MovieChat Forums > Kaidan (1965) Discussion > Influenced Coppola's Dracula

Influenced Coppola's Dracula

posted 15 years ago by Swede69
8 replies | jump to latest

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned how much Francis Ford Coppola stole from this movie for his retelling of Bram Stoker's Dracula. Particularly the visual style of the second segment, “Woman of the Snow", in which the obviously fake skies (with the painted eyes) and fake forest still seem menacing. The musical effects are nearly identical those in Dracula also. I wonder of FFC ever gave props to this movie.

Scott

"I hate rudeness in a man. I won't tolerate it" - Woodrow F Call

[–] Tyler_Durden_pt 14 years ago

"Stole" is too strong a word.

[–] kirby-37 14 years ago

It may be too strong a word because in film everyone borrows from others but the "borrowing" from Japanese films has been much more flagrant and common than often realized. With "A Fistfull of Dollars" with Clint Eastwood, it was so blatant that Akira Kurosawa sued for his copying of "Yojimbo" and won. On the other hand, it has gone the other way, and Kurosawa often credits John Ford with his treatment of the Western and its influence on the Samurai film.

[–] Eumenides_0 14 years ago

I can't pinpoint a specific example, but I think Coppola drew inspiration from the German expressionist movies for the visual style of Dracula.

This world is a comedy to those that think, a tragedy to those that feel.

[–] trada122 14 years ago

directors always get ideas from something else.

for instance:

Paprika to Inception

M to all the detective films

Shaun of the Dead to Zombieland(literally the director said he wanted to make something like Shaun of the Dead)

It's just how you make them. If you make it creative and their own, then it becomes a good film.

Now straight up copying is different, which happens all the time.

We just don't notice it right away.

[–] Morlock-Mike 14 years ago

Coppola’s visual style for Bram Stoker's Dracula derives from a great many sources. The Mario Bava film Black Sunday (aka Mask of Satan) certainly comes to mind.

[–] ContinentalOp 14 years ago

Actually Coppola's film has kabuki and Noh influences in the costuming. Look at the clothing ''Old Dracula'' wears.

The look of 'Kaidan' is ''hyper-real'', inspired by Noh, Kabuki and traditional paintings.

"Namu-myoho-renge-kyo"

[–] Eumenides_0 13 years ago

Well, that probably has to do with Japanese Eiko Ishioka's costumes for Coppola's movie.

This world is a comedy to those that think, a tragedy to those that feel.

[–] DreTam2000 12 years ago

As great as Coppola is, I have to say that his Dracula film was a horrid mess. The only thing about it that is terrific is its first ten minutes. You swear it will be the setup for a great movie. Unfortunately it gets nowhere fast after that. Truly a pity.

I do love Coppola, though. And Kwaidan is a masterpiece.

I'm not a control freak, I just like things my way