In Director Francis Ford Coppola's 1992 gothic horror movie, Bram Stoker's Dracula, Gary Oldman stars as the immortal vampire 'Count Dracula', who was formerly the Wallachian ruler 'Vlad the Impaler'. In the prologue of the film we see the prince return from victory in his campaign against the Ottoman Empire in 1462 to find this beloved wife 'Elisabeta' has committed suicide, thinking him dead from false enemy reports. Enraged he renounces God, desecrates a chapel and vows revenge, transformed into a vampire. Centuries later in the Victorian Era he sees the picture of his solicitor's fiancée, 'Mina Murray', and believes she is Elisabeta reincarnated and travels from Transylvania to England to be reunited with his love. The acclaimed film is based on the 1897 novel by Bram Stoker.
Vlad the Impaler armour worn by Gary Oldman
in Bram Stoker's Dracula
Gary Oldman wears this muscular-textured crimson armour in the flashback scenes at the beginning of the movie when he is still a human warlord.
The late Japanese art director and graphic designer Eiko Ishioka was Costume Designer on the movie, a field she had no prior experience in, who won an Academy Award for her designs.
The ribbed crimson armour has sinewy look, like the skin has been peeled off muscle, and is inspired by man and wolf. You can also the Japanese samurai influence in the armour's horned helmet.
This striking blood red screen-worn armour was photographed on display at the
Academy Museum of Motion Pictures as part of their temporary exhibition,
The Horror Show, on October 4, 2026 (and for movie and costume lovers is worth seeing up close in person).
