Dracula
Originally released in 1931


Bela Lugosi as Count Dracula

Dracula is one of the best known horror stories in the world, not only because of the novel by Bram Stoker but also due to the portayal of the vampire by Bela Lugosi.  The tale of an undead count from Transylvania who feeds on the blood of the living, the plot of this story can be terrifying.  As he makes his way to London to occupy a new home, Count Dracula falls in love with a woman which he pursues throughout the film, and not until a man named Van Helsing realizes what Dracula is can he be stopped.  Universal Pictures hit the jackpot by casting Lugosi as the vampire because his look and Hungarian accent made a great fit.  It should be noted that had Lon Chaney not passed away in 1930, he would have been offered the role instead of Lugosi.


L.C. Subject Headings

The following Library of Congress Subject Heading is for use in searching the on-line catalog for materials pertaining to Dracula.


Reviews

The New York Times Film Reviews 1913-1968.  Vol. 1, 1913-1931.  New York: The New  York Times & Arno Press, 1970.
[Davis Ref: PN 1995. N4 v1]

Variety Film Reviews 1907-1980.  Vol. 4, 1930-1933.  New York: Garland Publishing  Inc., 1983.
[Davis Ref: PN 1995 .V34 v4]

Original Novel

Stoker, Bram.  Dracula.  New York: Penguin Books, 1993.  (originally published in  1897)
[Davis, 7th floor stacks: PR6037.T617 D7 1993b]

A true classic, Dracula is one of the finest and most horrific novels ever to be adapted to the silver screen.  Printed in dozens of languages, this book has also been the subject of many reprints, and this version is probably one of the best.   Aside from keeping true to the original text, this Penguin release has some very interesting material included in it, such as reviews, criticism and a list of dramatic and film variations.

Video

Dracula.  Universal City, C.A..: MCA Videocassette, 1980.
[UL NonPrint: 65-V176]

Put out by Universal in 1931, this movie stars Bela Lugosi, who had been playing Dracula on the stage for a number of years.  The role of Count Dracula was actually intended for Lon Chaney, but when he passed away in 1930 the part went instead to the Hungarian born actor.  A classic film, Dracula has set the standard for the public’s image of the vampire, using the look of Lugosi to portray the evil blood sucker.
To Universal Pictures Page
To Bela Lugosi Page