Dracula (1931)

i know i wasted 90 mins of my life.

Fantastic!

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

The original Dracula film still holds up well today. It's amazing how much of an influence this film had on the horror genre and film in general. Well done, Bela Lugosi! Well done, Tod Browning! Well done, Universal!

Copyright Universal A Tod Browning Production, presented by Carl Laemmle. New York opening at 12 February 1931. U.S. release: 14 February 1931. 75 minutes. NOTES: The stage play opened on Broadway at the Fulton on 5 October 1927 and ran for a smash-hit 265 performances before hitting the road. Lugosi, of course, played Dracula, and Edward Van Sloan was Van Helsing. Others in the cast included Dorothy Peterson, Nedda Harrison and Terrence Neill. Ira Hards directed for producer Horace Liveright. Filming began 29 September 1930 and wrapped 15 November 1930. Negative cost: approx. $355,000. COMMENT: At times, this version of Dracula seems very much like a filmed stage play. An engrossing play, but a work of theatre nonetheless. Other than skilful glass work enhancing some sets, there are no special photographic effects to speak of. The bat does not turn into Dracula before our eyes. Instead the inanimate creature dangles around very obviously on wires. Worse, the dialogue-especially in the less capable mouths of Manners and Bunston-tends to be stiff and stilted. Other critics have rightly objected to the considerable alterations made to Stoker's novel. Only the principal characters and the basic outline of the plot itself (plus of course all the legendary vampire lore) have been retained. However, production values are otherwise first-class and the movie actually looks much younger than its age. Browning's direction has tremendous drive and force, thanks in part to the powerful performances delivered by Lugosi, Chandler, Van Sloan, Frye and Dade; and thanks also to Freund's frighteningly atmospheric photography and Hall's superlatively moody, gothic sets. Astute film editing helps increase an already sharp pace, and it's a tribute to Browning's concentrated direction (and some forceful sound effects) that the absence of background music is not particularly noticed. AVAILABLE on DVD through Universal. Quality rating: eight out of ten (I thought some of the scenes were printed a bit too dark. It's sometimes hard to see what's going on).

I liked this film to an extent. Some parts did bore me a little bit and other parts kept me intrigued. Overall it was a good horror movie for this particular time frame. The ending was questionable as to what the guy planned to do after the couple had left and we see the guy put the stake up to Dracula's heart but we do not really see him actually kill him, so it leaves you with some questions. This film had a good screenplay and some good actors and a good setting so overall it was a good film.

(Flash Review)After watching this I clearly understand why Bela Lugosi is still famous today as all of his mannerisms, appearance, voice and speech rate have become the template for spookiness over many generations. The plot is not easily to quickly summarize but Count Dracula lives in a mammoth castle on a dangerous mountain pass with an interior covered in cobwebs, dirt and bugs along with a huge staircase. Dracula arrives in London and begins to seek out blood to suck. At a social gathering, Van Helsing meets Dracula and proves a growing suspicion that he is a vampire by not seeing Dracula's reflection in a mirror. Will The Count be able to suck enough blood to sustain his existence or will he truly be found out and captured? This is an excellent classic that does not use much music and lets the acting, scenery, facial expressions and Lugiso take center stage. This film still holds up over time and amazingly a plethora of current pop culture Halloween references can be traced back to Dracula.