 Hello, and welcome to Release Date Rewind. My name is Marc J. Parker, and I am a film lover, filmmaker, film celebrator. And normally this is an audio podcast, wherever you get your podcasts on your favorite apps. But thanks to Portland Media Center, you are about to watch the video component of this show where I celebrate movie anniversaries with my friends. Each month I usually talk about two different movies that I love with different friends, and we talk about the making of the movies, trivia, any fun memories associated with them. So I hope you enjoy, because now it's time to rewind. I realized later, like not just this week, like a few years ago, like, oh, okay, his legs are there. He's just like, you know, I just always thought like, yeah, it was unfinished. Like that kind of would be like a cool little, you know, and now he's being complete. And it's like, whoa, like I kind of wish that was the ending, but that's just my nerdy self. But yeah, then it just cut, hard cut to black and we have that great score. But yeah, what a lingering moment, you know, what a haunting moment. You think, because are the men still out there? Is she gonna, you know, this is my mind working. What does she do now? Jonathan Harker, you know, I don't know. Here's what I thought. Because I'm so glad you're bringing this up, because this was the first time I really thought about like, well, what happens now, you know, movie's over. But like, girl, you're going to have to like awkwardly leave this old church in the castle. Like, how are you going to explain yourself? I get the impression Harker is done with her. The way he says to the guys, like, no, no, let them go, our work is done. But hers is just beginning, right? Yeah. Yeah. Hers has just begun. And he looks at her and, you know, Keanu slash Jonathan Harker is such a nice vibe. We'll get into his acting, I know. He has such a kind of forgiving, I know, the wig, the wig kept changing every other scene. I'm like, OK, that's a different way. It was so white. And then, oh, my God. And gray. And I'm like, where are you going with this? That's why I feel like I feel like we had some scenes cut or maybe they had some issues like shooting or something because I'm like, OK, this is a straight up different way. Oh, maybe to war white. I don't know. Like whiter. Like, I don't. I was trying to think that. That's an interesting theory. Yeah. Then it's like, well, then have him say, like, oh, my God, my hair is changing whenever something happens. You know? Right. I just have this impression that she is now, like, alone. I don't think she kills herself. I think she's like back to normal. So she's, you know, but I don't know. I kind of hope Harker doesn't take her back because she totally cheated on you. She, like, loved this strange, terrible guy, you know, like, I kind of feel like her fate is reincarnated version. Right. I know. She was in control. Were you? Was she? I think she was. I think she was. Do you think she was Elizabeth? Or do you think she just? I think she could have been. Or she could have been, like, an ancestor. I think there was, you know, there's definitely that. Totally. Yeah. You know, did Dracula kind of put that love spell, you know, I don't know if you can love a spell on people, but, you know, they can use people. So totally. She was definitely under his pressure. No. And she was drinking. Was she drinking? Absinthe, right? Absinthe. Yes. Like mix the sugar cube. I remember also that was a moment where I'm like, okay. She was like, she was drinking that as she like was like remembering things. So like that's what like I was wondering, like, is this real? Or is this like hallucination and she's seeing things. I had forgotten how powerful that scene is. Yeah. Like date. I love it. Oh my gosh. Again, the way Coppola and his team showed the, you know, where she's there, but then we had the beautiful, you know, upside down shot of Elizabeth. Yes. Her memories or imagination really, really amazingly done. Yeah. Like so innovative. Yes. And it's stuff that you haven't really seen again. Like I feel like a lot of the visuals are very unique to this movie. Do you know what I mean? Yeah. Like we don't see a lot of that kind of stuff in horror or in sci-fi. I agree. I think that's what makes, yeah. And I feel like that's what makes this movie, this movie. So yeah. So special, right? Is the visuals. That's right. Yeah. I think that's what makes it, maybe a lot, you know, more than I should at times, but like, I just, yeah, I feel like it's just like, it's a different type of movie. So what do you think she did at the end? Do you think she just, she killed herself or she just walked out there and like, did she, did she hold on to Harker or did she just kind of go back to the U.S. on her own? What do you think? Or not the U.S. UK. Yeah. England. London, whatever. I wish her accent was questionable. Yeah. Yeah. I, I don't think she killed herself. You know, part of me was like wondering that, but I really think she would have done that. You would have seen it, maybe. Yeah. I think a couple of would have done that, you know, but I think her cutting off his head was really like, this is how I know you're not going to be able to come back, even like, you know, because after Van Helsing tells, you know, I think that's where she got the idea because Van Helsing tells her how he killed her. I remember when they were like at dinner, so I think that like stuck with her. And so she was like, you know, I'm going to do what I need to do to make sure you don't come back and do this. Yeah, yeah. So, yeah. Totally, totally. Yeah. It's a really cool ending for sure. There's a sinister dark side to him. I find he resist well. I have never met any man with such a passion for life. He is unlike any man. Since we're talking about the actors, I'll just talk about our four leads and where they were in their careers, right? Because it's funny. I mean, Winona was such a powerhouse, but like, she was still kind of new. Like, it's funny. So we'll start with our lead, Gary Oldman, right? You have to. So Gary Oldman had just been in JFK and was also in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead, right? He, by this time, was already nominated for a BAFTA. So he was a big deal. And gosh, he is, and like, I'm sure you, you sent me that amazing Instagram. I'm sure you've seen some of those, like, behind the scenes. The videos? Yes, because I saw you, like, the ones that I was watching. So intense. So intense. The way he's, like, grabbing Winona and like... And I feel like, speaking of those videos, just behind the scenes, I was thinking, it just was so 90s, but it was so... I know. But with movies nowadays, I don't even know if they go into that kind of process that much anymore, you know? And I feel like... It's rare, especially for a lot of films that don't have the budget for in-depth rehearsals. Right. I feel like that, it kind of gives me, like, gave me, like, a theater, you know, theatrical feel, which is, I think that's what made the movie, the movie, because I think you're watching not just a movie, but you're kind of watching this theatrical production, because it's like... Oh, totally. You feel all of the character... You feel like they all have bonded, even though there are, you know, things that's saying that, you know, Gary Oldman and Winona did not get along once, like, they came back from rehearsals. Yeah. I have a feeling it was something to do with, like, something going behind closed doors with them. But, like, also... Oh, you think some sort of romance, because there was an age gap. There was definitely an age gap. Oh, I'm sure it's something to happen, because... She was, I think, only, like, 21-22, but he was, like, I think mid-30s by then. So there was definitely... I think she said something along with there was, like, teen drama or something, like, in an interview, so maybe it was her crushing on him. I don't know, because I think he was probably married and had a kid at the time, I think, because... Oh, maybe. I mean, he was talking about something to do with, like, when he needs to get emotional, he looks at pictures of his child. That's right. His son. Yes. Right? Okay. I saw that, too. I don't know. I'm just speculating, but also I feel like Gary Oldman is that type of actor. I guess you want to say method actor, in a sense, maybe. Yeah. Yeah. Where, after rehearsals, when you're really going to be doing the real thing, he probably didn't want to be so, like, chummy and... Right. ...close with her, because he has, I mean, yes, for the love scenes and whatnot, but as Dracula, no. Yeah. Like, perhaps, you know, so I think he was taking it on a more different level of, you know, acting than she was at the time because of the age difference. Yes. You know, and the maturity. Totally. And she was still kind of newish, right? Yeah. Because she had just done, let me see. She had just done... Well, she was... How interesting. I didn't know this at all. She was supposed to be in the Godfather part three, obviously directed... Yes. I read that, too. She dropped out. Apparently she, I think from exhaustion or something, she dropped out kind of last minute. She was supposed to be his daughter. Yes. She was supposed to be the Sophia Coppola role. Yes. Yeah. Sophia Coppola. Yeah. Which, of course, a lot of people critique that casting. Yeah. Yeah. That's a whole other fun casting story. There was Julia Roberts. There was other people in the mix, but Winona was the first choice, which I totally see. I can totally picture in that. Yeah. But so she backed out of this. She was just in Mermaids with Cher and Edward Scissorhands, which I've talked about on the show before. And, of course, Beetlejuice and she had done some 80s things, but she was not, you know... So she was obviously a big thing. She was, you know, already with Johnny Depp and all that. But this kind of started her period piece kind of films, right? Yeah. Because she went on to do Age of Innocence and Little Women, which I love, right? Oh, my God. She's one of the perfect shows. Oh, my God. Those movies are when she really started getting taken like super, super seriously, you know? Mm-hmm. So this kind of started that wave of period, you know, leading women. I agree. Yeah. So very interesting. Then, of course, we have Anthony Hopkins, who's so... Oh. You know, I forgot he's actually so funny in this movie. He presents a lot of chronic relief. Oh, I love what he did with the in-house thing. Yeah. I don't know if anyone else would have taken it throughout that he did. Right. You know, because if you all... You know, while I'm watching the behind-the-scenes too, you're like Francis Looney or something like that. Yeah. And Anthony was saying how during rehearsals he doesn't like to do a lot of them or something like that. But like, he does like a little bit because then he can kind of figure out how to change, you know, change something. I'm sort of the same way with film. Like, some rehearsals I'm learning, especially like with my latest film. Mm-hmm. It actually would have been great to do a rehearsal day. Kind of like for camera to like sort of see what's going on for the actors to kind of figure it out. But I'm the same way. I don't like to rehearse too much. Yeah. The theater is obviously very different. But for film, because then like you don't want to lose it, you know, you just kind of want to like lay some ground work, but then you want to save it for like... You still want that like new kind of feeling when it comes to the scenes. Yeah. But... Yeah. You don't want to leave it. Yeah. I think he was great. I think his delivery on some of the lines were just like... So picky. Like that part... Oh God, that one editing where like the cutoff Lucy's hat, you see it flying, then you see that big slab of meat. Yes. Uh-huh. Oh yeah. And you're out to dinner. I'm like... Uh-huh. She's like, oh, how did Lucy died? And he's just like... And then they cut back to them. Yeah. And that part, like I paused it the last time because I was like, this is comedy. Like this is like... Oh yeah. Dark sense of humor because all of their faces they were... They all look so perfect. Sad and exhausted and her head's there. And it's so quick. And then he was just like, yeah, I'm just, you know, going to stab her in the face. Yeah. Uh-huh. She's very like... He has no like self awareness in a sense. He's just very like to the point. Even when he earlier, when he meets Mina, he grabs her. Yeah. And just gives her a kiss. Yeah. And like, he's like so, you know, for a second. I thought that he hated it like that. I don't know if this was intentional, but on this latest rewatch, I was like, oh, are we kind of like suspicious of him? Because the way he's like looking at Mina and like, uh, yeah, yeah. Like, I don't know if it was to kind of get a little skieved out by him that like maybe he's a vampire or something. I mean, I don't know. I just got it this time, but I think that's just Anthony Hopkins playing with us. Right. I think it's just Anthony Hopkins playing with us. Because I think he, I think he's one of the most fabulous actors out there. And I love everything he does. His voice. Oh my gosh. I love it. Very playful. I love how he was like narrating it in the beginning a little bit. Yeah. Then he was also the priest. Although I do have to say, yes, he was the priest in the beginning, which was fun. Just Anthony and Winona play different characters. Yes. So that's cool, you know. And yeah, he's the priest. Although I do have to say, on this latest rewatch, like I said, I've seen this movie a bunch of times, but it's so fast in the beginning with his narration that they could have let that breathe a little bit longer, right? Yeah. It's just so like, there's this war and he's off and people are being impaled. Like, it's just like, okay, wait, I feel like we just need like two minutes more of just like, okay, keep going, but like pause, you know, it's very fast. It is. His opening. Yeah. Dracul. He's also so powerful when he's shouting, you know, I love when he says, Dracul! When he kills the the brides. The brides with all their heads. Have their heads. Oh, yeah. That's an amazing, I love that sequence as well when they're the, he's circling him and Mina with the fire and the brides are there. And then they kill the horse. I completely forgot they kill the horse. Oh my gosh, I know. They're just the way. Couple of must love doing stuff like that with the horse. I know. You're so right. That's a, yeah. That's a great knot. I didn't even think about that. What a great connection. Killing the horse. Yeah. Of course, Godfather. And what an inch, what interesting timing. Right. 30 years ago, this movie came out 50 years ago. Godfather part one came out. We talked about that on, on this show. So how interesting to do, you know, two big interesting memorable movies 20 years apart and having a milestone year. Right. So Anthony, of course, earlier this year in 1992, had just won the Oscar for Silence of the Lamb. So he was in that the year prior. He also was just in the film Howard's End, leading that with Emma Thompson. And then the last lead we'll talk about, we can talk about all the other great cast members, Sadie Frost, Carrie Elwes, Tom Waits as Renfield. Yes. So random musician. Very random. Doing a great job. I heard, I read that they wanted to see Bishami maybe as a role. Oh. So I read it trivia, really interesting. Or he couldn't do it. But yeah. I mean, he looks the part with those eyes. I know, I know. But there's something about Tom Waits and I don't really know much about music. I liked it. The way that he does it is downright. I mean, again, it's very theatrical. It's very over top. But he is 100% committed. Like that is not Tom Waits. That is the Renfield. Right. I agree. I agree. When I think of Renfield, I think of Tom Waits. Yes. Yeah. It's amazing. His look and just, that's amazing. And I forgot how grisly his death is being. Oh. Once he tells, which I had forgotten all about that as a kid, you know, or as a teen, at least when I watched it again, I'm sure that kind of went over my head that he does warn Mina at that moment to like get away from him, get away from him. Get away. Yeah. And Dracula knows everything and he says, you have betrayed me. And all of a sudden. Cut. Oh, yeah. The whole scene, like going into like the bedroom scene. Oh, I love that. You have their all, you know, their moment. Yes. Very sensual. Going all over the place. Yes. Blood and everything. Crazy. But when housing and, you know, all the men come in. Yes. When they come in. Iconic. It's like, you see that, you know, you see him in that final, like bat, beastly form. He takes on different forms during the movie. And I remembered that in commercials. I remembered that shot of the bat, you know, the bat version of Dracula. The most horrifying part in that movie was when he's walking and you see the red eye. And his red eyes. That, I don't know how he, Francis did it, but like that, for some reason, like, and there was no special effects, that is terrifying. I agree. That is like, it's amazing. That moment is just so, I know. That whole scene, even when, because much like with, when we'll get to Lucy's big moment, but much like when there's a shot with Lucy, where they hold the crucifix up. This time, they hold the, the cross up and it bursts into flames. And the bat, I mean, it's amazing, I totally agree. It is terrifying. And you know, he's up to something. Like, they're all freaking out and he just slowly, carefully backs up. Those red eyes. And then, Oh, I know. Then I'm like, okay, literally, what wig is this guys? This is like Lisa Rina with all of her wigs. I'm like, okay, which one is this called? Right? But then, yeah, then Anthony, you know, Van Helsing says, light, light, give us light or whatever. And then, and then it's interesting because there are lots of things that I don't understand, but I'm all on board. Then Mina, who has just drank his blood, she is like, out of it. As the rats are running around, she says, she says, unclean, unclean, unclean. And I'm like, what is that? First part, I was like, is that a rat talking? Yeah. I know. It sounds like it's like, so squeaky. Yeah. Is that her voice? So I had to put it on subtitles. So I usually don't watch with the, you know, subtitles. Yes. So I put on subtitles. I went back to it and I was like, no, that's actually her talent. It's saying that. I was like, that's so bizarre. Yeah. That's weird. I don't get it. But it almost made me think of Renfield. Like that's something he would say. Yes. So I don't know if I don't, I don't know what that's about. There are some things that she was coming down from the blood high. I guess so. And now she's extra sensitive to things, which would make sense, like her self being unclean. Oh, maybe. Like the front of Jonathan Parker and like the men because he was gone. So now she's not really like possessed. Yes. Anymore. Yes. Now she's realizing that she's unclean. I know many interpretations on that. Yeah. I'll give you that because yeah, she doesn't go full kind of deranged until later on. So, Right. Yeah. She might kind of see what she's become. Yeah. That's a good interpretation. Yeah. I want to be with you. I want to see what you see. I want to love what you love. Take me away from all this. Yeah. So then our last lead actor, we have to talk about, it's hard to talk about this movie and you can't talk about Keanu Reeves. So real quick, let me tell you where he was in his career and you're going to be like, that explains a lot. Oh, I'm sure. So he had just had a big 1991. The year prior he was in Bill and Ted 2, which I believe was- I was just going to say. Bill and Ted's bogus adventure? Or no, I can't, I can never- Is it why not adventure? No. Bogus journey? I forget what they're called. But he just did Bill and Ted 2. I forgot he was in the Bill and Ted animated show. He did his voice for that, which was the year prior. So he was in total dude, Bill and Ted mode. He had also just done my own private, Idaho. And he had also just done point break. So he was in total like hunky, leading man, like surfer, California guy mode. That's where they chose him. And now he's in this movie. Yeah. There's a lot of sense to choose him. He's on the rise, right? Because they wanted, they wanted the, you know, audiences to go see it because it's- Right. They want the girls and the boys to come out to see this cute guy who everyone loves, who's on top of the world, much like Winona. But yeah, Keanu was not the best choice. I love him. I love him in so many other movies. I know. I think he's such a good person. He seems like such a great person. He was just miscast. This was just not him. And I feel bad for him. I'm sure you saw too. He even said, like the actors were walking around in circles around him. Like he was just totally out of his league. Yeah. I think everybody thinks that he wasn't really prepared for it because he was doing so many other projects and he wished he had more time with it. I think he really, unfortunately, I think he focused more on trying to get his dialect to sound the way that his acting kind of just flawed. You know, because I know that it's not easy for me. I think to do accents, like I don't think it's just not. I agree. Like I can do like maybe Southern the Southern bell and that's about it and must like, but you really need that, you know, dialect coach and I think it's hard. Yeah. And when you have all these other actors who are doing like such a great job at it, or if they are really British, it's going to come off and you're going to, it is going to look flawed, unfortunately. I mean, when you think of the other actors, it's very cringy to I mean, it's a shame because he looks great. I mean, we know the wigs get a little crazy, but he has a great look for the hair. Like he looks very, who do they want? They were thinking I think Johnny Depp was one of the contenders and to be honest, I think he would have worked really well. Yeah. At the time. At the time. If you think about it, you can do a British Jackson. Well, you know, he has that look, but also was it with the whole Rena Ryder, Johnny Depp, you know, but I guess it wasn't as big, apparently at the time, because I did read that, like, you know, I think it was bigger than Johnny Depp at the time, even though he just did. Interesting. He was the it boy. It makes sense. Yeah. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Because Johnny had just been with Winona and Everett Scissorhands, which of course is why they were dating for a while. Yeah. It's a shame because he looks good and you know, I feel for the character. So that's a, he at least got the job done with that. But when he delivers lines, it's not for their romance. I'm sorry. I couldn't. Yeah. You're kind of like, I get it, girl. I cheated on too. Yeah. Like, yeah. He's like, he's kind of done. And you bring up a great point. He might have been focusing so much on the accent. Yes. That then couldn't the delivery of the actual, like, you know, and when you have Gary Oldman, who is a king of accents, you have Anthony Hopkins, you have Sadie Frost. These are, these are natural, you know, British people, I think, I think they're all British. He is. Carrie Ellis. Yes. Bill Campbell. Carrie Ellis. I love, I love Bill Campbell so much. I know. I love him. I love the Rocketeer. He is perfect for this role. I love him. Sabrina. And I want him to do more. Yes. Oh, yeah. That's a sad death for sure. He's the only one of those kind of hero guys who gets it. I know. But he's the, but he's the one that starts the end of Dracula, which is so awesome. Like Quincy is totally like an unsung hero in that way. But yeah, when the camera is on him for that second and they're, and Carrie, Elvis and like all the guys are looking and they know, like, oh, this guy's dying. I know. He's great in this too. I love it. Each of the guys is so different and it's funny because people grew up with Princess Bride. I didn't really like Princess Bride a lot. I feel like I was more of like, I agree. I, I would always watch Wizard of Oz if that was my kind of thing. But like, growing up, my first Carrie Ellis, I think was watching him and Robin, him and in tights. I'm right there with you. Mm hmm. I'm right there with you. That's where my obsession with him came from. And I think, yeah, that was a year after this. Yeah, such a beauty. And he looked like I love him because he's so pretentious and he's so pretentious. Yes. And he's, he's perfect for Lucy. Right. So when this part, I'm talking about Quincy, I was like, I need to look this up during the party. You're going to know exactly what I'm saying where Mina's like, what is that? And she's like a Texan. And then she goes up to him and she was like, Quincy, please let me touch it. It's so big. Yes. Like I am. I know. Bunkers. This is just like, this is Dracula. We're watching Dracula, but then it's like, are you watching like an erotic Dracula? I know. I know. It really makes you like look up and you're like, what the heck? Oh, totally. Yeah. But like, I love that though. I think it's just like, it's so subtle, like in your face at the same time. And the way she delivers the lines is just so good. How it's so sing songy and baby. And like, you know, and yeah, and then she pulls out this big knife, but I, it's, it's a great moment because it's so silly and so sexual. But that's the first time we see the knife that then plays a major role later at the end. So that is pretty cool. Like that we're establishing, you know, the whole like Arabian Nights book. And then I read, I love it, the whole like, the whole future book. Yes. I read in trivia again on IMDB that like, that book went missing after production. No one knows where it went. So someone took it. Oh, took it for like, some fun times. I bet it was Anthony Hopkins. Yeah. You've got to go to him. And you've got to love him. She is a willing recruit and devoted disciple. She is the devil's concubine. You know, so she's been wearing a lot of like, in that red, I love that red. The red. The red. The way she gets like, Yes. I can't believe. by the wolf. I know when she and the wolf have sex. Yeah. Wolf Dracula, which is weird because Dracula was never a werewolf. Right. And I always thought that then like, I read that like a lot of on how Brent Mstoker wrote it was like, Dracula was a creature. Okay. You know. So like, I think either universal or just, you know, with media kind of just like really, people thought he was more like a bat and then a vampire. Yeah. I think in Bram Stoker's world, he just shape shift because he could shape shift into a fog. Remember, like, Oh, yes. Give you fog. And then in this version, he can go out in daylight. He's just not as powerful. So I think it's a whole different concept. Oh, yeah. You have to like remember while watching it because when I rewatched it again, I was like, why is he a, why is he a werewolf? Why is he a weird thing? You know, creature thing. And I was like, I don't get it, but then like thinking about it now, like this completely makes sense because this was totally Bram Stoker's version of who he was. And it's scary. It's super impressive. I actually do love when he's like a monster where we'll think, I love his point of view like running around that yard and killing that guy. The camera. Yes. I love that. And you don't use that much anymore either or stuff like that. Yeah. But yeah, going up to the doors, but then he can't come in because unless he's invited in and I love those, those doors at Lucy's room, whenever he's there, he always looks so spooky. Yes. Oh, yeah. And the wolf is biting her and he's there. And yes, I have a question for you, but before we get into that. Yeah. You bring up a good point. Dracula in this version can walk around outside and again, Anthony with his very quick narration even says that, but it's again so short and fast. And that's when he's like naked and burst out of the box. But he says like, what is the reason? Is it black or is this dragon is getting serious? I don't know. Later in Harry Potter. I know, I know, but like it just gives me such serious block with things. What I love about this movie is one of the things I love is we see so many different looks for Dracula. Yes. Like we said, he's a bat. He's a werewolf. He's daytime, serious black ish top hat. You know, which you know, which is your favorite look? What and what is your least favorite look? Definitely with the that's called the serious black gray look. I just don't know. I love the whole. He stands out from the crowd. Yeah. There's sunglasses. It's like that. Yeah. It's a very blue. I am. Yeah. I think he's, you know, he looks good. My least. Oh, you know where this is going is tell me. Tell us old Dracula. Like, I'm sorry. I know the boob. Boob or but wig. I don't know what you want to call it. But it is. I can't. I can't handle it. And it's just like the outfits. It's just, it's very bizarre. But maybe that's what you want. You know, they wanted. They wanted it to be like, this is this absurdity. Yeah. I did read that one trivia that I read was that Francis Ford Coppola told all the department heads, his whole team. He said the word is weird. Okay. Do do things as weird as possible. Make your nightmares come true. Look at art like he wanted weird. He wanted something that was never done before. Let me just read real quick. And I know Gary Woodman had to get a voice coach to lower his voice and octave or something like that. Oh, you know, that's interesting because in other movies, his voice was higher. And yeah, his voice can be higher. So yeah, here it was, it was almost like a whisper sometimes very deep. Make no mistake. He must be stopped. Thanks so much for watching. Next time, there's going to be a new movie that we'll talk about. So stay tuned and please follow Release Date Rewind on Instagram for updates. Bye.