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"DRACULA" - 1931 Director: Tod Browning. Starring: Bela Lugosi. This is the one where it all began. Yes, there were several foreign language vampire films before it - Nosferatu and Vampyr - but this one was the starting point for all the great Universal Studios' horror classics. Bram Stoker wrote the novel Dracula in 1897 and it was a huge success. In 1924, a theatrical touring version of it appeared which was so popular that it earned a London opening three years later, complete with a nurse in attendance just in case anyone fainted! Critics hooted but crowds lined up. Dracula sailed into New York, creating an even bigger splash on Broadway than in London. A 44 year-old Hungarian matinee idol named Bela Lugosi in the title role became an instant heart throb. Hindsight notwithstanding, Lugosi was not Universal's first choice to play Count Dracula in their film version. Lon Chaney Sr. (the Man of a Thousand Faces who had played the Phantom of the Opera, the Hunchback of Notre Dame and many others) was the one they really wanted. But due to Chaney Sr.'s unexpected death, Lugosi was eventually chosen from a crowded field of five other contenders. A good thing, too. It is inconceivable to horror buffs that anyone else could ever be the Count! Bela's biggest break soon became a curse of sorts as he was always seen as "Meester Dracula." For viewers used to Technicolor, surround-sound and Wide-screen extravaganzas, this 1931 black-and-white movie may seem a bit creaky. But there are definite rewards here. At the opening, real estate man Renfield (Dwight Frye) has traveled to Transylvania to close a deal with Count Dracula and assist him with his move. This sets up one of the movie's memorable lines: "I am brrringing only three - er - boaxes." But there are many more in the first two reels (thirty minutes) and much flapping of wings before they sail. "The spider spinning his veb for the unvary fly, dee blood is dee life, Meester Rrenfield." And, of course, "I never drink - - vine!" In the end, the Count is undone by the wise and good Professor Van Helsing (Edward Van Sloan) and suffers an ignominious (but censor approved) off screen death. Lugosi gets terrific support from Helen Chandler as Mina who nearly becomes the bride of Dracula, David Manners as her fiancé and especially Edward Van Sloan as his nemesis. Lugosi's Dracula counts among his "children of the night" many more takeoffs than those mentioned here. Dracula's Daughter in 1936 with the superb Gloria Holden as a reluctant vampire is one of the best. Whereas, the 1966 Billy the Kid vs. Dracula is anything but. The Count rose again in 1979 with Frank Langella as Dracula, Kate Nelligan playing Mina and Sir Laurence Olivier embodying Professor Van Helsing. As remakes go, this one is worth your time. Langella makes a Dracula to sigh for as he does a sizzling tango with Mina and gives her a real goodnight kiss before taking her blood. But the much hyped, pretentiously named Bram Stoker's Dracula, directed by Francis Ford Coppola in 1994 is torture of the worst kind. It oozes with blood and bizarre sexual references, and is overplayed by Gary Oldman (when he was THE Actor, remember??) Winona Ryder as Mina and Sir Anthony Hopkins as the good professor. Safest to skip this one. Forget the clichés and the bad jokes. Watch Dracula for Bela Lugosi. No one else ever did it like him. |
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