Dracula (1958 film) Dracula (1958 film) Dracula is a 1958 British horror film directed by Terence Fisher and written by Jimmy Sangster based on Bram Stoker's novel of the same name. The first in the series of Hammer Horror films starring Christopher Lee as Count Dracula, this original also features Peter Cushing as Doctor Van Helsing, along with Michael Gough, Melissa Stribling, Carol Marsh, and John Van Eyssen. In the U.S. the film was retitled Horror of Dracula to avoid confusion with the earlier "Dracula" (1931) starring Bela Lugosi, and the film was released in the U.S. in 1958 on a double feature
Horror Double Bills would vary throughout the years ("Horror Double Bill," "Monster Double Bill," "Dracula, Frankenstein & Friends"). The third season in 1977 ("Dracula, Frankenstein & Friends") featured the most famous Universal monster titles (paired with each other or a Hammer/AIP title)whilst the final original season in 1981 consisted of the Val Lewton RKO horrors paired with more obscure modern titles. After seven years and remarkably few repeated screenings, there was no season in 1982. A final series of "Double Bills" was broadcast during the summer of 1983, although this season was entirely made up of the classic Universal horrors from the 30's