#recount
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ReCount: Top 15 Portrayals of Van Helsing
Opinions change over time. I've been doing lists for a while, and the more I see and the more I learn, the more frequently my feelings about characters and portrayals of them can shift. SO, I've decided to start doing "ReCounts." These are second attempts at old countdowns: for my more long-winded countdowns, such as month-long countdown events, I will do shortened single-post versions of them, with updated rankings, short descriptions, and collages that separate different "sections" to help tighten things up. For my shorter lists, where I give almost no descriptions and/or the choices are fewer in number, I will provide said descriptions (albeit relatively brief ones), and the lists themselves, once again, may be adjusted.
With that said...later this month, I’ll be doing a countdown of the Worst Dracula Portrayals, in my opinion. I’ll also be doing a ReCount of my personal favorites. Before then, however, I felt it would be fun to talk about the notable side characters of Bram Stoker’s novel. So, we’ll begin with a ReCount of arguably the most famous character from the story (aside from Dracula himself), Abraham Van Helsing.
Professor Van Helsing ISN’T the main character of the original book. I would say he’s more describable as the Gothic Horror equivalent to Merlin. He is the de-facto leader of the vampire hunters who set out to destroy Dracula, true, but he’s not the main protagonist: he is their teacher, their guide, the one who has all the knowledge and wisdom the other, younger warriors require in order to combat the threat that the undead Count provides. Van Helsing is not depicted as a professional vampire slayer, either; he’s simply a scientist, but one who has a vast knowledge of and strange belief in the supernatural. In the novel, the Professor at first appears to be a somewhat comical character; slightly clumsy and with an unusual way of speaking, as well as several eccentricities. As the story goes on, however, his own inner steel and darkness begins to show more and more. As a result, he becomes just as fascinating and mysterious as Dracula himself: there are a lot of unanswered questions about Van Helsing that make him intriguing, and he is one of the most proactive characters in the story. Both of these facts are a major part of why the character has become so noteworthy over the years since.
Over the years, Van Helsing’s reputation has intensified; most versions of the character don’t actually follow the book at all, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing (nor an uncommon thing, as later lists for other characters in the novel shall indicate). Choosing my favorite versions of the guy was really difficult, and in making this ReCount - expanding the list to a Top 15, and providing some brief descriptions - it was interesting to see what made some interpretations work or not work. With that said, here are My Top 15 Favorite Portrayals of Dracula’s Nemesis, Professor Van Helsing!
15. David Suchet, from 2006 BBC TV Film.
The same year this TV film came out, the BBC also produced a radio version of Dracula (not connected to the movie at all), and which also featured Suchet. In the radio adaptation, Suchet played Dracula, but - perhaps because the film wanted to go for a younger, more “sexy” Dracula (played by Marc Warren) - in the film, he plays Van Helsing. The film seems to conflate Van Helsing with Renfield, of all characters, depicting him as a shabby character driven half-insane by a past encounter with Dracula. Suchet does a good job with what he’s given, but I rather wish Van Helsing (and the film, in general) had followed the novel more closely.
14. Rikiya Koyama, from Phantom in the Twilight.
In this anime, Koyama voices Van Helsing XIII - a descendant of the original Van Helsing, who is the head of a monster-hunting organization called “Midnight Sun.” He is depicted as an anti-heroic antagonist: a religious zealot who believes all humans are inherently good, and all of the Umbra (monsters) are inherently evil - a Javert-like, black-and-white perspective that often causes trouble. While I liked the character on the whole, and the mysteries about him are intriguing, I was ultimately disappointed by his “battle” with Vlad (the Dracula character) and the conclusion of his story in the show. An interesting concept, but not the most glamorous execution.
13. Nigel Davenport, from the 1973 TV Film.
Davenport plays a more stiff-upper-lipped Van Helsing in this Dan-Curtis-created TV production of the story. The film depicts Van Helsing at first as a sort of dandy, very typically “British” and slightly foppish. However, as the film goes on he shows more and more of his strength and wisdom as the battle to stop Dracula gets more and more intense. I can’t say Davenport is my ideal Van Helsing, but he is an interesting rendition that pays some slight homage to the original in that respect.
12. Martin Gabel, from the Mercury Theatre Radio Version.
Not pictured here in costume, because...well...radio. :P Honestly, I don’t really have a lot to say about Gabel in this radio version, created by and starring Orson Welles. I just think he’s really freaking good: he feels a bit like how Edward Van Sloan’s Van Helsing might have acted (more on him later) if he were in a slightly more book-accurate adaptation.
11. David Moroni, from Dracula: Pages From a Virgin’s Diary.
This extremely bizarre, silent-film-styled, surrealist/Expressionistic TV film was produced by the utterly bonkers Guy Maddin, and loosely based on the Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s dance version of the story. In the film, all of the male characters - and I DO mean ALL of them - are depicted as figures of toxic masculinity. Each of them has flaws and unsavory traits, but Van Helsing is arguably the worst of them all. As a result, the film - I think intentionally - plays with the duality between him and Dracula in some interesting ways, visually, as Van Helsing really is just as awful as the vampire he’s hunting in this version.
10. Christopher Plummer, from Dracula 2000.
While I personally feel this film is a total mess, I will say that arguably the best part of the entire experience is Plummer as Van Helsing. In the movie, Van Helsing is revealed to have become as immortal as Dracula, by using the vampire’s blood to keep himself going, so that he can forever protect the world from the Count’s darkness. However, the methods Van Helsing uses provide some flaws in his character, and at the same time, Dracula himself is depicted as a more sympathetic villain (which is not uncommon). Once again, the duality this creates is interesting.
9. Goofy, from Disney’s Dracula, Starring Mickey Mouse.
Disney has done TWO different “Dracula Starring Mickey Mouse” adaptations in print: the first was a graphic novel, the second was a children’s storybook. While both have obvious similarities, they also have some differences: most notably, the storybook is much, MUCH shorter and “thinner” (both literally and metaphorically), and the casting for many of the characters is different. In the graphic novel, Goofy, of all characters, plays the role of Van Helsing; in the storybook, it’s Horace Horsecollar. (Incidentally, in the storybook Goofy is Quincey Morris, while in the comic version Horace is Arthur Holmwood.) The weird thing is that by making Goofy - clumsy, bumbling, silly Goofy - the Professor, the graphic novel actually creates one of the most weirdly accurate interpretations of the character out there.
8. Laurence Olivier, from the 1979 Film.
In this film version, Olivier’s Van Helsing is given a tragic, personal reason to fight Dracula, as its revealed his daughter is the Lucy character (and you’ll note I say “the Lucy character,” not just “Lucy;” more on that another time). When she is made into a vampire by the undead Count, Van Helsing swears vengeance, and thus his crusade to avenge his child begins. The quest to defeat the vampire ultimately seems to destroy both hero and villain in the end…but I mustn’t say more, or I shall spoil the whole story.
7. Hugh Jackman, from Van Helsing.
While Jackman’s action-hero spin on Van Helsing has almost NOTHING to do with the original book…I’ll give both him and the movie this: anytime I think of the name “Van Helsing,” this movie and this take on the character DO come pretty immediately to mind. Other than that, there’s not a whole lot to say: the movie may not be that great, but it’s a guilty pleasure, and I think Jackman’s performance is part of the reason why. He’s just always a delight to watch, in my experience.
6. Anthony Hopkins, from the 1992 Film.
In the 1992 film, Dracula is given a strongly sympathetic streak. To contrast this, Van Helsing, in turn, is given a darker edge to his character. While what he’s doing IS ultimately heroic, his methods and manners aren’t always the most saintly or kind. At times he even seems to lean towards the verge of madness, which again, makes the struggle between himself and Dracula all the more interesting.
5. The Version from the 2006 BBC Radio Version.
To this day, I have not figured out who plays Van Helsing in the radio adaptation the BBC made, written by Liz Lochhead. The actor is not credited, and I can’t tell if he’s played by someone else in the cast, doing double roles, or if it’s just that the performer chose to be anonymous. Whoever does the job, however, they do it very well: playing a serious, intelligent, but still interesting version of the Professor that courageously leads the other characters.
4. Herbert Lom, from the 1970 Film.
This was the movie made by Jess Franco, entitled "Count Dracula." While I personally feel the conclusion to Van Helsing’s story in the film is somewhat anti-climactic - neither he nor Mina ever travel to Transylvania in this version, leaving them COMPLETELY out of the final battle against Dracula and his servants - Lom portrays the Professor excellently. In this version, Van Helsing is the head of the asylum where Renfield stays, with Dr. Seward as his closest associate; it’s eventually revealed that, in secret, Van Helsing has long been a student of the occult, and it’s implied the asylum is a cover for his true work facing the “creatures of the night.” The battle between himself and Dracula is made interesting, as the film puts emphasis on their competition. Though they only come face-to-face briefly in the movie (and, apparently, behind the scenes, neither Lom nor Christopher Lee actually EVER shared screentime together), I think Van Helsing says it best: “I have never met the Count, yet I feel I know him better than my own soul.”
3. Frank Finlay, from the 1977 BBC TV Film.
Finlay plays probably the single most Stoker-accurate version of Van Helsing ever put to the screen in this 1970s television production. Many consider this one of the most faithful adaptations of the story, even though it - like all renditions - does still take a few liberties. Finlay’s Van Helsing ranges from slightly zany and comical to stone-cold serious and courageously capable, and his performance is probably one of my favorites in the man’s whole career.
2. Edward Van Sloan, from the 1931 Film & Dracula’s Daughter.
Van Sloan first played Van Helsing in the Broadway production of Hamilton Dean’s “Dracula” stage show, opposite Bela Lugosi as Dracula. When Lugosi was cast as the Count for Universal’s famous film version, Lugosi personally suggested Van Sloan be cast as his nemesis, as well. Perhaps because of this, as well as because of the expansions the film made to the twin source materials (the movie is based mostly on the play, but also includes elements from the book and a few new additions all its own), the chemistry between Van Helsing and Dracula in the film is one of the most interesting parts of the whole movie. They feel like the Sherlock Holmes and Moriarty of Gothic Horror in this version, more than anywhere else. Van Sloan reprised the role in the sequel, “Dracula’s Daughter,” and would also go on to play Van-Helsing-esque characters in both “Frankenstein” and “The Mummy.”
1. Peter Cushing, from the Hammer Horror Franchise.
Cushing is arguably where the modern Van Helsing - the idea of him as a professional monster hunter - really began. In the first Hammer film, Van Helsing is a doctor of medicine, but it’s made clear this is a cover for his true profession as a monster hunter, who has been tracking Dracula for years. Later films would continue to expand on the seemingly eternal conflict between the Count and the Professor. Cushing’s Van Helsing is a strict and strong vampire slayer, willing to go to some extreme lengths to take down Dracula and his progeny, but what I like is that - despite these hard edges - there’s also a warmth and a kindness to his character. He can be just as fierce as his enemy, but what separates him from the Count is ultimately his humanity.
#recount#countdown#list#favorites#best#top 15#van helsing#dracula#actors#acting#portrayals#comics#film#movies#tv#radio#anime
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Jayne Atkinson in Recount (2008)
#recount#recount 2008#recount (2008)#theresa lepore#jayne atkinson#movieedit#movieedits#filmedit#filmedits#my gifs#edit
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Honorable Mentions - Male
In this installment of honorable mentions, Tom Wilkinson is in second place, behind Matt Damon, with seven entries.
His honorable mentions are In the Name of the Father (1993), Priest (1994), In the Bedroom (2001, with Sissy Spacek), Girl with a Pearl Earring (2003, with Scarlett Johansson), Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004, with Jim Carrey), The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005, with Laura Linney), and Recount (2008, as James Baker).
Tom passed away Dec 30, 2023 of an undisclosed cause, at age 75.
#tom wilkinson#honorable mentions#in the name of the father#priest#in the bedroom#girl with a pearl earring#eternal sunshine of the spotless mind#exorcism of emily rose#recount
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Remembering Tom Wilkinson and Richard Romanus
Just as 2023 is about to end, there's two actor's who have passed away. Here is my combined remembrance:
Remembering Tom Wilkinson 1948-2023
British actor Tom Wilkinson has died at 75. He was a serious "that guy" actor who appeared in countless great movies and you might not know his name but you'd say "that guy is good in everything"! He received two Academy Award nominations: Todd Field's excellent In the Bedroom for Lead Actor and Tony Gilroy's Michael Clayton for Supporting Actor. Both phenomenal performances!
Kirsten Dunst and Wilkinson in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Beyond those two movies I think my other favorite performances of his were as the doctor with secrets of his own in Michel Gondry's Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and the uncle in Woody Allen's underrated Cassandra's Dream.
Other notable performances included The Full Monty, Rush Hour, Shakespeare in Love, Ride with the Devil, The Patriot, Batman Begins, Recount, The Grand Budapest Hotel, and Selma just to name a few. That's a lot of historical biopics and period pieces he specialized in! He was consistently good in so many ensemble films.
The link above is the obit from Hollywood Reporter.
Remembering Richard Romanus 1943-2023
Actor Richard Romanus has died at 80. He is most known for playing the loan shark in Martin Scorsese's early epic Mean Streets! The scenes with him and Robert De Niro were quite memorable.
Harvey Keitel and Romanus in Mean Streets
He also played Dr. Melfi's husband on multiple episodes of The Sopranos from 1999-2002.
The link above is the obit from Hollywood Reporter.
#tom wilkinson#richard romanus#rip#in the bedroom#michael clayton#eternal sunshine of the spotless mind#cassandra's dream#the full monty#rush hour#shakespeare in love#ride with the devil#the patriot#batman begins#recount#the grand budapest hotel#selma#mean streets#the sopranos#film geek#tv
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The return of good government to Metropolis will be sufficient reward for the Man of Tomorrow!
#Superman#clark kent#kal el#good government#metropolis#sjw superman#recount#jerry siegel#wayne boring#dc comics#comics#40s comics#golden age comics
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“you’re not exactly living off of quiche”
my card got taken at the bar tonight. we got free tequila shots and maybe a few beers. i’d say it was a fair exchange.
also i played pool and shuffleboard tonight which was the goal (pool specifically) so i can’t complain much.
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lets agree that this was all ace races fault
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Johnny Depp, a marching band lead by a cute guy, and orphans in need of saving.
I was Johnny Depp, and associated with a group of about 15 orphans who lived on the street and looked like little chimney boys and girls from London in the 1800s. I brought them popcorn in those red and white striped cardboard buckets you would associate with the circus or festivals. One day, I went to the usual spot in the city where the orphans congregated, only to see them being hauled away by men in grey uniform. I followed them, finding that they were being held in this large, grey compound on an island far out at see. The building was rectangular, and there were windows but instead of glass panes, they were filled out by iron bars in a true prison nature. I snuck into the compound, pretending to be a guard, somehow I was not discovered as an imposter. In my now conscious mind, I am still unable to conjure up reasoning behind the lack of suspicion the guard had when Johnny Depp enters the compound in a regular beige trench coat and baggy black trousers, claiming to be one of them. I discover the orphans are being dragged around, forced to perform with drums and trumpets, wearing vibrant uniforms with the same red and white pattern as the popcorn buckets I gifted them before their capture. They paraded around a big bowl shaped hole in the ground of a large open space in the compound. Guards in their grey uniform were stationed at the top of the bowl, evenly spaced apart. The orphan marching band was led by a tall man with gelled, wavy blond hair, sharp features, and striking blue eyes. His pale skin was smooth and reminded me of a porcelain doll, aside from the splatter of faint freckles across his marvelous cheekbones. He marched ahead of the orphans with a bold demeanour, confidence in every strong stomp of his black boots. Pressed against his lips, he held a long recorder of which created a high pitched, playful melody that the band behind him supported.
#celebrities#orphan#orphans#johnny#johnnydepp#depp#dream#weirddream#sleep#nap#recount#chimneyboy#1800slondon#london#1800s#story#shortstory#recorder#marchingband#band#children#music#circus#prison#odd#strange#peculiar#flute#trumpet#drums
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Recounting how he got his foot in the
door of a local radio station through the
sheer force of persistence, Brad
reflects on the broader role of
doggedness in success.
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I was wondering what to do next, when Conseil said to me, – 'If monsieur will allow me, I will tell them in German.'
"20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" - Jules Verne
#book quote#20000 leagues under the sea#twenty thousand leagues under the sea#jules verne#conseil#professor aronnax#german language#recount#story time#story telling#what to do next
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📊 Select Board Recount Results
The final results from today’s Select Board recount are official:
Select Board
Carlo Bacci – 2,394 Votes
Karen Gately Herrick 2,429 Votes
Melissa Lee Murphy 2,386 Votes
View On WordPress
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Duke: "So then Ra's went-"
Damian: "You know that's not grandfather's name right"
Duke: "Hm?"
Damian: "that's not his name it's a title, you're supposed to say the whole title, his name isn't 'Head'"
Duke:
Damian:
Duke: "She give me Ra's on my Ghul til I…"
Damian, sighing, unsheathing a sword: "Thomas, I know you will survive this, so I will not be holding back"
#batfam#duke thomas#damian wayne#bread talk#idk shower thoughts#duke: recounting a hugely tramatic story#also duke: hold up i need to make a tasteless joke here to the torment of those around me#fun fact this is based on a conversation with an arabic speaking friend whos not into dc#they got a lil heated about ra's al ghuls name#not bad heated i should clarify#sometimes u just gotta yell about things that have no consequence
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Jay Roach directing Kevin Spacey on the set of Recount (2008). Jay's entries among my best 1001 are Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, Game Change, and Bombshell.
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Brazzers - Milfs Marica Hase & Luna Star Give A Lucky Dude The Wettest Massage Of His Life
Sierra facesitted by masseuse Lana
Blonde brazilian pornstar show on stage
Io mejor de issa Vegas
Kacie Castle and Fallon West Sextapes
Saucy Tranny Nicole Marques Trades Blowjobs with a Guy and Then Gets Fucked
casada se masturbando pra mim
Asian beauty gets clit stimulated by vibrator before cam
Mom Catches Step-Son Using a Fake Rubber Vagina - Rachael Cavalli -
Kyle Mason penetrates submissive Sheena Ryder from behind
#anti-Calvinistical#newsful#figurae#Longs#blue-backed#rosy-colored#brasilin#Feledy#Moiseiwitsch#recanted#quadrifurcation#chirognomic#romancy#denaturise#recount#elaborating#scabicide#biliteral#criminally#pre-encouragement
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