Renfield
Nicolas Cage ’s cast as Dracula in the forthcoming funniness horror filmRenfieldhas excited many . But following the trailer ’s release , Nicholas Hoult ’s upcoming carrying into action in the nominal role has stoke much excitement . In anticipation ofRenfield’srelease , and after 100 years of Dracula movies , here is a look at each doer who has played Renfield .
In Bram Stoker ’s seminal 1897 Gothic novelDracula , R. N. Renfield is an inmate in Dr. John Seward ’s moonstruck asylum . He is observed to eat dirt ball and birds , consider that he could achieve immortality by devour their living . It is afterwards revealed that Renfield is under the power of Count Dracula himself , who bestowed this signifier of vampirism upon him . Numerous incarnations of theRenfield , Dracula ’s fly - eating lunatic , have served the Count over the decades , but only those who come out in Dracula movies have been include for this lean .
1922 Alexander Granach As Knock In Nosferatu: A Symphony Of Horror
The first adaptation of the novelDracula , and the first bouncy - action Renfield , F. W. Murnau ’s classic German Expressionism photographic film infamously fail to assume the rights from Bram Stoker ’s folk to do so . Resultantly , Murnau commute character names and locations , turning Renfield into Knock — played by Alexander Granach . In Nosferatu : A Symphony Of Horror , Knock also assimilate Mr. Hawkins , the employer of the hero Jonathon Harker ( rename Hutter ) .
1931 Dwight Frye In Todd Browning’s Dracula
in all probability the most iconic rendition ofCount Dracula ’s henchman Renfield , Dwight Frye make many of the character ’s associated foible . Most notable are his tone of spokesperson , rictus grin , and wild eyes . Browning’sDraculais not establish on the novel but the degree romp of the same name — during which Renfield takes the post of Harker as the real estate federal agent who visits Dracula in Transylvania . Dracula takes Renfield to England , where he resumes his bug - eat refuge antics .
1970 Klaus Kinski Opposite Christopher Lee In Hammer’s Count Dracula
One of the most iconic Count Dracula execution has an equally memorable Renfield . Initially deform unbalanced by Dracula in Transylvania , somehow connect to the loss of his daughter , Count Dracula features a mute Renfield , represent by German actor Kalus Kinski . The film was first publicize as the most close adaptation , which it was in 1970 , making only minor changes from the novel forHammer ’s Dracula , starring Christopher Lee .
1979 Tony Haygarth In Dracula
The first of three Dracula movies free in 1979 , Dracula was direct by John Badham , who prefer to spotlight the amatory aspects of the novel and 1924 microscope stage play . Tony Haygath ’s theatrical role is named Milo Renfield , first enthralled and enslave by Dracula while unloading box seat at Dracula ’s new English estate , Carfax Abbey , before later being admitted to Seward ’s asylum . However , unlike the novel , this version of Renfield would never make it out of the asylum .
1979 Roland Topor For Werner Herzog’s Nosferatu The Vampire
Werner Herzog ’s remake of F. W. Murnau ’s classic , Nosferatu The Vampire , utilize former Renfield actor , Klaus Kinski , as Count Dracula . Many characters sham a like role as Murnau’sNosferatu , but withoriginal Dracula names reestablish . The role of Renfield went to Roland Topor , who play a giggling rendition of Harker ’s employer , committed to an asylum as a pestis spreader and for biting a cow in an evident scene of madness .
1979 Arte Johnson In Comedy Horror Movie Love At First Bite
The final of 1979 ’s three Dracula motion-picture show , Love At First Bite , was a comedy repulsion film star George Hamilton as Count Dracula . Renfield was played by comedian Arte Johnson , whose version of the character is a lifelong handmaid of his vampire lord , joining him on his relocation to New York City . Johnson ’s Renfield was often a blatant spoof of Dwight Frye ’s definitive rendition of the eccentric .
1992 Tom Waits In Francis Ford Coppola’s Bram Stoker’s Dracula
The most novel - accurate Renfield , and Dracula movie in ecumenical , is Francis Ford Coppola ’s 1992 flick , Bram Stoker ’s Dracula . The all - star cast featured musician Tom Waits as Renfield alongsideAnthony Hopkins in the horror movieadaptation . Renfield here takes his original place within the moonstruck psychiatric hospital , connected somehow to Count Dracula , who he both fears and obeys . Renfield is Harker ’s precursor as Dracula ’s estate agent - turn - slave , driven mad and jug before Harker ’s initial travel to Transylvania .
1995 Peter MacNicol In Mel Brooks' Spoof Dracula: Dead And Loving It
Arguably the funniest of the Dracula charade , Mel Brooks ' second horror parody , Dracula : Dead And be intimate It , might be the most beloved Dracula moving-picture show . The movie combines aspects from the novel and its various adaptations and stars Peter MacNicol as Renfield . MacNicol ’s Renfield plays a much big part than the novel and many movies . Renfield , specifically , parodies Dwight Frye ’s 1931 Renfield : most notably in mannerisms , but he also follows the same tale arc ( the initial landed estate agentive role who visits Dracula and afterward travel to London before incarceration in Dr. Seward ’s asylum ) . However , extra scenes were added tothe horror spoof , depict on Renfield ’s servile nature and MacNicol ’s brilliant carrying out .
2012 Ian Pfister InDracula Reborn
The direct - to - video movieDracula Rebornattempted to land the Greco-Roman lamia story into the modern world . Changing the novel ’s latter London location , Dracula buys his property in Los Angeles , where Renfield would serve well as his helper . However , Renfield ( and Dracula Reborn ) shares small with his literary opposite number . Instead , he has decidedly more agency , referred to as Dracula ’s fellow rather than his retainer , and is depicted as barefaced and officially dressed with a demeanor suggestive of a Samuel Butler . Though the movie was more or less critically panned , Pfister ’s portrayal of Renfield was praised .
2012 Giovanni Franzoni In Dario Argento’s Dracula 3D
theatre director andhorror master Dario Argentosought to update the original Bram Stoker story with modern art and technology in Dracula 3D. Argento made many changes , notably expand the backstory of one of Dracula ’s Brides , list her Tania . Though Giovanni Frazoni ’s Renfield acknowledges Count Dracula as his master , inDracula 3D , his part is aim by his love for Tania .
