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Product Description
In production for August 2026 shipping.
The mist coils, the coffin creaks, and cinema’s most seductive vampire returns to claim the night in Dracula – Hammer’s landmark 1958 telling of the Bram Stoker classic, known in the United States as Horror of Dracula. Released to coincide with Hammer’s stunning new restoration of the film, our new-edition Ultimate Guide is the ideal companion to rediscovering it. This full-colour softback magazine traces how Terence Fisher’s Gothic triumph put Christopher Lee’s Count and Peter Cushing’s Van Helsing at the heart of a whole new horror dynasty, pairing expertly written articles with a wealth of beautifully restored stills. It is a complete reimagining of the guide we first published in 2016: the design, structure and production quality of our Ultimate Guides have come on enormously since then, so this new edition is a genuine step up and an essential even if the original already sits on your shelf. Inside, you’ll explore how the movie was made, where it stands in the story of British horror, and why it still grips fans the world over – produced to our renowned standards throughout, it’s an endlessly re-readable addition to any classic horror collection.
How Hammer brought Dracula roaring back to life
Jonathan Harker arrives at Castle Dracula posing as a librarian, secretly determined to destroy its master – but the Count strikes first, turning his malice on Harker’s own extended family. Only the tenacious Doctor Van Helsing stands between Dracula and his prey, in a chase that builds to one of horror’s most thrilling confrontations. Directed by Terence Fisher from Jimmy Sangster’s lean screenplay and shot in vivid Eastmancolor at Bray Studios, Dracula followed The Curse of Frankenstein to crown Hammer as the new king of screen terror. As you’ll discover across these crisply designed pages, its colour, energy and daring changed the face of the genre for good.
Expert features that trace the film’s creation
This magazine guide features a series of absorbing, professionally written articles that examine how Dracula became one of the most influential horror films ever made. You’ll learn about the production at Bray, the casting that united Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing, Jimmy Sangster’s spirited reworking of Stoker, and the defining contributions of composer James Bernard, production designer Bernard Robinson and cinematographer Jack Asher. Our informative approach lays bare the practical challenges and creative decisions behind the scenes, giving you an invaluable understanding of how this Gothic classic came into being – along with a wealth of trivia facts to enrich your knowledge of the film.
The people who made Hammer’s Dracula unforgettable
As well as the movie itself, the Ultimate Guide to Dracula explores the lives and careers of the artists who made it a reality. A range of informative biography features introduces key cast and crew members, from Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing to Michael Gough, Melissa Stribling, Carol Marsh, John Van Eyssen and Valerie Gaunt, alongside director Terence Fisher, writer Jimmy Sangster and producer Anthony Hinds. It’s the perfect way to gain a greater understanding of the talent behind the film’s creation, and you’re likely to discover a few surprises along the way.
Quality you can feel on every page
Produced in A4 format (210mm x 297mm), this guide has a sturdy front cover with a glossy finish that reflects our dedication to quality, while the inner pages are printed on fine silk stock paper with a light sheen that makes every page a joy. As bold and vivid as the film that inspired it, the design brings Hammer’s rich Gothic colour to the page while keeping the layouts clean and inviting, so you can focus on the content for an easy and enjoyable read.
Beautifully restored stills throughout
A crucial element in the beauty of this Dracula magazine guide is its imagery. In line with our commitment to using only the finest stills, each image has been painstakingly restored to look its best on the page. Our use of full-colour print processes means that even black and white stills boast variations in tone and contrast that traditional monochrome printing simply does not offer, making every candlelit, crimson-splashed frame look its best.
The castle is quiet now, the candles guttering, and a chill has crept in from somewhere beyond the great oak door. Perhaps we should find a comfortable corner and settle down with the Ultimate Guide to Dracula. Best not to linger too long by the window, though – the sun has slipped below the hills, and your host, ever gracious, is just beginning to stir…
Complete your Hammer collection
If the Gothic grandeur of Hammer’s golden age holds a fascination for you, our companion guides make the perfect partners to this one:
Also available in other editions
Prefer a different format? This guide is also available as:
- Signed softback collector’s edition – hand-numbered out of 250 worldwide, includes free art print
- Signed hardback collector’s edition – limited to 50 worldwide, includes free art print different from softback edition
Specifications:
- 36 pages
- A4 (210mm x 297mm)
- Full colour throughout
- Luxury gloss laminated cover
- Printed on fine silk stock paper
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