than FRANKENSTEIN: THE TRUE STORY (1973; TV)...
Dracula:
1. NOSFERATU (1922) **** Max Schreck
2. DRACULA (1958) **** Christopher Lee
3. DRACULA (1931) ***1/2 Bela Lugosi
4. NOSFERATU THE VAMPYRE (1979) ***1/2 Klaus Kinski
5. DRACULA (1931) *** Carlos Villarias
6. DRACULA (1973; TV) *** Jack Palance
7. COUNT DRACULA (1977; TV) *** Louis Jordan
8. BRAM STOKERS DRACULA (1992) *** Gary Oldman
9. THE LIVING CORPSE (1967) *** Rehan
10. LOVE AT FIRST BITE (1979) *** George Hamilton
11. DRACULA: PAGES FROM A VIRGINS DIARY (2002; TV) *** Zhang Wei-Qiang
12. BLOOD FOR DRACULA (1974) **1/2 Udo Kier
13. DRACULAS CURSE (2002; TV) **1/2 Patrick Bergin
14. DRACULA (1979) ** Frank Langella
15. DRACULA: DEAD AND LOVING IT (1995) ** Leslie Nielsen
Frankenstein:
1. FRANKENSTEIN (1931) **** Boris Karloff
2. YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN (1974) ***1/2 Peter Boyle
3. THE CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN (1957) ***1/2 Christopher Lee
4. MARY SHELLEYS FRANKENSTEIN (1994) **1/2 Robert De Niro
5. FLESH FOR FRANKENSTEIN (1973) ** Srdjan Zelenovic
6. FRANKENSTEIN (2004; TV) ** Luke Goss
7. FRANKENSTEIN (1910) ** Charles Ogle
Some may take exception at a few of my inclusions but I tried to balance out the two characters: a Silent each, a Universal, a Hammer, an erotic version, a spoof, an "official" version, etc. Frankly, I was surprised by how few Frankensteins I've watched and, in hindsight, there are several of them I'd like to - none more so, perhaps, than FRANKENSTEIN: THE TRUE STORY (1973; TV)...
