That is a trend in these movies. You have Bela Lugosi as Dracula, Edward Van Sloan as Van Helsing, and Dwight Frye as Renfield. Who is Johnathan Harker? The very bland and forgettable David Manners (who did okay for the typical 1930s leading man hero).
Then you have Christopher Lee as Dracula, Peter Cushing as Van Helsing, Michael Gouh as Arthur Holmwood, and who as Harker? He died in the first freaking 8 minutes, no one knows!
Then you have Frank Laguella as Dracula, Laurence Olivier as Van Helsing, Donald Pleasence as Dr. Seward...and Trevor Eve as Harker?
Then you get to the best example: Coppola's "artistic" all-star great acting (for the most part) cast: Gary Oldman as Dracula, Wynona Ryder as Mina Harker, Anthony Hopkins as Van Helsing, Richard E. Grant as Dr. Seward, Cary Elwes as Arthur Holmwood, Billy Campbell as Quincy P. Morris, Sadie Frost as Lucy Westenra, Tom Waits as R.M. Renfield....and FREAKING Keanu Reeves as Johnathan Harker?
Where is the love and respect for Stoker's hero here?
LOL!
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TorontoJediMaster
19 years ago
Like I said, check out Bosco Hogan in the BBC's Count Dracula.
He hits all the right notes. He looks and sounds like he's from the proper era. He acts like Harker should -i.e. an average man caught up in an extraordinary situation. And, there's genuine warmth between him and Mina. (When you see Trevor Eve, you can understand why Lucy found Dracula so much better). And, they even have the realistic touch of Harker growing a beard in the Castle (after Dracula smashes his shaving mirror, he's unable to shave).
Trevor Eve was so outclassed. Even Jan Francis and the guy who played Swales stole scenes out from under him. Compare Eve with Donald Pleasance. Pleasance chewed him up and spit him out. And with Langella...Eve was so ineffective as Harker, Dracula likely felt he could win Lucy over without even trying. What's the competition for him? A puffy-faced dolt with a haircut and mustache that are about seventy years ahead of the era he's supposed to be living in?
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profh-1
13 years ago
I thought the casting across the board for the 1977 BBC version was the best for just about EVERY character, especially Frank Finlay as Van Helsing. The one exceptions is, as TERRIFIC as I think Louis Jourdan is in the film, I really wish it had been Christopher Lee. Especially after having read the novel. NO ONE ever captured the character from the book like Lee-- the guy in the novel was a MONSTER-- and here they were, "doing the book", and they got someone else for the title part. OY.
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