The latest installment in my continuing series celebrating Universal Studio’s 100th Anniversary.
Poor Bela Lugosi. When asked to transfer his stage success the silver screen by starring in Tod Browning’s Dracula (apparently he was NOT even the first choice), little did he know that this would be the role that would define his career (and life).
While not the first filmed version of Bram Stoker’s ‘undead’ (most notable in my mind the nightmarish Nosferatu), it is the Dracula imprinted on our collective memory. Lugosi’s portrayal of the Count is that of a haunting, seductive bloodsucking nightwalker.
Today’s cinemagoers will probably not be convinced by the stagey nature of the film and its performances, but that does not make it any more impactful. First of all it should be noted that while this is based on Stoker’s source material, the direct text, etc. is taken from the aforementioned stage play Dracula. Second and most importantly, I imagine what also terrified audiences at the time was down to the cadence of Lugosi’s delivery and the deliberate pacing of his movements. As a child I remember mimicking him, walking around saying, “I vaunt to suck your blood!” It has been a while now so I am not even sure those exact words are even uttered in the film.
One element that I never fully resolved myself was the fact that while many of the characters are wearing contemporary clothes, they traverse the landscape in horse-drawn carriages. It is possible that automobiles have not reach Carpathian Mountains; anyone have a clue?
In 2000, Dracula was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry. (Source: Wikipedia)
Ja says
April 25, 2012 at 9:32 amGot me thinking of my favorite vampire movies of all-time…Interview with the Vampire and Blade (smile).
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Sergio (Tipping My Fedora) says
April 25, 2012 at 11:59 amIt is a never-never land of Victorian Britain crossed with something more contemporary, isn’t it? A bit like the Sherlock Holmes movies made by Universal with Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, which are wonderfulyl artificial. Have you ever seen the Spanish version of the Lugosi Dracula shot with a different cast on the same sets? it’s a much more dynamic interpretation of the material and makes for a fascinating comparison.
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iluvcinema says
April 25, 2012 at 12:02 pmNope; but I have heard about that one too; that is also being released on disk as part of the anniversary celebration.
My Spanish is rusty at best so I will have to turn on the subtitles or just enjoy the lovely romanticism of the language 🙂
Jack Deth says
April 25, 2012 at 12:55 pmHi, iluv and company:
Great topic!
Stoker, Browning and Lugosi’s ‘Dracula’ still can’t be touched for creepy atmosphere. Granted, it is much more a stage play put to film. Horse drawn carriages and wagon and lack of electricity in the Count’s castle or keep and all. It still works!
Murnau’s ‘Nosferatu’ has a lot more mood and shadow work. I still enjoy Frank Langella’s sensual twist on the character.
Different variations of the same character who evolved from Stoker, Schreck and Lugosi.
It’s a shame Lugosi never truly escaped that character.
PS: Good catch on the Spanish variant, Sergio!
iluvcinema says
April 25, 2012 at 1:11 pmNosferatu really creeps me out! Have you seen Shadow of the Vampire?
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Jack Deth says
April 27, 2012 at 12:49 amHi, iluv!
I’ve seen ‘Shadow of the Vampire’ several times and get a kick out of John Malkovich’s take on Murnau and Dafoe’s superb Schreck.
Great catch!
ruth says
April 25, 2012 at 1:45 pmBela Lugosi is the quintessential Dracula, I mean look at that spiky collar, ahah. He doesn’t look scary to me though as it’s such a costume-y look, more like a Halloween costume. The scariest Dracula is Gary Oldman!
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iluvcinema says
April 25, 2012 at 1:53 pmYeah with that ginormous head of his!
ruth says
April 25, 2012 at 6:25 pmAhah yeah! Oh and another Dracula I think is particularly effective is Chris Sarandon in the original Fright Night, he’s scary and VERY seductive!
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iluvcinema says
April 25, 2012 at 10:34 pmHe definitely made an impression 🙂
Yvette says
April 25, 2012 at 4:41 pmI love Bela Lugosi. Period. End of discussion. There is only one Dracula. 🙂
I think autos hadn’t reached the Carpathian mountains or maybe we weren’t supposed to notice the ‘modern’ clothing. One or the other. Wagons and horses add more atmosphere. Maybe. It’s hard for cars to go up a mountain.
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iluvcinema says
April 25, 2012 at 10:36 pmYeah I thought of that; it seemed like two different worlds; that is probably what Browning was going for anyways.
sati says
April 26, 2012 at 11:52 amNice post! I think Lugosi’s performance is much better than all the other ones given by Dracula, even by Gary Oldman. It has a weird elegance to it, one that is rarely seen nowadays.
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iluvcinema says
April 26, 2012 at 3:42 pmAnd the film is so short (74 minutes) that you don’t mind watching and re-watching 🙂