MovieChat Forums > Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992) Discussion > Hopkins played the Romanian Bishop right...

Hopkins played the Romanian Bishop right?

posted 9 years ago by Naughty-God
5 replies | jump to latest

He's not credited on IMDB, but in the opening prologue I'm sure that's Hopkins telling the Prince that Elizabetta's soul was condemned. Was that suppose to tie in with the Van Helsing character in the main plot?

In many Dracula adaptations the Van Helsing character is written as a descendant of a long line of Dracula hunters so I thought perhaps that the Bishop/Priest may have been Van Helsing's ancestor. Watch the scene again because I'm pretty sure it's Anthony. I didn't notice this when it came out because the screen capture/motion threw me off so not until now with BluRay/HDD TV do you get more clarity.

[–] kryptonripper 9 years ago

There is this nugget from the trivia page on here:

"Anthony Hopkins also plays Cesare, the priest who tells Dracula that Elisabeta's soul is damned; and he provides the voice-over sequence during the narrative for the Captain of the Demeter."

Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103874/trivia?ref_=tt_trv_trv

I've seen the name "Cesare" mentioned in a few places online in regard to the priest, but I've never seen a source for it mentioned anywhere.

As for there being a connection between the priest and nutty old Van H, it's anyone's guess. Personally, I think it is merely Coppola and Hopkins having a little bit of fun and letting it be ambiguous so we can decide what we like.
For example, back when I saw it on home video release I used to flirt with the idea that Van Helsing actually WAS the priest, granted immortality by God in order to combat Dracula and put an end to him.

Mairzy doats and dozy doats and liddle lamzy divey
A kiddley divey too, wooden shoe?

[–] 9 years ago

[deleted]

[–] kryptonripper 9 years ago

Aye, you're likely right. It would be nice to know if that did originate with the production though, as I've only seen it mentioned on here.

Mairzy doats and dozy doats and liddle lamzy divey
A kiddley divey too, wooden shoe?

[–] King-Stannis-Baratheon 8 years ago

I've always thought that Van Helsing was supposed to be a "reincarnation" of the priest, just like Mina was the "reincarnation" of Elizabeta.

Brienne: "Any last words?"
Stannis: "The siege begins at sunrise."

[–] The_Ultimate_Hippo 8 years ago

Yes that was Hopkins

"I really wish Gia and Claire had became Tanner" - Honeybeefine