Dracula (1931)

Copyright Universal Pictures

Starting off Dracula Week with a true horror classic, the original Dracula film from Universal Pictures.  While not the oldest film I've covered (that honor goes to Nosferatu, the silent adaptation of the same story, which I covered on this site's original incarnation), it is pretty old, yet remains one of my favorites.

A brief story before I go into my plot rundown.  When I was little, one of the local stations ran an all night marathon of five of the Universal monster films for Halloween: Frankenstein, Bride of Frankenstein, Dracula, Wolf Man and The Invisible Man.  This was not only the first time I saw this film (and the others), but also the first time I ever got to stay up all night.  Well, almost all night... I sort of conked out at Invisible Man, waking up at one point to see a pair of pants chasing a screaming woman down the road.

The film opens on a carriage speeding through the Carpathian mountains, trying to make it to a village before sundown.  Among the passengers is one Mr. Renfield, a realtor who is looking to finalize a deal with the local Count Dracula.  At the village, upon hearing Renfield's destination, the locals try to dissuade him from his appointment at Borgo Pass, or at least delay his trip until the morning, but Renfield is adamant about keeping it.

After a rather eventful ride, Renfield finds himself in the mouldering courtyard of a seemingly wrecked castle in the mountains.  Meeting his host, the charismatic Count himself, Renfield's surprised at the dilapidated exterior, but then finds his own quarters to be warm and cozy.  In the course of the meeting with the Count, Renfield cuts his finger, causing the Count to slowly advance on him, staring at the blood on his hand, only to be repelled by a cross Renfield was given at the village.  Only partially rebuffed, Dracula sends his brides in to dispose of the cross, leaving the way clear for him to enthrall Renfield to his power.

I have always loved this movie.  While some of the special effects are a little strange nowadays, I'm sure that they would have been very effective when it first came to theaters.  One thing I came across when researching this movie was the fact that, whenever Dracula's on camera, especially the scenes with him using his powers to influence others, he never blinks once.  There were rumors that Hannibal Lecter did something similar in Silence of the Lambs (not true, he blinks a lot), it just adds that much more to the creepiness of the character.

Bela Lugosi plays the sinister Count Dracula.  This is the first of twice that he played the role, the other time being in Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein.  He went on to play many other vampire roles, and mad scientist types, as well, mostly getting typecast in those roles somewhat due to his natural accent.  Speaking of typecasting, Renfield was portrayed by Dwight Frye, who became known for his raving lunatic roles after this film.  Edward Van Sloan played Professor Van Helsing, Dracula's nemesis in the film.  He went on to also play in Frankenstein, The Mummy, and to reprise the Van Helsing role in Daughter of Dracula.

A true classic, and one of my all-time favorites, I don't hesitate to give this film a 5 out of 5.  Next time, I'll be bringing you a new Dracula film, from 40 or so years later.  Until then, take care, and this is Red Hawk signing out!