In 1931, Universal Studios created it’s stable of monsters. Dracula, was the first. It is based on a the Bram Stoker novel. The script of the film is based on the stage play. Bela Lugosi, played the lead for three years. He made a comfortable transition to the big screen. He became famous by playing the most famous of vampires.
Dracula set the tone for horror films. It has villagers, who are terrified of the very name. It has an eerie castle. The interior is a great set, full of cobwebs and spiders. This was the time before CGI, and people built sets. The castle, also had a living area. This was also used for the count’s business dealings. He has a nice desk. The fog gives a good creepy atmosphere. Dracula’s English home, Carfax Abbey houses his coffins. His transport to England, the ship, The Vesta, is shown being tossed about in a violent storm. This gives the effect of terror, and how the count will disrupt London society.
One of the scenes that give the movie its feel, is when the ship reaches port. The camera slowly goes to the ship. There are people talking about the crew: who are mysteriously dead. The captain is dead, lashed to the wheel. There is eerie laughter, coming from the ship’s hold. It is the sole survivor, Renfield, (Dwight Frye) He is Dracula’s slave. He was also visiting Dracula, about a real estate transaction, to buy Carfax Abbey. He has cleared the way, for his master, to leave the ship, and enter London society. Renfield is taken to a sanitarium, run by Dr. Seward, (Herbert Bunston). The patient’s in the hospital, are amused and shocked by Renfield’s behavior. He yells for his master, and hunts bugs for food. This certainly adds to the eerie aspect of the movie.
One of the things, that stand out, is how the lines are spoken in the film. Lugosi masters this. He says things like, “I am Dracula, I bid you welcome.” He hears wolves howling and speaks another famous line. “Children of the night, what music they make.” Even when not speaking lines, he conveys terror and bloodlust. Renfield cuts his finger, and the count is nearly overcome with bloodlust. The film is laden with dialogue. The best scenes are between Dracula and Van Helsing, (Edward Van Sloan). They go back and forth. Van Helsing puts forth his theory, that Dracula is one of the undead. He gets under the count’s skin. Dracula fires back saying Van Helsing is very wise, for someone who hasn’t lived even a single lifetime. The screenwriters have done a great job, giving horror fans great enjoyment.
The other characters are good, but lose out to the two leads. Mina, (Helen Chandler), becomes a damsel in distress, when she is seduced by Dracula. She doesn’t understand the precautions, that Dr. Seward and Van Helsing have taken. Her fiancé, John Harker, doesn’t get that vampires are real. He thinks that Mina is just very ill. Van Helsing cautions the young man about vampires. He states that a vampire’s strength, is that people don’t believe. Harker does finally fall in line with Van Helsing’s beliefs. He even accompanies him to Carfax Abbey, to put an end to Dracula’s threat, and Lucy, (Frances Dade). She was Mina’s friend, who was made a vampire, by Dracula. Van Helsing promised Mina, that he would save her friend’s soul.
Dracula might just be another horror movie, if not for it’s director, Tod Browning. He, teaming with cinematographer, Karl Freund, created great shots. Freund, had worked on a few films, with the great silent actor, Lon Chaney. This gave him insight into filming horror movies. There is the carriage ride: a rough trip through mountain passes. The passengers rock back and forth. One falls out of her seat. The villagers are shown happy, until the mention of the lord of the undead. Their happiness turns to fright, locking doors and windows. The introduction of Dracula is shown by backlighting, giving Lugosi’s face the undead pallor. It also shows a sinister smile. There is the sound of wolves and bats flying-Dracula’s wives. The scene going from the death of the flower girl, to Dracula getting past the crowd, makes a statement. The monster, mingles into society, dressed in a tuxedo, and top hat, takes his box, meeting his victims, Lucy and Mina. You see the people gathering after the murder, and the vampire, making a clean getaway through the cover, of a dense London fog. Dracula coming for Mina, for the final time, is shown with Dracula enveloping her, with his cape. This is an effective way, of showing death’s grip.
Dracula has been remade several times. Many actors have played the role. It is usually Bela Lugosi, who comes to mind. His thick accent, his manner of dress, and his portrayal of evil, make the count a staple of horror. This film, with it’s landmark villain, makes it a great Halloween movie. That is a good time to watch it, along with the other Universal horror films. It can be viewed anytime, because of it’s historical status in film history. There are many films that should be watched. This should be among them. If for whatever reason, you haven’t seen it, watch it. Those who have viewed Dracula many times, can watch it again, and treasure it.