Dracula Overview:

Dracula (1931) was a Fantasy - Horror Film directed by Tod Browning and Karl Freund and produced by Carl Laemmle Jr., Tod Browning and E.M. Asher.

The film was based on the novel of the same name and also Stage Play written by Bram Stoker published in 1897 (novel); Oct 5, 1927 - May 1928 (play performed at Fulton Theatre, NY).

SYNOPSIS

The most famous screen version of Bram Stoker's celebrated tale launched Lugosi's career in the role he seemed destined to play. Browning had the right macabre sensibility and Freund's images are moody and shadowy. You know the lines by heart, but have you ever really looked at the scene in which Lugosi stands at the top of a sweeping staircase, haloed by spiderwebs, and intones, "I am...Dracula"? There was a Spanish-language version filmed at the same time that, with the exception of Lugosi's embodiment of the count, is considered superior. Try to give it a watch.

(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).

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Dracula was inducted into the National Film Registry in 2000.

BlogHub Articles:

Monsters and Matinees: Beyond Lugosi – 9 classic film actors who played Dracula

By Toni Ruberto on Nov 12, 2022 From Classic Movie Hub Blog

Say the name Dracula and who do you see? Most likely Bela Lugosi. The Hungarian actor remains the face of Bram Stoker?s iconic character even for some who have never seen him play the role. So here?s a surprising fact that I have to remind myself of: Lugosi only played Count Dracula twice on film... Read full article


Rating The Universal Dracula Films

By Dan Day, Jr. on Oct 9, 2022 From The Hitless Wonder Movie Blog

Now it's time for my personal rankings of the Universal Dracula films made during the studio's classic monster era from 1931 to 1948. This will be the same setup as my Universal Frankenstein rankings from yesterday. There's going to be some overlap from that list, as HOUSE OF FRANKENSTEIN, HOUSE OF ... Read full article


DRACULA AND SON On Blu-ray From Severin

By Dan Day, Jr. on Aug 29, 2022 From The Hitless Wonder Movie Blog

The main highlight of Severin's THE EUROCRYPT OF CHRISTOPHER LEE COLLECTION 2 Blu-ray box set is its 3-disc presentation of the 1976 French comedy DRACULA AND SON (originally titled DRACULA PERE ET FILS). The film is not only shown in a restored, uncut condition, it is also the recipient of several ... Read full article


Rating The Hammer Dracula Films Starring Christopher Lee

By Dan Day, Jr. on May 27, 2022 From The Hitless Wonder Movie Blog

Today marks the 100th anniversary of Christopher Lee. I've decided to mark this occasion by ranking the Hammer Dracula films which starred Lee. The format is much the same as yesterday's ranking of the Hammer Frankenstein films starring Peter Cushing. One aspect of the Hammer Draculas that doesn't g... Read full article


OLD DRACULA

By Dan Day, Jr. on Jan 5, 2020 From The Hitless Wonder Movie Blog

One of the non-political things trending the most on the internet this week has been the new BBC TV adaptation of DRACULA. I haven't seen any of it yet--from what I've heard about it, I'd probably just be whining and moaning over it. I did happen to view another radical interpretation of Bram Stoke... Read full article


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Quotes from

Count Dracula: Listen to them. Children of the night. What music *they* make.


Van Helsing: You'll die in torment if you die with innocent blood on your soul.
Renfield: God will not damn a poor lunatic's soul. He knows that the powers of evil are too great for those with weak minds.


Renfield: You know too much to live, Van Helsing!


read more quotes from Dracula...

Facts about

Before he was cast as Count Dracula, Bela Lugosi acted as an unpaid intermediary for Universal Pictures in negotiating with the widow of author Bram Stoker in an attempt to persuade her to lower her asking price for the filming rights to the Dracula property. After two months of negotiations, Mrs. Stoker reportedly lowered her price from $200,000 to $60,000. This, however, further demonstrated to Universal how desperate Lugosi was to repeat his stage success as Count Dracula and secure the film role for himself.
While it is rumored that Bela Lugosi, could not speak English very well, and had to learn his lines phonetically, this is not true. Lugosi was speaking English as well as he ever would by the time this was filmed.
Cinematographer Karl Freund achieved the effect of Dracula's hypnotic stare by aiming two pencil-spot-lights into actor Bela Lugosi's eyes.
read more facts about Dracula...
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National Film Registry

Dracula

Released 1931
Inducted 2000
(Sound)




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Also directed by Tod Browning




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Also produced by Carl Laemmle Jr.




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