MovieChat Forums > Nosferatu - Phantom der Nacht (1979) Discussion > Gary Oldman vs Klaus Kinski

Gary Oldman vs Klaus Kinski

posted 18 years ago by sammy-80
58 replies | jump to latest

Gary Oldman (Bram Stoker's Dracula) and Klaus Kinski (Nosferatu: The Vampyre) are without any glimmer of doubt in my mind the best actors to have ever taken the mantle of playing Dracula. But who do you think gave a superior performance?

Kinski portrayed Dracula as I think an ordinary person would act if he was given the curse of vampirism. He is very conscious of the fact that he is loathed and abhorred and knows that he is condemned to put up with it for eternity. He is shown as being a brooding, bitter creature who has completely lost hope in redemption.

Oldman on the other hand portrayed a Dracula who revelled in his powers, who unlike Kinski HAD a purpose in life which he passionately pursued (his love), slaughtering anyone who got in the way.

I think Kinskis performance was more realistic, whereas Oldmans was more spectacular.

If you're trying to play hard to get, play harder! I like it rough!

[–] Great_Gazoo 15 years ago

I need to see this version as well as the Langella rendition.

But really, I'm not a big fan of Oldman's Dracula. I liked him best when he was wearing the boob hair and acting old. Other than that his performance did very little for me. Christopher Lee was good but very shallow. Call me old school but I love Lugosi, he's still the first Dracula in my mind. I don't even like the overall Todd Browning film that much but Lugosi was simply enchanting. I don't mean to sound cliche but the depth was in the eyes.

I'll also mention that I didn't consider Dracula and Orlok to be the same until I found out that in this film, the Nosferatu is referred to as Dracula and not Count Orlok(a bad decision imo).

[–] cluniac 15 years ago

'Gary Oldman (Bram Stoker's Dracula) and Klaus Kinski (Nosferatu: The Vampyre) are without any glimmer of doubt in my mind the best actors to have ever taken the mantle of playing Dracula. But who do you think gave a superior performance?'

Years ago when I was watching the former movie in the cinema, a member of the audience yawned loudly, evidently in order to comment on his opinion on Gary Oldman's Dracula. 'Quite', I thought and I suspect that if I were to watch the film again, I wouldn't change my mind. I really like the latter movie, though, so for me Klaus Kinski's performance is much, much better than Oldman's.

[–] Tsiakkos 15 years ago

Oldman's dracula was a good depiction in my opinion and the film was overall good. It had a sence of epic in it. But Klaus Kinski was by far the scariest dracula I' ve ever seen and the most mysterious. In my opinion only Max shrieks original Nosferatu can match Kinski. (Lugosi a distant third - Very cheesy)

[–] fc_edv 15 years ago

I'll have to go with Oldman.

But the best vampire of all time, is Max Schreck.

[–] clau05 15 years ago

I first watched this in the late 80s when I was a kid and have just recently watched it again... same effect! Kinski is sooo creepy it's ridiculous.

[–] Blahahahaha 15 years ago

No stoopids, it's Gary Coleman

A very sad story actually

"Watchu complainin' 'bout Willis?" as he drains his blood.

RIP

But I digress

Max Schreck - the original and the best.

[–] Dressed 14 years ago

First: I agree the two actors did the best role as Dracula.

Oldman is very good, while Kinski is genius.

Oldmans Dracula was never really scary or realistic looking. Only very well acted

But The Kinski Nosferatu character is just amazing. Its like you may believe a real vampire could be like. Totally sick, creepy, nasty.. I am not shure what is the perfect English words from it. But he really looks like he have been lying in dirt and coffins. Like a dead being alive.
Look at the head, the eyes, the hands and fingers. The way he moves.
His voice. Espesially in the end before he drop down to the floor and lie there
wriggling on the floor.

Kinski is priceless as Dracula. I dont think anybody ever can match it.

[–] Tsiakkos 14 years ago

Maybe Max Shreck from the original, but yeah Kinski is the real deal.

[–] kiddglock 14 years ago

I have to agree with the two posters who referenced Jack Palance.

[–] franzkabuki 14 years ago

Oldman is probably a decent actor, but nobody could possibly hope to come out well from a disastrous piece of muck like Coppola´s Dracula. It´s quite possibly the worst film I´ve ever seen by a big name director.

"facts are stupid things" - Ronald Reagan

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Necatoriasis 13 years ago

Despite how cheesy Oldman's role got at some points in the movie, I think he did a much better job. Not to say I don't think Kinski did well though.

[–] tafkaga4 12 years ago

Kinski was the more rounded and more believable of the two. He was frightening, poetic, tormented, and tragic. His is the only portrayal to successfully pull off all four. Despite the wretchedness of his being, how can you not feel pity for him in his last scene with Lucy? Watch as he raises up from her neck to look for the signs of dawn through the window. He is clearly torn between his own survival instincts and spending another moment with her. He chooses her more from love and loneliness than from thirst.

[–] Bree_33 12 years ago

Yes. Kinski's Dracula is an existential/tragic figure just like Martin(1976)

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