Written By: Ken Hulsey
The former London Lyceum Theatre manager Bram Stoker is often credited with creating modern vampire lore through his 1897 novel Dracula. However, contrary to popular belief, Dracula was not a successful novel and is not considered an important work in Victorian literature, despite inspiring countless films, TV series, books, and plays. While it is a common notion that Stoker's inspiration for the vampire character was the infamous Vlad III Dracula ("Vlad the Impaler"), most scholars agree this is not the case.
Stoker did discover the name "Dracul" (meaning "Dragon") while studying Romanian history, which he used for his vampire character, but the connection ends there. Stoker's main inspirations actually came from earlier vampire stories such as Emily Gérard's "Transylvania Superstitions" (1885), Sheridan Le Fanu's "Carmilla" (1871), John Polidori's "The Vampyre" (1819), and Lord Byron's "The Giaour" (1813). Additionally, he drew inspiration from the real-life figure of the Hungarian Countess Elizabeth Báthory, who was rumored to have killed hundreds of servant girls to bathe in or drink their blood.
Another key influence was the former Lyceum Theatre manager Henry Irving, whose mannerisms and gestures Stoker directly incorporated into the character of Dracula, even trying unsuccessfully to convince Irving to play the vampire in a stage adaptation. Regardless of its origins, Stoker's Dracula has since become the archetypal vampire character that all subsequent adaptations have been based upon.
In 1922, the first film adaptation of Bram Stoker's novel "Dracula" was produced, though without the rights to use the original title or characters. The producers, unable to secure permission from Stoker's widow, were forced to retitle the movie "Nosferatu: eine Symphonie des Grauens" (Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror) and change the setting from England to Transylvania and Germany. They also had to alter the vampire's name from Dracula to Count Orlok. Despite these changes, the film's star, Max Schreck, delivered an iconic and chilling performance as Orlok that remains one of the most memorable movie vampires in history. Schreck was so dedicated to the role that rumor has it he began to believe he was an actual vampire, only willing to film after sunset. Stoker's estate eventually won lawsuits against the filmmakers, leading to orders to destroy all copies of "Nosferatu." However, pirated versions survived, allowing the influential silent horror classic to live on.
The 1927 Broadway production of "Dracula," adapted for the stage by Hamilton Deane and John L. Balderston, became a massive hit. The production starred Hungarian-born actor Bela Lugosi, who did not speak English. Lugosi learned his lines phonetically, resulting in the iconic speech pattern that would become synonymous with Dracula and most vampire characters.
Bela Lugosi, born Bela Ferenc Dezso Blasco, came to America in the 1920s to pursue an acting career. Although he had starred in several minor roles beforehand, Lugosi would forever be remembered for his iconic portrayal of Dracula, both on stage and in numerous films. After the massive success of Dracula, Lugosi was offered the role of the Monster in Frankenstein, which he declined. The part ultimately went to Boris Karloff, who became famous for it, while Lugosi's brief reign as the "King of Horror" came to a swift end.
Lugosi continued to play Dracula and other vampire roles throughout his career. He managed to overcome a drug addiction, but later found himself relegated to low-budget features, including the infamously bad Plan 9 from Outer Space, which was his final film. Tragically, Lugosi passed away in poverty, despite his extensive stage and screen credits.
Envisioning a Universal Pictures adaptation of "Dracula" that would rival the success of classics like "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" and "The Phantom of the Opera," Carl Laemmle Jr. was determined to cast Lon Chaney in the lead vampire role, even attempting to lure the actor away from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. However, Chaney's tragic death from throat cancer occurred before production could begin.
The production of "Dracula" faced numerous setbacks. With Universal struggling under the weight of the Great Depression, the film's budget was slashed dramatically. As a result, several scenes intended to mirror Bram Stoker's original story were abandoned. Forced to adapt, the filmmaker turned to the Hamilton Deane and John L. Balderson Broadway play as the basis for his cinematic version.
After hiring director Tod Browning, Carl Laemmle and Browning sought an actor to portray the vampire in their film. Ian Keith was initially their top choice for the role of Dracula, but Bela Lugosi campaigned vigorously to change their minds. Despite Lugosi's acclaimed Broadway performance, Laemmle and Browning did not see him as their ideal Dracula. Ultimately, Lugosi landed the iconic role, but only after accepting a salary significantly lower than his co-stars.
While the English-language "Dracula" was filmed during the day, a Spanish version directed by George Melford was shot at night using the same script and sets. The "night crew" had the advantage of observing the day's footage and optimizing camera angles and lighting. Additionally, as this Spanish-language version was intended for distribution outside the US, it was not subject to the censorship restrictions of the Hays Code, allowing for scenes that were omitted from the standard version. The production also utilized some of Browning's alternate takes as stock footage, further enhancing the final product. Due to these factors, many fans consider the Spanish "Dracula" to be superior to Bela Lugosi's iconic performance. Tragically, this alternate version, along with other classic monster film translations produced by Universal, was believed lost for decades. However, in the late 1970s, a complete print was discovered and fully restored in 1990.
Dracula premiered on Valentine's Day 1931, billed as "The strangest love story of all." The film gained nationwide attention when audiences reportedly fainted from the horror on screen - a well-executed publicity stunt by Universal, who planted actors to either faint or scream at select screenings. The ploy paid off, packing theaters with the curious. The popularity of Dracula and Frankenstein, released later that year, would cement Universal as the reigning horror studio for decades.
DRACULA (1931) is a classic Universal Studios film directed by Tod Browning. The screenplay was written by a team that included Bram Stoker, the author of the original novel, as well as Hamilton Dean, John L. Balderston, Garrett Fort, Dudley Murphy, Louis Bromfield, and Tod Browning himself.
The film stars Bela Lugosi as the iconic Count Dracula, alongside Helen Chandler as Mina Harker, David Manners as John Harker, Dwight Frye as Renfield, and Edward Van Sloan as Professor Abraham Van Helsing. Other cast members include Herbert Bunston, Frances Dade, Joan Standing, Charles K. Gerrard, and Geraldine Dvorak, Dorothy Tree, and Cornelia Thaw as Dracula's wives.
DRACULA (1931) has a runtime of 75 minutes and was produced in the USA with English dialogue, presented in black-and-white and a mono sound mix. The film was released on February 14, 1931.
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For over a century, Universal Pictures has been regarded as the home of the monsters. The Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection showcases 8 of the most iconic creatures in film history, including Dracula, Frankenstein, The Mummy, The Invisible Man, The Bride of Frankenstein, The Wolf Man, Phantom of the Opera, and Creature From the Black Lagoon. Starring legendary actors like Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff, Lon Chaney Jr., and Elsa Lanchester, these original horror films set the standard for the genre with revolutionary makeup, cinematography, and special effects. Featuring over 12 hours of bonus content and a collectible book, each film has been digitally restored from high-resolution elements for the ultimate classic monster experience.
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