I actually have a great deal of affection for Franco's Dracula. I'm not a huge Franco-phile, even though I like trash cinema I'm not as big a fan of smut. But Dracula isn't smut. Christopher Lee always has good things to say about this version and he's absolutely right about them getting the look right with the mustache and the ageing backwards.
On the other hand, I have utter disdain for Coppala's Dracula. He did a brilliant job with the castle and the old Dracula, and Anthony Hopkins is my favorite Van Helsing ever, but the rest of he film is HORRIBLY miscast and just smacks of studio interference or someone who just didn't GET the source material....but I could go on all day about that film...
On the other hand, I have utter disdain for Coppala's Dracula. He did a brilliant job with the castle and the old Dracula, and Anthony Hopkins is my favorite Van Helsing ever, but the rest of he film is HORRIBLY miscast and just smacks of studio interference or someone who just didn't GET the source material....but I could go on all day about that film...