Dracula 1931 film analysis

The film, with victorian undertones, was produced by carl laemmle. The dashing, mysterious count dracula bela lugosi, after hypnotizing a british soldier, renfield dwight frye, into his mindless slave, travels to london and takes up residence in an old castle. Lon chaney had been scheduled to play the role, a wise casting decision after his success in the silent classics the hunchback of notre dame and the phantom of the opera. After a harrowing ride through the carpathian mountains in eastern europe, renfield enters castle dracula to finalize the transferral of carfax abbey in london to count dracula, who is in actuality a vampire. Bela lugosis performance as the vampire count dracula is widely acknowledged as the definitive portrayal of the character, who first appeared in bram stokers novel of the same name. Dracula is an 1897 novel by bram stoker count dracula is the title character in the novel dracula may also refer to. There are slouching scenes where the camera seems nailed to the floor, panning occasionally to keep the characters in frame a style which brownings other films seem to favor. This essay will focus on dracula and show how the concept of crossing boundaries helps to create horror in gothic stories in aspects the idea of femininity, supernatural and natural and life and. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of dracula and what it means.

Dracula stands out side of renfields cell and gives him some commands, telepathically. Dracula is a novel by bram stoker that was first published in 1897. Thus does bela lugosi declare his presence in the 1931 screen version of bram stokers dracula. Bela lugosis timeless portrayal of dracula in this creepy and atmospheric 1931 film has set the standard for major vampiric roles since. Frankenstein has made the trip from becoming one of hollywoods alltime most unexpected blockbusters to a certified film classic added to the national film registry by the library of congress on the occasion of its 60th anniversary and chosen by the american film institute the 56th most thrilling film ever made. The ancient vampire count dracula arrives in england and begins to prey upon the virtuous young mina. May 04, 2016 dracula was very successful in 1931 and it also type cast lugosi.

A universal horror film from 1931, which made bela lugosi famous as the classical movie vampire. Dracula was released in february 1931, about 3 12 years after al jolsons the jazz singer made history as the first featurelength talking picture. Advertisement in 1931 edition of silver screen magazine features. The most chilling, genuinely frightening film ever made, vows the reference series cinebooks. Dracula is a 1931 american precode supernatural horror film directed and coproduced by tod browning from a screenplay written by garrett fort.

This dracula is often considered the original dracula, the movie based of bram stokers novel from 1897. Movie lore has it that bela lugosi could barely speak english when he was chosen by universal pictures to star in dracula 1931. The frankenstein film community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and quizzes written by community members like you. His existence and initial fame depended upon author bram stoker, who created him for the 1897 novel. Although theres no record of when browning was in control and when or if freund had the helm, one can certainly conjecture. The film stars bela lugosi as count dracula, a vampire who emigrates from transylvania to england.

Dracula 1931 is one of the earliest classic american horror films from carl laemmles universal pictures an acclaimed masterpiece directed by tod browning, known also for two other vampire films. Few characters in the history of literature and film have proven as deathless as. Dracula, american horror film, released in 1931, that is considered one of the early classics of the genre. London after midnight 1927 aka the hypnotist with lon chaney, sr. Bela lugosi played dracula on the stage and screen, bram stoker wrote the novel, but precious few have heard of tod browning, who directed the iconic 1931 film that permanently. When adapting the novel into a film, dracula 1931 director, tod browning realized that various changes show more content in the book, during the same scene where the brides attempt to feed on jonathan, the count gives them a baby to feed on instead stoker 65. Dracula is a 1931 american precode supernatural horror film directed and co produced by. The first cinematic adaptation of the novel arrives in 1931 with james whales frankenstein, a film produced by universal studios, the same studio that experienced great success with their adaptation of bram stokers dracula. Although this concept may exist in different parts of the world with certain variations, there is one common trait of the lust of blood among all of the folklore entities. Dracula goes up the steps, and waits for renfield, who without difficulty, cuts open a huge spiders web using his walking stick. Movie analysis of dracula 1931 and 1992 researchomatic. Dracula and frankenstein are probably two of the most recognisable characters in all of popular culture.

Dracula is a vampire, hundreds of years old, with supernatural powers and weaknesses. This is the vampire film, directed by the great tod browning, which really started the horror movie craze we see today. It follows the vampire count dracula from his castle in transylvania to england, where he is hunted while turning others into vampires. Mar 31, 2017 dracula and frankenstein are probably two of the most recognisable characters in all of popular culture.

Dracula, novel by bram stoker, derived from vampire legends and published in 1897, that became the basis for an entire genre of literature and film. Dracula, followed by renfield, takes mina to carfax abbey, where he plans to make her final transition to vampirism. Soon dracula begins to wreak havoc, sucking the blood of young women and turning them into vampires. This was originally made as a feature length audio file, meant for syncing up with the movie. Frankenstein 1931 film critique and analysis lusina alajajian. Hes extremely physically strong, he can shapeshift into several different forms, he has hypnotic abilities.

Dracula wasnt the first horror film but it was the first with actual sound and dialogue. When bela lugosi died he was buried wearing one of his original silk capes. Bela lugosis dracula is the definitive form of the legend despite countless reduxes of the monster in the over eight decades since lugosi, his performance is the one that remains in the lexicon of imitation. But there is a second reason the character has flourished in popular culture. Tod brownings dracula an analysis of a film with staying power. Jun 15, 20 along with dracula also 1931 frankenstein helped popularize the horror genre and established a fairly niche genre for the years to come for the likes of bela lugosi, boris karloff, and peter cushing and vincent price to lavish in. Oct 29, 2015 james and mike sit down and watch the classic dracula starring bela lugosi. Awesomedracula 1931filmdracula 1931fridgedracula 1931funnydracula 1931heartwarmingdracula 1931nightmarefueldracula 1931trivia. While the filmmakers do a good job of translating the story from book to screen, they have made a few. Dracula 1897 is the one of the gothic literature, it was composed by bram stocker 18471912. This film is not the best dracula or vampire film ever made, but its contributions will have impact. Dracula, frankenstein and the origin of universal horror.

But the actual original is nosferatu, the silent film from 1922. Director tod browning invests most of his mood and atmosphere in the first two reels, which were based on the original stoker novel. Dracula 1931 is one of the earliest classic american horror films from carl laemmles universal pictures an acclaimed masterpiece directed by tod browning. The history behind dracula is nearly as interesting as the film itself. Nov, 1992 the film s most brilliant invention is an eerie sequence set in a london nickelodeon where, dont ask me why, mina is suddenly stalked by a wolf, which, at dracula s direction, becomes a docile. Vlad the impaler 14311476, wallachian voivodeprince who may have served as the basis for count dracula. The classic and definitive monsterhorror film of all time, director james whales frankenstein 1931 is the screen version of mary shelleys gothic 1818 nightmarish novel of the same name frankenstein. Universals 1931 production of dracula is a lot of things. His portrayal of dracula is the one that most people think of when they hear the characters name or even just the word vampire, whether or not theyve actually seen the movie. With bela lugosi, helen chandler, david manners, dwight frye. Heres where youll find analysis about the book as a whole. Nosferatu is about count orlok moving to germany, while dracula is about count dracula moving to the uk. The films most brilliant invention is an eerie sequence set in a london nickelodeon where, dont ask me why, mina is suddenly stalked by a wolf, which, at draculas direction, becomes a docile. Is the 1931 dracula still a terrifying film, or has it become a period piece.

What made dracula an influential hollywood horror film. Balderston, which in turn is adapted from the 1897 novel dracula by bram stoker. Perhaps that was true in 1931, but today i think the movie is interesting mostly for technical reasonsfor the stylized performances, the photography, the sets. Movie analysis of dracula 1931 and 1992 movie analysis of dracula 1931 and 1992 introduction the legend of the vampire has captured the fascination of millions over centuries. But he died as dracula was going into production, and the mysterious 49yearold. Tod brownings dracula an analysis of a film with staying. We dont have an article named analysisdracula1931, exactly. Dawn approaches, and when van helsing finds dracula in his coffin, he drives a stake through his heart, killing him for. Van helsing and john follow renfield there, but when dracula discovers their presence, he kills renfield. Then dracula flies to minas bedroom and bites her on the neck.

See a complete list of the characters in dracula and indepth analyses of count dracula, van helsing, mina murray, and lucy westenra. Dracula 1931 tod browning synopsis, characteristics. It is based on the 1924 stage play dracula by hamilton deane and john l. Read a plot overview of the entire book or a chapter by chapter summary and analysis.