American filmmaking was irrevocably changed by Francis Ford Coppola, one of the most important auteurs to emerge from the New Hollywood movement. His creative approach to filmmaking, which he pioneered with iconic films like The Godfather and Apocalypse Now, had a profound impact on movie buffs. Not every flick that he added to his coveted filmography, though, was given the same level of recognition.
Coppola’s 1992 adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, a classic work that had a profound influence on the horror genre, is a prime example of this. Although the set and costume designs in the film have received praise from critics as well as fans, there were many strange behind-the-scenes stories about the production, one of which was Coppola’s mistreatment of Winona Ryder.
Reports at the time claimed that Ryder’s character, Mina Harker, had to overcome a great deal of guilt and conflict to the point where she had to cry. However, as per the actress, Coppola expressed regret to the Stranger Things star for his actions during the film’s production.
Bram Stoker’s Dracula: Winona Ryder’s Experience with Verbal Abuse
Francis Ford Coppola allegedly verbally abused Winona Ryder during the filming of Bram Stoker’s Dracula in an effort to get her to give a more passionate performance. Unfortunately, Ryder was so hurt by Coppola’s actions that she eventually broke down in tears.
She noted in an interview that it was particularly challenging because guilt “is an emotion that I do not really like to tap into”. Coppola started screaming and covertly gave Keanu Reeves instructions to insult his co-star in order to finish the scene. Ryder shared:
“You W**RE! YOU F**KING W**RE!… You! Look at you! Look at yourself!… And your own husband’s looking at you.”
The torrent of insults left Ryder stunned and confused, and she broke down, but Coppola had to reshoot the scene several times before the actor begged him to stop. Later, as he gave Ryder an embrace, the actress recalled the director saying this to her:
“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry…. I don’t mean it.”
In addition to being disturbed by Coppola’s manipulation, Ryder was also terrified of her co-star Gary Oldman’s behavior on the set because they were frequently at odds. Even so, she later revealed that she suffered trauma during the filming of Bram Stoker’s Dracula and that she always “felt there was a danger” while working with the Remembrance star.
Francis Ford Coppola’s Perspective on the 1992 Film Set Incident
During an interview with The Sunday Times in 2020, Winona Ryder, 52, recalled shooting a scene for Bram Stoker’s Dracula in which she was “supposed to be crying”. According to her, Francis Ford Coppola, 85, encouraged her male co-stars to tease her in an attempt to make her cry even more.
In a statement to PEOPLE, the director did, however, refute the allegations:
“While I think Winona is a wonderful actor, the incident she described is not how it happened, and shouting or abusing people isn’t something I do as a person or as a filmmaker.
The five-time Academy Award-winning director went on to say:
“In this situation, which I remember clearly, I instructed Gary Oldman—in character as Dracula—to whisper improvised words to her and the other characters, making them as horrific and evil as he could. I don’t know what was said, but improvisation is a common filmmaking practice.”
Meanwhile, in a statement, a Ryder representative told the outlet:
“Winona and Francis are in agreement and his recollection is correct. He asked the actors, in character, to say horrible things to her as a technique to help her cry for the scene. Although that technique didn’t work for her, she loves and respects him and considers it a great privilege to have worked with him.”
Ryder had already achieved her breakthrough as a major motion picture star by the time Bram Stoker’s Dracula was released. She continues to be recognizable for the next few years, as evidenced by her recent return to Stranger Things.
Next, we will see her as Lydia Deetz in the upcoming Tim Burton fantasy horror comedy Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. The film also stars Michael Keaton, Catherine O’Hara, and Jenna Ortega.
Bram Stoker’s Dracula is streaming on Pluto TV.
