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Since the dawn of movie making, vampires have survived through generations of audiences. The legend of the vampire has captured us with its haunting beauty and terrible viciousness. The creature in cinema has evolved from a decrepit corpse, something we fear, to beautiful and sexy, and something we desire. With so many choices in movies, viewers can easily satisfy their need for horror, romance, adventure, humor, drama, and mystery. Hollywood has become adept at bringing our nightmares to vivid life, even on the silver screen.

It began with F.W. Murnau's Nosferatu (1922). This became a pioneer in the world of the vampire film. Max Schrek played the part of Count Orlok, the vampire, and in this silent film, the eerie and otherworldly creature horrified the audiences of the time. With smoke and mirrors, the makers of this movie brought the magic of the vampire to life for audiences everywhere.

Another timeless classic is Dracula (1931) starring Bela Lugosi. In this movie version of the famous book by Bram Stoker, the vampire is the Carpathian Count Dracula who moves to London to buy Carfax Abbey. During his stay he turns Lucy Weston into a vampire and is drawn to her friend, the daughter of Dr. Seward, Mina Murray. Van Helsing, the man who recognizes the creature that is Dracula, must find a way to prevent the evil vampire from succeeding in his plot to turn Mina into one of the undead. In this film, Bela Lugosi brings sexiness to the legend of the vampire, with his hypnotic stare and alluring nature.

As does, Christopher Lee, in his performance of Count Dracula in Horror of Dracula (1958). Christopher Lee does an astounding portrayal of the debonair and menacing vampire and Peter Cushing plays Van Helsing, who is trying to kill him before Dracula kills Jonathan Harker's fianc.

The best Dracula movie representation done in recent years was Francis Ford Coppola's Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992). This version is very closely based on the novel and has an all-star cast. Gary Oldman plays Count Dracula and his nemesis Van Helsing is played by Anthony Hopkins. The count's wife, Elisabeta, is reincarnated into Jonathan Harker's betrothed, Mina Murray, played by Winona Ryder. Dracula's rival is played by Keanu Reeves. In this story of seduction and terror the vampire is given tender emotions of a tortured man in pain from the loss of his love and his faith. It sets the example of why the immortal life of a vampire is a gift and yet a curse. Its eroticism is comparable to that

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