When I first considered doing an examination of my favorite horror movies, I thought that going decade by decade would be sufficient, but I realized that some periods have far more excellent films than others. A simple examination of 2-4 movies from the 1930s will not work, so I am going to look at one film at a time for that decade. I will begin with Dracula, a film I love, and which I have taught in college classes such as Literature and Film and Gothic and Horror. I also hold the novel to be an excellent and very important book.
Dracula, made in 1931, and released for Valentine’s Day–a nice touch–was a huge success and established Bela Lugosi as a top box office star. This production was itself based on the very successful theatrical play Dracula by Hamilton Deane and James Balderston. Stoker’s novel did not see great success during his life, but after his death and the success of the play, it became one of the best selling novels of the 20th Century–worldwide.
Carl Laemmle Jr, capitalized on the story’s growing popularity and produced the movie. Tod Browning, who had directed Lon Chaney Sr. in several movies, directed this piece. This film is highly atmospheric with a Gothic set and influenced by German Expressionism. Lugosi was brilliant with his authentic Hungarian accent and menacing presence. His performance and voice set the standard for the image of Dracula and vampires for decades to come. Dracula was a sensation and terrified people; today’s audience would probably find it slow and not at all frightening, but that reflects our jaded views that have been glutted with gore as the staple ingredient of contemporary horror. This film depended on story telling, atmosphere, and acting. The film’s success created an era of classic horror films through the 1930s and part of the 1940s with Universal studios leading the way.
Additionally, Dracula is generally accepted by most film critics as one of the best horror films made. I certainly consider it to be one of the best and most important.
It is an interesting and little known detail of film history that in addition to the English language version, Universal also made a Spanish language film at the same time. The two films shared the same sets, and the same basic scripts, but with different actors and a different director: George Melford directed, and Carlos Villarías stared as Dracula. While not as well known, an argument can be made that this is a better film than the more established English language version. If you ever have the opportunity to see it, I recommend that you do.
Bela Lugosi, still scary to this day!! Frankenstein Dracula House of Wax all of them I love them when I was a kid! They scared the hell out of me! But we love that right still to this day!? Amazing actors, amazing portrayals!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, they certainly were.
LikeLike
I have seen some of these movies.
And I know, you know, more than I, about this genre.
It is just my sense most movies don’t hold a candle to Bram Stoker and his shattering book. It is probably still my favorite book. There was imagery and foreboding in those pages that blew my mind, and yet somehow it was sexy. It just drew me in.
The Dracula movie I liked most was the one with Wynona and Anthony Hopkins. It caught best the weird ass sexy appeal of a blood sucking hero.
Oh, just remembered, I loved the Lestat series by Anne Rice for much of the same reason. Plus, she is brilliant.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I agree with you about Bram Stoker and Anne Rice. Their work is brilliant.
LikeLike
It still holds its power and Lugosi is terrific. Didn’t know about the Spanish version.
LikeLiked by 2 people
It is worth seeing if you get the chance.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good to learn about the film of Dracula, Charles. This is my favourite book by far.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, and it is one of the most influential books of my life.
LikeLike
I don’t think I’ve ever seen the Bela Lugosi version of Dracula. Hammer’s version of Dracula with Christopher Lee as Dracula is the one I watched on TV as a kid, so when I think of Dracula I think of Christopher Lee.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is worth seeing, especially to see how different were the expectations of what could be shown.
LikeLiked by 1 person
One of the best! Just looking at your photo of Bela Lugosi bring back all the creepy memories.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, it is excellent.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I haven’t read the book. You’d recommend it?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I do.
LikeLike
It would be interesting to hear the movie in Spanish.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is a brilliant movie.
LikeLiked by 1 person