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!

[–] CannibalCraig 13 years ago

I have to say that I did not like the FFC version of Dracula. I thought Oldman did a fantastic job in the film, but I felt the movie was way to quirky. I found myself laughing at many of the scenes. The whole thing was just not very good. Klaus Kinski and Werner Herzog's version, on the other hand, was far superior. Kinski has always been one of my all time favorite actors and I believe this was his best role. Too bad the sequel to this movie was not very good though...

I'm just a guy that likes horror flicks.

[–] jritty 12 years ago

Oldman is STILL waiting for that Oscar they FORGOT to give him... What a travesty.

You Suck...now deal with it.

[–] Golem36 11 years ago

How can anyone say Oldman's campy and highly over the top performance was better than Kinski's great performance (the best Dracula performance ever)?

[–] Falconeer 9 years ago

Are you serious? Gary Oldman's portrayal of Dracula approached high camp. He was entertaining, and even funny. And the Coppola film is technically well-made. The only problem is, neither Oldman, or the movie is SCARY..not for one moment. Now Klaus Kinski was downright creepy and terrifying. His Dracula gave me nightmares, and Werner Herzog has created a haunting, eerie masterpiece. Hollywood fluff or masterful German cinema? I will go with Kinski here...

"IMdB; where 14 year olds can act like jaded 40 year old critics...'

[–] 9 years ago

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[–] eolloe 8 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?

Oldman or Kinski? NEITHER.

Lugosi.
Langella.
Palance.
Jourdan.

All MUCH better.

[–] 8 years ago

[deleted]

[–] matd_returns 8 years ago

I´ll go with Oldman, he portrayed a more menacing and terryfing Dracula than Kinski´s. On the other hand, Kinski´s portrayal wasn´t bad but he lost me with that high pitch voice.