DRACULA
US, 1931, 84 minutes, Black and white.
Bela Lugosi, Helen Chandler, David Manners, Dwight Frye, Edward Van Sloan.
Directed by Tod Browning.
Dracula is Tod Browning's classic of the early '30s. Universal Studios began to make horror films like this (also Boris Karloff in Frankenstein) and began a tradition in the '30s which was much imitated.
There had been previous vampire films including the German Nosferatu. However, this film became the norm for Hollywood presentation of Dracula and vampires. The film was remade many times by Hammer Studios with Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing. Jack Palance was also Dracula, as was Frank Langella in an ambitious production with Laurence Olivier as Van Helsing.
Bela Lugosi made his mark as the suave and sinister (with a touch of ironic humour) Dracula. This film is based on a stage play - and this is often evident, especially with much of the horror happening off screen.
The film is fairly creaky - but is interesting to look at as a classic.
1. The popularity of vampire stories? The Living Dead? Dracula? The impact of this film?
2. The production of the early '30s, black and white photography, sets and editing? Musical score? Acting style?
3. Adaptation of a stage play? Atmosphere and special effects? The horror off screen? Yet the sense of horror, terror, menace?
4. Audience knowledge of vampires, Dracula? Explanations? The traditions? The destruction of the vampire?
5. The introduction with Renfield, the atmosphere of Transylvania? The villagers and their fright at the inn? Midnight, the mountains? The coachmen, the bat? The encounter with Dracula, Renfield's fate? The blood, the wine? In the asylum? Eating the insects? Serving Dracula? Destroyed by him?
6. Bela Lugosi and his appearance, manner and style? The bat and the wolf? In the night, the welcome, the atmosphere of the castle? The meal with Renfield, looking at the blood? Travelling to England? The gentleman in London? The theatre, attracted to Mena? Discussions with Seward? Taking Lucy and making her a vampire? Travelling to Carfax? The deaths? His hovering over Mena, the sexual and violent impulses? Discussions with Seward, clash with Van Helsing? Not appearing in the mirror and smashing it? His return to the castle? His death?
7. Mena as the heroine, attracted to Dracula, relationship with John? With her father? The visits of the vampire, caught up in his spell, surrounded by his cloak? Sexual and violent suggestions? Her not being vampyrised? Dracula's death and her experiencing it, her freedom?
8. Lucy, the attraction, Dracula transforming her? The woman in white and the killing of the children?
9. Dr Seward and his asylum, the supervision of Renfield? Concern about Mena? The knowledge about vampires? The assistants in the asylum, the servants and their reactions?
10. Van Helsing and his reputation? The vampire hunter? No image in the mirror? Going with John, the destruction of Dracula?
11. John as hero, love for Mena, his pursuing her, calling out to her? Trying to save her? The final pursuit in the castle?
12. How well did the film work as a ghost story? The evil dead? Its influence on later films?
