Firstly I wish to point out that the DVD version was a restoration. The film is presented in its original format, which has been painstakingly restored. First of all, it features the German intertitles, both originals and imitations designed to look like the originals, all very stylish, and with optional English subtitles. In addition, the image has been digitally remastered. It is cleared of scratches and stains to a very high degree, and has been stabilised so as not to jerk sideways where frames have come to be slightly misaligned due to the print's age. It has also been digitally retouched for consistent brightness, which means it has very little of the usual flickering of old films. The film version i watched had been tinted which slightly disappointed me as I wanted to see it in its orignial glory far as black and white goes and dont know what producers decide to add shades to colour to these old movies!!
The music is as authentic as it gets. Though no recording of the original score by Hans Erdmann was made at the time (all screenings being accompanied by live performances), the music suite used has been historically reconstructed, and it is such a reconstruction that has been recorded for this DVD (by the Radio Symphony Orchestra Saarbruecken, conducted by Berndt Heller). It is beautiful IMHO. Truly is a classic of cinema brought back to life, I hope they release it on Blu-ray soon as I am not aware they have yet!!.
The film itself is a classic, scary and atmospheric, probably my favourite incarnation of Dracula (dont even talk about that sh*t called twilight, Dracula, as a character, is meant to repulsive. He is a fiend, a demon from Hell and a monster first and foremost not some handsome teenager ), its also an added bonus that the characters in this film have the original names from the novel in this edition. Max Schrek did a fabulous job, right down to the lack of blinking, the stiff movement becoming suddenly frighteningly swift and smooth when he swoops in for Ellen (Mina). To this day Nosferatu, made in 1922 is without doubt one of the best vampire movies ever made
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