TheBoost said:

"Count Dracula" with Christopher Lee directed by Jess Franco is probably the best in both regards. Dracula is genuinly frightening, but with a depth that isn't romantic but more historical. Lots of great language from the novel, and a tour de force performance from Lee.

The only thing stopping it from being the clear and undisputed best Dracula was the ridiculous overuse of the zoom lens. It's like a home movie in some spots.

Rewatched this film last night for the first time in maybe 4 years. I don't know how I was so enamored on it.

Lee IS Dracula. He owns the screen in one of is most compelling performances. Sadly, he only has about 4 minutes of screentime in the second half of the film. Herbert Lom as Van Helsing does pretty well, and Klaus Kinski is compelling as a silent Renfield, but overall the film loses so much steam in the last half hour that when the heroes show up to kill Dracula I had forgotten why they wanted to kill him.