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Dracula
1931
Two classic Dracula movies from Universal Pictures horror hey-day.DRACULA: (1931)This is the first screen version of Bram Stoker's famous tale based on the smash hit stage production. Count Dracula (Bela Lugosi) arrives in London and immediately works to enrapture and transform into vampires young Lucy Weston (Frances Dade) and .. Read more
| Starring | Bela Lugosi, David Manners, Helen Chandler, Dwight Frye |
|---|---|
| Director | Tod Browning |
| Genres | Horror |
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Dracula
Two classic Dracula movies from Universal Pictures horror hey-day.
DRACULA: (1931)
This is the first screen version of Bram Stoker's famous tale based on the smash hit stage production. Count Dracula (Bela Lugosi) arrives in London and immediately works to enrapture and transform into vampires young Lucy Weston (Frances Dade) and her friend Mina Seward (Helen Chandler). After he succeeds in turning Lucy, and Mina's health suddenly deteriorates, Mina's father (Herbert Bunston), calls in a specialist, Professor Abraham Van Helsing (Edward Van Sloan). Van Helsing quickly recognizes Dracula's vampirism, and sets about saving Mina (and in the process, becomes Dracula's archenemy). The film, arguably the most influential of the legend's film versions, launched Lugosi's career in horror movies and forever invited vampires across Hollywood's threshold, spawning many sequels and variations. This release features Philip Glass' score, performed by the Kronos Quartet.
HOUSE OF DRACULA: (1945)
Another horror feast featuring the Wolf Man, Dracula and Dr Frankenstein's monster, with a female hunchbacked assistant thrown in for good measure. They have all come to Dr. Edelman seeking cures for their monstrous conditions, but the angry villagers, torches ready, don't appreciate the good doctor's clientele. Sequel and finale to the Universal monster pictures until ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN that is.
| Starring | Bela Lugosi, David Manners, Helen Chandler, Dwight Frye, Edward Van Sloan |
|---|---|
| Director | Tod Browning |
| Studio | UNIVERSAL PICTURES UK |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 11 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Horror |
| Language | English |
| Released | DVD: 14 Oct 2002 Production year: 1931 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews (4)
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This seminal classic from director Tod Browning is one of the most famous horror movies ever made, but by today's standards it is rather talky, stagebound and bloodless, with most of its important chills occurring off-screen. However, it remains the most subtly romantic and highly atmospheric rendition of Bram Stoker's tale about the Transylvanian count, with Browning orchestrating the opening scenes to macabre perfection. Bela Lugosi's star turn — he'd been in the stage version since 1927 — is suitably legendary and, sadly, he subsequently never managed to escape from the role.
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A film which has much to answer for. It started its star and its studio off on horror careers, and it launched innumerable sequels (see below). In itself, after two eerie reels, it becomes a pedantic and slow transcription of a stage adaptation, and its c
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Most helpful member's review
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10 out of 12 people found this review helpful
The Grand Daddy of them All
This is the original dracula movie and perhaps the grand father of all horror movies.
It is simply a classic.
Bela legosi is 'Dracula' and the supporting cast are fantastsic especially 'Fritz' who becomes Draculas slave feeding on Rats.
It has atmosphere and a charm about thi film that many other films have never quite captured.
It is regal, charming, and scary.
If you like Dracula or classic horror films , see how this classic without huge special effects or excessive blood ensures that you will never forget this film -
Most recent members' review
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9 out of 13 people found this review helpful
Stagey nonsense
After seeing Frankenstein for the first time (I had previously only seen Bride of Frankenstein) I decided to finally see the famous Lugosi version of Dracula; to say it is terribly dated, stagey and slow is being kind. Although any film over 70 years old is likely to have faded somewhat, it is clear that even by the standards of the day the film is dreadfully stilted and conventional. The acting ranges from ropey to appalling (including that of Lugosi; if he spoke any slower you could make a cup of tea and still be back in time for the end of his sentence) and half the time everyone seems to be standing around waiting for someone to remember their lines, like a under-rehearsed play by the 5th year at school.
What is worth seeing however is the accompanying 40 minute documentary, which amongst other interesting items reveals that there was a Spanish version, filmed on the same sets, which from the little shown appears to have been much more interesting.
I'll stick with Frankenstein... -
News and features
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Ford's Blade Runner gun and Frankenstein poster sell
- 10 May 2009
The recession has yet to hit the Hollywood memorabilia market - Harrison Ford's blaster gun from Blade Runner and an original Frankenstein movie poster have just sold at auction for more than £133,300 each. Ford's Rick Deckard sci-fi weapon, the only firing gun used in the cult film, went under the hammer for a whopping £180,000, while the 1931 poster stunned Profiles In History auction house bosses when it fetched £144,000. Other highlights of the spring memorabilia sale, which Read more
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