Vampire movies before 1935 (part two)
Well it’s time to take another look at some Vampire movies before 1935. This next one isn’t a particular favourite of mine, but I feel I can’t honestly overlook it considering it is widely regarded as the definitive movie of the genre and it started the universal monster craze of the 1930’s and 40’s.
I’m of course talking about universal’s 1931 Dracula Starring Bela Lugosi. Like Nosforatu this film was inspired by Bram Stokers Novel of the same name. However Unlike that films director F. W. Murnau who made Nosferatu without permission. Dracula’s director Carl Laemmle, Jr. aquired the rights legally. Thus, created a literal adaptation of the book.
Originally Laemmle wanted popular silent film legend Lon Chaney to depict Dracula but he succumb to throat cancer and was unable to do it. The movie was made during the great depression so the grand set pieces of a lot of genre films of that era couldn’t be made. Bela Lugosi’s portrayal of Dracula is as I said considered definitive; it has been copied over and over again. He’s an attractive, and swave nobleman, who also has very sudden but effective bursts of cruelty. I think what keeps me from loving this movie is the fact that since it has been redone so many times it is difficult to watch it without feeling you’ve seen it all before. It does help to remember that this is the one that truly started it all.You can check it out on youtube absolutly free.
Stay tuned for the third and final part of vampire movies before 1935
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