The Story of Dracula (1931)
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- Опубликовано: 1 окт 2023
- In this in-depth retrospective, I tell the story behind the one that started it all: 1931's "Dracula", starring Béla Lugosi as The Count. I delve deep into its rocky development, cursed casting process, and messy production, as well as its public reception and timeless legacy, all while providing my own thoughts on the film. Also starring: Helen Chandler, Edward Van Sloan, Frances Dade, David Manners, and Dwight Frye. Directed by Tod Browning. Produced by Carl Laemmle for Universal Pictures.
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I just rewatched Dracula after many years. I had forgotten the beautiful dialogue, Lugosi's magnificent screen presence, the moody, eerie set pieces, and Dwight Fry's great performance. It's not perfect. But it's a classic, and Lugosi *is* Dracula forever and ever.
Dracula 1931 with Lugosi is still a classic. His height looks and accent were/are perfect for Dracula. I wish he were alive to see how respected and loved he truly is.
I just viewed Dracula last week in the theater on the Big screen. Bela was hypnotic and truly a great performance...🦇
I would love to see any Universal monsters film on the big screen.
@@charlescampbell3895 When Bela came down the stairs, everyone applauded….
I can't get it on download
Be trying to get a copy
Bela Lugosi, the quintessential motion picture Dracula. :)
Although Christopher Lee and Frank Langella were just as good.
@@wstine79 Won't argue. :)
And stage! Since he originated his role on stage! ❤
Dracula 1979 with Frank Langella Donald Pleasence Laurence Olivier Kate
Nelligan directed by John
Badham it's the best Dracula
movie l've seen, no doubt about It.
Nelligan directed by John Badham, it's the best Dracula movie
He played the character on stage but only reprised his role twice as Dracula in the movies as the documentary I just watched said. I think it was only twice in movies or three times yet he made such an impression and impact in each of those movies that his portrayal of Count Dracula is the best and the most memorable portrayal. He's my favorite Count Dracula. Any of the other actors who played the character were great but Bela Lugosi's version of Count Dracula is the most loved and most known version of Count Dracula. He is Count Dracula. Later folks. Have pleasant nightmares tonight. If you wake up feeling weak and feel a little bloodless just know that he's the undead and he just came to you for a little carryout snack on his way to cause trouble and have a night on the town. Later folks ! He's such a pain in the neck.
1930’s, the best decade for the Horror genre.
Hands-down the 1931 version of Dracula, was and still is the BEST movie ever made. They will never be able to recreate anything like this ever again, and for it's time it was a frightening movie to watch, as it left it to your imagination as to what Dracula was doing to the unfortunate ladies that he met. There was no blood and guts shown as it is today, but just old-fashioned scares for those of us who still love this genre of filmmaking. RIP Bela Lugosi, you will always be the Original Dracula!
I AGREE AND DRACULA PLAYED LUGOSI THE BEST! NOT KIDDING!!!!
Lugosi is simply magnificent in this, the best film version of DRACULA.
The scene where Dr Van Helsing confronts Dracula with the mirrored box was everything. Dracula's reaction went from one level to another(wanting to rip Van Helsing's throat out quickly to composure) in just a matter of seconds. I thought it was brilliant acting by Lugosi.
For me, no one did it better than Lugosi.
Fun Fact: Dracula was the first black and white movie I remember watching. While Frankenstein (1931) is my favorite universal movie, Dracula is my favorite universal monster, he’s just so suave and hypnotic
Hammer did Dracula better though.
i like Blacula 1973 version
Fun fact: no one cares.
Fun fact: I never saw this movie.
@@jaymann5180 you have been living in the dark ages .i presume
I hope he explores more of the Universal Monster movies. My mother brought me up on these. My personal favorites are Revenge of the Creature and Werewolf meets Frankenstein.
The invisible man is amazing especially the visuals
I humbly recommend the channel Dark Corners Reviews if you dont already watch it. They've done some fantastic Universal monsters/actors documentaries.
@@smacksaladthank you! 🌹
@@thebadgamer1967 The visual effects of The Invisible Man aged so well, sometimes I can't believe it was 90 years ago, it's probably my favorite Universal Monster movie, props to Claude Rains' performance, a charming actor.
@@smacksalad Dark Coners Revies also has really good breakdowns on Hammer's horror films.
Enjoyable video. Lugosi made a huge impact on me when I was young and his performance remains one of the greatest images of horror for all time. Mesmerizing acting.
I adore the Universal Classic Monsters, so this is such a treat! Truthfully as much as I love this version and other films, my definitive take of Dracula hasn't been made yet.
Agree. All have their flaws.
But Hammer's 1959 with Christopher Lee is easily my favourite.
Hammers Dracula is the definitive Dracula, its got everything u want in a Dracula film , sexy girls lots of blood gothic sets & lots of fangs !!!! It's by far the best Dracula film that's why it has 7 sequels!!!!
I grew up with these movies. They were always such a treat to stay up late in the 70's on the weekend to watch this film as well as Frankenstein and The Wolfman (my personal favorite).
It is a classic! I do like the 1990 something version with Gary Oldman, Keanu Reeves, Winona Ryder etc.
Fell in love with this version and none of the others measure up for me...every Halloween I watch this, Frankenstein ( Karloff ) , The Mummy, and the Wolfman.
I watched them every Halloween too.
My English and Romanian grandparents loved Bela Lugosi's performance as Count Dracula. Lugosi's slow delivery of certain lines just added to the overall creepiness of his performance. As for me, I give the original version of Dracula four wolf paws, four bat wings and four fangs. To one and all, I bid you naupte buna ("Goodnight" in Romanian). 🐺🦇⚰
Amazing, isn't it? Lugosi was born in Lugoj, a region that is now located in Romania but at that time belonged to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, it is as if he was born to play the Count.
@@jesustovar2549 Thank you for your knowledge of Eastern European history. With care -- W
Thank you for including the Spanish version of Dracula. I think it is superior to the American version
I think this was a "woke" moment for the presenter.
The time and effort that goes into these really shows mate. Every single one is always a really engaging watch. 👍
Thank you!
interesting Van Sloan did a final scene that was discarded ..i did not know that.
The stylised presentation, I think, adds to the unreal quality of the subject matter. All the visual elements are on point and contribute to creating an enduring atmosphere of suspense.
Thanks for an excellent description of it's production.
There's a lot of crap on RUclips but this was very good. Your narration is great, the information is thorough and even someone like me who's seen over 3,000 horror movies found some things I didn't know. Well done.
It has always mystified me why Universal has never leaned heavily into their catalog of Universal Monsters for their theme parks. Yes, they'll be seasonally acknowledged with a haunted house during Halloween Horror Nights, but to my knowledge they've never enjoyed a permanent footprint at any location. Epic Universe is suppose to remedy that, but the proof will be in the pudding.
I suppose my own personal "favorite" Dracula would be Langella's, as he delivers one helluva menacing, yet terrifically cordial, vamp. Badham's 1979 version is admittedly uneven and lacks scope, but still completely delivers on the creep factor and sports a top-notch cast.
Well, now I have plans this evening. Day made, thank you Layton!
They also changed the story for nosferatu so that vampires are big wussies for sunlight, which didn't hurt Dracula in the novel.
As a massive Universal Horror fan who has read David Skal"s "Monster Show" and numerous Lugois and Karloff biographies, I really really appreciate that you did this video :)
Yes, that is an excellent book!
What’s the best Lugosi biography you’d recommend? ❤
Great review, thanks for posting. Karloff once said that Frankenstein was the best friend he ever had. Too bad Lugosi didn't adopt his monster movie colleague's part-appreciation. Whatever-the-case Lugosi, Karloff, Cheney Jr. are classic monsters whose performances will live on forever.
Dracula: "Listen! Layton Eversaul of the afternoon. What music he makes."
LOVE this movie. Great retrospective. Didn't know about the cape lining color, and you provided several other tidbits I'd never heard. Thanks for really digging in to this legendary and historical movie!
Love the Universal version. I think its a well crafted film. I think a lot of films based on the novel are well done.
Legosi should have got more recognition at the time.
Thank you for this video. Great watch
Watching Lugosi on the big screen in 2023 (I’m lucky to live in Los Angeles where his old films are shown often, especially during October!) takes my breath away. There is only ONE Bela. From todays viewpoint it’s even more truer than ever, now. ❤
Your movie reviews/BTS/docus are the most interesting and entertaining out there, bar none. Simply a joy to watch.
At 80 years old, I have seen the 1931 Dracula many many times, and even now in watching your great story, there are scenes that still give a chill, and I fight the tears every time I think of Miss Mina Seward and that in the modern movies she has indeed become a good girl vampire and that breaks my heart.
Watched it over 100 times and never burn out on it.
👏 Another well done retrospective! I think this film still holds up, but I also pride myself on having a "classical education" in horror films beginning with James Whale's Frankenstein and going down the rabbit hole of the Universal Monsters from there. No matter how many versions of Dracula are presented over the years I feel like Lugosi will always be the go to performance that most people, even without having watched the film, will have in mind when Dracula is mentioned. As far as my favorite Dracula performance (since not all depictions are solely of him) I am partial to Duncan Regehr's from Monster Squad. Sure, it's not Lugosi, Oldman, or even Langella, but I thought his "supervillain mastermind" portrayal was great in the film and presented a more action oriented Dracula. This was before I was aware of Christopher Lee and the Hammer Dracula movies. To rank a top three I'd say 1. Lugosi 2. Lee 3. Regehr.
4. Jack Palance, in the 1973 TV movie "Bram Stoker's Dracula."
This is one of the most complete documentaries I have seen about Dracula, all the curious facts about the production of the film, the editing and the use of music are very spot on (especially Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake and the Schubert's Unfinished Symphony, which I always associate with the film, Wagner's Overture to The Mastersingers of Nuremberg would not have been bad to include, I know, I'm a classical music nerd),
I'm 19 years old and yet I always found the Universal Monsters' movies fascinating, they are products of their time and no longer scary by modern standards, but the setting, cinematography and performances make it so interesting for me (I'm a fan of everything classic).
I want to add some other facts that: Bela Lugosi actually appaered in Dracula's Daughter, in very few scenes that were not included in the final cut, I was waiting for you to mention that Bela Lugosi appeared in Plan 9 from Outer Space, his last film, director Ed Wood decided to incorporate posthumous footage of Lugosi outside a house, as well as reprising (for the last time) the role of the Count, although he died before the actual filming began.
I like that you included the names of the three uncredited actresses who were those spooky "wives" of Dracula!...Whatever became of those ladies? I already forget their names!
Fantastic coverage here. Really spectacular work.
Great job dude! Excellently presented, detailed, professional sounding too! Not sure what you do for a living but being a documentary maker may be your calling as too many have gotten sloppy, histrionic, and downright dumb. This was a breath of fresh air!
Bela Lugosi is my favorite Dracula. I saw the original film during horror flicks on TV as a child. Between Dracula and Zorro (Disney's version) I became OBSESSED with capes. I now own 6 or 7. Neither of my black ones have any kind of lining, but at least one of my purple ones does. When my mother and I priced fabric to make a cape of my own, the $100 (almost) price tag of a premade one looked more reasonable. That was in the fall of 1971. I had a previous short cape I got on Carnaby Street in 1969, it would've been hip long on a man, which I did get in a men's shop, but it came below my miniskirt. In fact, the cape was warmer than the coat we had taken to Europe and I loved it. Yes, I still have that cape too, no I did not count that in the rest of my cape collection.
This is so neat! I think Bela Lugosi's Dracula is my favourite...well other than Leslie Nielsen's Conde Dracula.😂
Amazing Love to see more of the Classic Monsters
I plan on covering them all eventually ...
Bela Lugosi - the quintessential Count Dracula. Lugosi brought to the character a sensual quality that is palpable. He portrayed the character better than all other actors before or after him in the role. There is a great interview with Bela in the prime of his career as Dracula, and he was such a fine gentleman with a depth of understanding still not seen today in 2023. He moved with grace and elegance and always manly.
This was EXCEPTIONAL. PLEASE Keep up these INCREDIBLE Retrospectives. Frankenstein next!!!!
It won't be my next video, but it will definitely happen!
Keep up the AMAZING WORK my friend
I watched this as a little girl and I was frightened.But when I was a teenage I recognized how handsome Bela Lugosi was and how thrilling and sexy and chilling his Dracula was. Needless to say this is my favorite Dracula of all time.
Please can you give me hint on how to download it
Amazing, that Lugosi was a 48yo, middle-aged man, when he finally hit it big in films. His maturity did not take away from his rather sensual, disturbing portrayal.
Wow! He was 48! I had no idea he was that old! He did not look 48! I guess that I never thought about his age. He did look young in that film!
@@wisdom9916 I never downloaded it. I did buy it on DVD on Ebay. I did not need to download it when I watched it on RUclips the entire movie. Google free movie download sites. I bet that there are some of those.
Thanks so much for this. I've known the story of the film for years, but as someone who grew up with the numerous home media releases, seeing them all lovingly described and recapped was a treat. Pure nostalgia! :)
Like a lot of people roughly my age (middle 60s), we became familiar with these movies as kids watching on TV. And even though, by the late 60s, the movie was almost 40 years old, I don't ever remember thinking, what an old fashioned movie.
It's comprehensible, especially if you grew up watching black and white television, that's what it was back then.
Fun fact: several of the Universal Monsters' movies were dubbed in spanish for tv broadcasting in Latin America, this was done in the 60s, these dubbings include additional musical scores from other films, they match so well that and really help for the films' pacing, this is only exclussive of these dubbings.
Bela Lugosi was Dracula. The way he talks, moves, and acts, is just right for this character. I also like the old b/w cinema photografy. I do understand why Dracula was big then, but today it`s to slow for the younger audience. One movie that holds up just as good today is "Bride of frankenstien" The best of all the Universal monster movies.
My dracula impression: Listen to them! Children of the night! What music they make!
Thanks for the wonderful documentary. I have the newest DVD sets of Dracula and Frankenstein❤
While it does run a bit slow in some spots I just love the overall feel and atmosphere that this movie conjures up. It was my favorite Universal Monster movie growing up and it still is to this day. Is it my favorite vampire movie though? Thats very tough since Horror of Dracula, Salem's Lot and Fright Night are all in the running for that spot as well. Great video as always!
I have give Fright Night the number two spot behind Bela's Dracula. Although wasn't presented quite seriously, the actor played vampire was exceptional good. And Roddy McDowell as Van Helsing type character was hilarious.
Salems lot stinkos
Pleasure to watch 👍 great job 👊
Terrific analysis and video, as always. This is one of your most consummate works!
Director Browning had chops in silence films before Dracula. He was uncomfortable in using sound; a relatively new technology. The much heralded silent segments of Dracula were actually Browning's discomfort with sound.
By the way, your Salem's Lot documentary is the best I have ever seen! That's my favorite vampire movie and book since I saw the premiere when I was 6 years old..lol it ruined me for a few years too😊
Thanks. Thisis my 1st look at yiour channel. This is the most thorough analysis of this movie I have ever had the privilege of watching Great job.
Thank you!
As usual your quality makes the wait between videos well worth it. I always learn something from your retrospectives even if it's a film I'm very familiar with. As for Dracula, as a child of the 70's I was more familiar with Lee and Langella.. but Oldman is my favorite. While the movie has it's issues his portrayal gave so much emotion and scope to the character, managing to be simultaneously horrifying and sympathetic, with a greatly expanded backstory and motivation. He's just an incredible artist regardless of the role. I also have to mention Max Schreck.. who is terrifying as Nosferatu even today. He just gives me chills, so very inhuman, all without saying a word.
My 3 favorite films about Dracula are as follows:
*"Bram Stoker's DRACULA"* (1992)
from director
Francis Ford Coppola and starring
Gary Oldman, Winona Ryder,
Sir Anthony Hopkins, Keanu Reeves,
and Cary Elwes
*"BBC's COUNT DRACULA"* (1977)
from director Philip Saville
and starring Louis Jourdan,
Frank Finlay, Judi Bowker,
Bosco Hogan, and Susan Penhaligon
*"DRACULA"* (1979)
from director John Badham
and starring
Frank Langella, Laurence Olivier,
Donald Pleasence, Trevor Eve,
Kate Nelligan, and Jan Francis
Dracula and all the universal movies are my most favourite movies! Thank you for this brilliant documentary absolutely fantastic well done.
Love your videos. Always entertaining and informative.
I would put Browning's Dracula along with Francis Ford Coppola's and John Badham's Dracula with Frank Langella and John William's score as the top 3 for myself as a fan of the book and the genre. Loved all the info, great vid!
The idea that movies from any era can be "too old fashion" drives me nuts. It's like saying paintings by the old masters or timeless classical music are too old fashioned. I guess some people do. Their loss.
This is one of the best documentaries I have seen....Well done!
I believe that even today, people think of the image of Bela Lugosi when confronted with the name Dracula.
A well-researched, well-nigh definitive analysis. Well done, sir!
Nice documentary. Thanks!
Another fantastic doc, Layton. I think you’re the best in the business!
Phenomenal work as usual!
Frankenstein is the most logical follow up but please do The Invisible Man as well!
Very well done on this
I was very pleasantly surprised by this documentary. I clicked on it apprehensively, thinking it might be just another well meaning, but lackluster put together of still photos and uninspired commentary. It is anything but that. It's very informative and entertaining. Great job.
Very well done presentation and depicting my favorite Dracula. Thanks for the upload.
Splendid work mate.
excellent work! thank you
Excellent research and very entertaing doc of a timeless classic. Thank you so much. Please create more.👍🙏🏻
So far I've watched this video and your Salem's Lot one. Excellent job telling us about some of my favorite movies. Love this channel. -Jack
wow can you ever make an interesting and in depth vid! I always look forward to your storytelling!
A classic movie if there ever was one.
Love your stuff! Thanks
It would be wonderful if the appearance by Edward van Sloan from behind the stage curtain at the very end of the movie, "Dracula"(1931) in which van Sloan tells the audience that such things as vampires exist, could be located and restored to the original film, but sadly that film clip and its' accompanying audio may have been destroyed in the 2008 fire at Universal Studios in which tragically the original (New York Times estimate of 120,000 -175,000) master recordings/tapes of hundreds of famous musicians and music groups were forever lost.
Did Van Sloan also do the very beginning little speech, seen at the start of Frankenstein?
great presentation!
YAY! You’re by far my favorite RUclips star. I always love your deep dives and this is another masterpiece!! Still would love to see you do swamp thing 2 and would love to swap stories about being filmed here in Savannah. Lots of love!
It's inevitable!
A fantastic video as always! I'll always have a huge amount of respect for this classic. And honestly, given the horrible incarnations of Dracula we've been subjected to in recent years. I'll take Bela's version any day of the week.
Your videos and stories of these films are amazing! Thanks so much for your hard work and dedication to appreciate all the work and history that goes into these movies. My story request would be True Lies 😊 That movie is in my top 5 for sure. Maybe you can look into why this movie hasn’t been released on Bluray or 4k yet. Thanks again for all you do! You brighten my day.
Thanks! True Lies is definitely in the cards.
True Lies, my mother and I love that film, not bad for being James Cameron's only comedy film, in the best way he knew, combining action, a perfect mix. Also Jamie Lee Curtis was really hot back then.
Its such a nice day when i see a new upload of you
Very nice video!!! I read Dwight Frye's book, and apparently he was as popular as any A list star today when he was solely working on Broadway, then absolutely devastated he was stuck after Dracula. Dwight Frye's Last Laugh, it's a great read for any movie buffs.
Brilliant documentary!
Great job on these videos
Thank you!
Thank you for this
A film that, much like its eponymous villain, shall never die!
No one could compare to Bela, he will always be Dracula and still one of the all time vampire films
Dude , nice! Good to see you back!
Thank you!
very good job Layton.
I love the 1931 Dracula! Bela Lugosi was born for it.
Cheers for the great documentary.
I really enjoyed Lugosi and Dwight Frye in the Charlie Chan film The Black Camel of the same year, was fun to see them in it as well as Dracula
Commenting for the algorithm. These are really nicely made videos and need more views!
Thanks for this story telling of Dracula. I enjoy all the Universal monster movies.
Wow...great job! thank you
Another outstanding video, thank you Sir!
Glad you enjoyed it!
I played Renfield on stage in 1981 in my local community theater's producttion. We used the same script Lugosi used on Broadway. I had not seen the movie at that time. Later, when I did, I was surprised that some lines Renfield had was given to other characters and that, in the play, it is Lucy Seward who is in danger, not Mina. There are several other differences (and additions), so the movie is not really a loyal adaptation. Until I did the play, I thought Renfield was the comic relief, but he is not. He is a tragic figure caught between turning into a vampire and not wanting to take human life in order to survive. The comic relief in the play are the maid and the guard in charge of keeping Renfield in his cell.
Interesting, 1981, 50 years since the original film release, now it's +90 years old.
My goodness! Well done!!
This was a very good documentary! Learned some new tidbits. You're one of the few that touched on the crazy difference of the footage of the Vesta and the storm and Dracula. The storm was raging and the boat was being rocked by waves while Dracula was comfortably surveying the goings on. This has always bugged me. Lol. Just standing there. Also, no one ever seems to mention Lugosi starring in The Black Camel. This was a Charlie Chan movie from 1931 and Lugosi looks greeeaaat! It's on RUclips and I recommend for Bela fans. 😊
Your research was really great. Enjoyed this immensely! Gotta subscribe now. Bye!
As a fellow documentarian, I appreciate the detail and skill of your presentation. Excellent!
I look forward to further videos on other Universal Monster Icons.
39:00, the mention of the color red being photographed as being too dark is interesting to me. I have used the relatively modern "Panchromatic" black and white film which renders red as too light and indistinguishable from flesh color. I had often wondered why actors did not need makeup to properly photograph the color of lips. Now I see that the alchemy of the film emulsion was quite different in the days of Universal's monsters. What a great and informative video this is.