History Trivia / BramStokersDracula

* MeaningfulRelaseDate: This film was released to coincide with the 95th anniversary of the release of the novel, and with the 80th anniversary of the death of Creator/BramStoker.

** At one point, Creator/FrancisFordCoppola considered just titling the film 'D' to distinguish it from other Dracula adaptations.

** Coppola's original list of possible actors to play Dracula included Creator/DanielDayLewis, Creator/AlecBaldwin, Creator/JasonPatric, Creator/AidanQuinn, Creator/ChristianSlater, Creator/KeanuReeves, Creator/NicolasCage, Creator/MichaelNouri, Creator/DermotMulroney, Creator/GabrielByrne, Creator/CostasMandylor, Creator/NickCassavetes, Creator/AdrianPasdar, Creator/HughGrant, Creator/RupertEverett, Creator/RayLiotta, Music/{{Sting}}, Creator/KyleMacLachlan, Creator/AlanRickman, Creator/ColinFirth and Creator/HartBochner.

* DoingItForTheArt: Creator/FrancisFordCoppola decided that he wanted all the effects shots in the film to be done in-camera with nothing added in post-production. He and his son Roman worked hard to come up with concepts that used old-fashioned camera trickery that dates back to the early days of film ([[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzqokjcsHEY matte boxes, double exposures, reversed shots, tilted cameras, etc.]]).

** Creator/RichardEGrant, Cary Elwes and Bill Campbell were all sent on various team building exercises to build up a believable on-screen camaraderie.

* ActingForTwo: Creator/WinonaRyder plays both Elisabeta and Mina. More subtly and symbolically, the priest who informs Vlad of Elisabeta's damnation is played by Creator/AnthonyHopkins, who turns up later as Van Helsing. Gary Oldman also played the coach driver who takes Jonathan to the castle. This is likely a reference to the book, where Jonathan suspects that Dracula drove the coach too.
* ActorInspiredElement: Dracula was just supposed to appear as himself when he's caught with Mina. Gary Oldman felt that he wouldn't be intimidating enough, and so the bat costume was created. Funnily enough, he still didn't find himself scary in that at first (see below).

* AllStarCast: Most of the leads were A-listers at the time -- Anthony Hopkins was just coming off his ''Film/TheSilenceOfTheLambs'' triumph -- with notable character actors rounding out the cast. This was effectively Gary Oldman's breakthrough role for mainstream American audiences.

* DoingItForTheArt: Francis Ford Coppola decided that he wanted all the effects shots in the film to be done in-camera with nothing added in post-production. He and his son Roman worked hard to come up with concepts that used old-fashioned camera trickery that dates back to the early days of film ([[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzqokjcsHEY matte boxes, double exposures, reversed shots, tilted cameras, etc.]]).

** Gary Oldman also shaved the front of his hairline to accommodate the make-up process.

** Gary Oldman struggled to find himself scary in the giant batsuit, so Coppolla said to whisper something scary into each actor's ear. No one knows what he said - but they all look terrified.
** Gary Oldman was also drunk when they filmed the part where Dracula licks the blood off Jonathan's razor. They also waited until after midnight to shoot it, putting the cast in "the proper mood".
** Richard E Grant, Cary Elwes and Bill Campbell were all sent on various team building exercises to build up a believable on-screen camaraderie.

** When Mina is caught drinking Dracula's blood, Francis Ford Coppola was shouting "slut!" and "whore!" at her off camera to make her look guilty and ashamed.

** Keanu Reeves was put in as Jonathan at the request of the studio, who wanted a MrFanservice to appeal to the female moviegoers.

* FakeBrit: Americans Winona Ryder and Tom Waits as Mina and Renfield respectively, and Canadian Keanu Reeves as Jonathan. Waits does a near-flawless accent, Ryder's is decent enough and Reeves is not at all believable.
* FakeNationality: The Romanian Dracula is played by the British Gary Oldman. Anthony Hopkins also plays the Dutch Van Helsing. Dracula's brides do not have their nationalities stated but only one of them - Florina Kendrick - is Romanian.

* PlayingAgainstType: Keanu Reeves in an English period piece. At the time he was known for his comedy in ''Bill & Ted'' and was just emerging as an action star.

* StarMakingRole: This brought Gary Oldman to the attention of mainstream American audiences, and had the effect of typecasting him as various villains in the 90s.

** Creator/GaryOldman wanted to say "I never drink... wine" as an homage to Creator/BelaLugosi from the 1931 ''Dracula'' film (the line as originally written was nearly verbatim to the novel: "...and I do not sup.")
** At a preview screening, none other than George Lucas suggested that [[spoiler: Mina decapitate Dracula at the end]]. Coppola agreed and the scene was added in.

** At one point, Francis Ford Coppola considered just titling the film 'D' to distinguish it from other Dracula adaptations.
** The project was originally going to be a MadeForTVMovie, directed by Michael Apted. Winona Ryder saw the script and brought it to the attention of Francis Ford Coppola. Keen to work with her again after she fell ill and had to drop out of ''Film/TheGodfatherPartIII'', Coppola decided to direct the movie as a feature. Michael Apted stayed on as producer.

** Coppola's original list of possible actors to play Dracula included Creator/DanielDayLewis, Creator/AlecBaldwin, Creator/JasonPatric, Creator/AidanQuinn, Creator/ChristianSlater, Creator/KeanuReeves, Creator/NicolasCage, Creator/MichaelNouri, Creator/DermotMulroney, Creator/GabrielByrne, Creator/CostasMandylor, Creator/NickCassavetes, Creator/AdrianPasdar, Creator/HughGrant, Creator/RupertEverett, Creator/RayLiotta, Music/Sting, Creator/KyleMacLachlan, Creator/AlanRickman, Creator/ColinFirth and Creator/HartBochner.

** A scene was filmed showing [[spoiler: Renfield dying in his cell after Dracula seduces Mina]] and included on the DVD. His fate is left open in the finished film.

** Sadie Frost - a brunette - dyed her hair red to play Lucy because producers felt she resembled Creator/WinonaRyder too much.

* ExecutiveMeddling: Keanu Reeves was put in as Jonathan at the request of the studio, who wanted a MrFanservice to appeal to the female moviegoers.
* FakeBrit: Americans Winona Ryder, Keanu Reeves and Tom Waits as Mina, Jonathan and Renfield respectively. Waits does a near-flawless accent, Ryder's is decent enough and Reeves is not at all believable.

** Creator/LiamNeeson was considered for, and very much wanted, the role of Van Helsing, but after Creator/AnthonyHopkins, still riding the success of ''Film/TheSilenceoftheLambs, showed interest in the role, Neeson was ultimately turned down.

** Creator/DrewBarrymore was considered for Mina Murray.

* ActingForTwo: Creator/WinonaRyder plays both Elisabeta and Mina. More subtly and symbolically, the priest who informs Vlad of Elisabeta's damnation is played by Creator/AnthonyHopkins, who turns up later as Van Helsing.

* DyeingForYourArt: Sadie Frost - a brunette - dyed her hair red to play Lucy because producers felt she resembled Creator/WinonaRyder too much.

* ExecutiveMeddling: The Dracula/Mina love story was not part of the original script, and only implemented because the studio demanded it.
** This is also the reason Creator/KeanuReeves was cast, as the studio wanted someone who was more of a heartthrob.
* FakeNationality: Over half of the main cast, with the exceptions of Dr. Seward, Lucy, Arthur and Quincy.
** Since Dr. Seward's presumably not [[Creator/RichardEGrant Swazi/British colonial]] in this adaptation, he sort of qualifies as well.
** Averted with Romanian actress Florina Kendrick, as the Dracula bride who bites Harker in [[GroinAttack a sensitive spot]].
** Creator/GaryOldman, who is British in real life, plays Dracula, who is Transylvanian.

* ThrowItIn: Creator/GaryOldman wanted to say "I never drink... wine" as an homage to Creator/BelaLugosi from the 1931 ''Dracula'' film (the line as originally written was nearly verbatim to the novel: "...and I do not sup.")

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Creator/FrancisFordCoppola wanted Creator/JohnnyDepp to play Jonathan Harker, but the studio wanted someone who was more of a heartthrob. Creator/CharlieSheen auditioned for the part.

** Coppola's original list of possible actors to play Dracula included Creator/DanielDayLewis, Creator/AlecBaldwin, Creator/JasonPatric, Creator/AidanQuinn, Creator/ChristianSlater, Creator/KeanuReeves, Creator/NicolasCage, Creator/MichaelNouri, Creator/DermotMulroney, Creator/GabrielByrne, Creator/CostasMandylor, Creator/NickCassavetes, Creator/AdrianPasdar, Creator/HughGrant, Creator/RupertEverett, Creator/RayLiotta, Creator/Sting, Creator/KylyMacLachlan, Creator/AlanRickman, Creator/ColinFirth and Creator/HartBochner.

** Creator/SteveBuscemi was the first choice to play Renfield but turned down. Music/IanDury auditioned for the part.

* ActingForTwo: Winona Ryder plays both Elisabeta and Mina. More subtly and symbolically, the priest who informs Vlad of Elisabeta's damnation is played by Anthony Hopkins, who turns up later as Van Helsing.

* DyeingForYourArt: Sadie Frost - a brunette - dyed her hair red to play Lucy because producers felt she resembled Winona Ryder too much.

** Gary Oldman, who is British in real life, plays Dracula, who is Transylvanian.

* ThrowItIn: GaryOldman wanted to say "I never drink... wine" as an homage to Creator/BelaLugosi from the 1931 ''Dracula'' film (the line as originally written was nearly verbatim to the novel: "...and I do not sup.")

* [[HeyItsThatGuy Hey, It's That Girl!]]: One of Dracula's brides is played by a young Monica Bellucci.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: According to designer Barry Oursler, the game was originally intended to be a licensed ''Franchise/{{Alien}}'' game.

* ThrowItIn: GaryOldman wanted to say "I never drink... wine" as an homage to BelaLugosi from the 1931 ''Dracula'' film (the line as originally written was nearly verbatim to the novel: "...and I do not sup.")

* RetroactiveRecognition: Creator/MonicaBellucci as one of the brides.
** [[Film/TheMatrix Neo]] Is the one that slits [[Film/TheDarkKnightSaga Commissioner Gordon's]] Throat.

* TrailerDelay: The teaser trailer promised a Summer 1992 release, but it was pushed back a few months to November.

* RetroactiveRecognition: MonicaBellucci as one of the brides.

* TrailerDecay: The teaser trailer promised a Summer 1992 release, but it was pushed back a few months to November.

** [[Film/TheMatrix Neo]] Is the one that slits [[Film/TheDarkKnightSaga Commissioner Gordon's]] Throat.

** [[TheMatrix Neo]] Is the one that slits [[TheDarkKnightSaga Commissioner Gordon's]] Throat.

* RetroactiveRecognition: MonicaBellucci as one of the brides.

* EditedForSyndication: Along from trims for violence and nudity, all of Renfield's scenes were cut when Fox aired the movie in TheNineties, presumably for time.

* HeyItsThatGuy: MonicaBellucci as one of the brides.