Day 8: “Drac Attack”

For my entire life I have known Christopher Lee to BE Dracula. No matter what incarnation of the Count appeared on my screen or in print after that initial impression was made, none came close to replacing him. Bela, George, Gary… Claes- it didn’t and doesn’t matter. None could replace the blood-shot eyed, snarling cool of Lee’s Count. I’ve said before that first impressions are sometimes difficult to shake off, especially where characters are concerned. It’s a popular opinion that Sean Connery is the definitive Bond, obviously, because he planted his flag there first, but who is YOUR bond? Is it the one you’ve appreciated first? Strangely I’ve always known Roger Moore to be MY Bond simply by virtue of it being the first bunch of the Bond movies I knew. 

The Doctor, MY Doctor was Peter Davidson. I had a knitted cricket jumper and a piece of celery on my chest and… WHO THE HELL WAS THIS NEW CURLY HAIRED GUY!? Like I said, sometimes it’s difficult to shake it off- no matter how subconsciously the bias. 

This is all in good fun though. Each new actor to inherit the cape and fangs brings something new to the role. Some new charm or idiosyncrasy that allows a certain space between incarnation. Christopher Lee’s cape was always a tough fill though. His Count seemed energised and positively evil. Seething with menace and sexual charisma. Dashing about in some kind of Errol Flynn style sparring session with Peter Cushing’s Van Helsing. My rose- tinted vision has to be 20/20 right? 

So, tonight, instead of visiting with any old vampire, “Drac Attack” means a date with Sir Christopher. We plunge into the Hammer Horror vault and select one of Lee’s many instalments. The bright red inner cape. The bright red blood. The burning bright red eyes. We’re going for Dracula (1958) or Horror of Dracula as it was re-named in the U.S. so’s not to be confused with the Universal output. See you tomorrow and fangs for the memories... sorry.