DRACULA (1931)
Notes:
Dracula: Bela Lugosi
Renfield: Dwight Frye
Also starring Helen Chandler, Edward Van Sloan, David Manners.
Summary: Count Dracula, a social pariah in his nativeTransylvania, relocates to England, where he attempts to add tohis harem of blonde, bloodless beauties. The persevering ProfessorVan Helsing seeks to foil Dracula’s evil agenda.
Commentary:
This is the original!
Dialogue: Count Dracula’s lines are priceless. Renfieldwhines incessantly. They just don’t make movies like they usedto.
Vampires: Traditional or Not? This IS the tradition! In fact, the first two reels of the movie were lifted verbatimfrom Bram Stoker’s classic novel of horror.
Vampires: Physical Appeal: The unblinking Count Draculais, at first glance, a dark, debonair and dashing gentleman. As the movie progresses, however, his disturbingly inhuman qualitiessurface, making him a truly frightening individual.
Gore Factor: Much is left to your imagination. Not onedrop of blood is spilled.
Scariness/Suspense: The lack of bloodshed, combined withCount Dracula’s creepy demeanor, make this movie all the moresuspenseful. Tod Browning’s stagey direction (this is a filmversion of the stage play) gives the film an otherworldly quality,which is appropriate.
Target Audience: This movie is a must for horror aficionadosand anyone who enjoys more intellectual suspense.