Tod Browning's original but dated terror movie, this is the horrifying and sinister story of a revengeful vampire who must quench his thirst for human blood . A very imitated movie with several sequels, copies and rip-offs. Deservedly considered to be a gruesome classic film, thanks to abundant eerie scenes and the astonishing performance from Bela Lugosi as the vampire who needs human blood for nourishment, giving a definitely intimidating interpretation on the title role . A plush, glossy , but above all, a scary fim with a devastatingly effective climax. A good script and nice cast keep this first version based on Bram Stoker novel very entertaining and creepy. Although short a masterpiece due to slow second half, but adding portentous and brilliant images that are still examples of how to make the flesh creep. Here Lugosi plays his most famous character as a count vampire who terrorizes the countryside and mansions in his search for human blood, while he is immediately killing people for his blood and then turning them into vampires . The settings of the vampire's home in Transylvania and England have only been equalled in Browning's own "Mark of the Vampire" five years after, also starred by Bela Lugosi, along with Carol Borland . Shot at the same time to Spanish version 1931 by George Melford with Carlos Villarias, Lupita Tovar, that is thought to be more terrifying and more visually appealing than the English language counterpart. In 1999 it was re-released and re-scored by Philip Glass and performed by Kronos Quarter. It contains a nice support cast such as David Manners playing Jonathan Harker, Helen Chandler as Mina, Edward Van Sloan as Van Helsing, Dracula's nemesis . Special mention for Dwight Frye as Renfield-he played the hunchback in James Whale's Frankenstein-, he is over-the-top, as cinema has few scenes to equal the first sight of his madness, standing gibbering on a ship filled with dead people . This Dracula by Tod Browning was very well photographed in black and white full of dark and shades by Karl Freund, who directed The Mummy , being one of the main assets of the film.
It is sequelled by Dracula's daughter 1936 by Lambert Hiller, with Gloria Holden, Otto Kruger, Edward Van Sloan .Hammer Films produced various Dracula : Horror of Dracula 1958 by Terence Fisher with Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing, Melissa Stribling, Michael Gough. Dracula has risen from the grave 1958 by Freddie Francis with with Chistopher Lee, Rupert Davis, Veronica Carlson .Dracula prince of darkness 1966 by Terence Fisher with Christopher Lee, Barbara Shelley, Francis Matthews, Suzan Farmer. Dracula a. d. 1972 by Alan Gibson with Lee, Cushing, Stephanie Beacham, Caroline Munro. Scars of Dracula 1971. The satanic rites of Dracula 1973 by Alan Gibson with Lee, Cushing, Joanna Lumley. Plus, Dracula 1973 with Jack Palance, Simon Ward, Fiona Lewis, Nigel Davenport. Dracula 1979 by John Badham with Frank Langella, Kate Nelligan, Laurence Olivier. And modern renditions as Dracula 2000, Dracula 2 Ascension, Dracula the Dark Prince, Dracula rising, Dracula by Dario Argento. And hilarious, spoof retellings as Love at first bite with George Hamilton and Dracula Dead and Loving it 1995 by Mel Brooks with Leslie Nielsen, Peter McNicol.
It is sequelled by Dracula's daughter 1936 by Lambert Hiller, with Gloria Holden, Otto Kruger, Edward Van Sloan .Hammer Films produced various Dracula : Horror of Dracula 1958 by Terence Fisher with Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing, Melissa Stribling, Michael Gough. Dracula has risen from the grave 1958 by Freddie Francis with with Chistopher Lee, Rupert Davis, Veronica Carlson .Dracula prince of darkness 1966 by Terence Fisher with Christopher Lee, Barbara Shelley, Francis Matthews, Suzan Farmer. Dracula a. d. 1972 by Alan Gibson with Lee, Cushing, Stephanie Beacham, Caroline Munro. Scars of Dracula 1971. The satanic rites of Dracula 1973 by Alan Gibson with Lee, Cushing, Joanna Lumley. Plus, Dracula 1973 with Jack Palance, Simon Ward, Fiona Lewis, Nigel Davenport. Dracula 1979 by John Badham with Frank Langella, Kate Nelligan, Laurence Olivier. And modern renditions as Dracula 2000, Dracula 2 Ascension, Dracula the Dark Prince, Dracula rising, Dracula by Dario Argento. And hilarious, spoof retellings as Love at first bite with George Hamilton and Dracula Dead and Loving it 1995 by Mel Brooks with Leslie Nielsen, Peter McNicol.