Spooky Movie Sunday #1: Dracula (1931)

I love horror movies. Good ones, bad ones, terrible ones, I’ll watch them all. The more ketchup like blood, the better in my opinion. In fact, the books I am currently writing are heavily based on horror movies and their troupes through the decades.

I’ve decided to start Spooky Movie Sundays as a way to introduce others to my favorite movies so they can come to love them as much as I do. And what better way to start than to start with my favorite.

Now, obviously, this is my own opinion, and I don’t want to spoil too much for anyone who has not had the pleasure of watching this amazing movie. This is more just so I can rant about my favorite movies and why I love them.

Dracula (1931) Staring Bela Lugosi, David Manning, Helen Chandler, Edward Van Sloan, and Dwight Fry, and directed by Tod Browning was the very first real horror movie I’d ever watched. I was about twelve at the time, and I still remember the feeling I had. That movie changed the way I thought about horror and vampires.

While not entirely accurate to the novel written by Bram Stoker, some of the changes that were made, such as the character Renfield is being given a larger part, add to the element of total horror in the movie.

Renfield’s character is also enjoyable because he’s played by Dwight Frye, who was exceptionally good at going back and forth between being entirely deranged and completely human and aware with just his eyes. His performance is on par with Bela’s in this movie and make the experience all the more enjoyable due to his incredible talents.

Helen Chandler is also remarkable talented at this, really selling her battle with evil, and is a marvel to watch as her character wrestles under the power of Dracula.

And of course, no self-respecting goth could just gloss over the marvel that is Bela Lugosi. In my opinion, he was Count Dracula. He played the role as both suave and smooth while also being animalistic and unhinged. Lugosi captured the essence of the blood thirsty vampire and the sophistication of a Count. It’s a shame he was typecast as villains and had to survive on B movie rolls, but it’s easy to see how that happened.

There’s a reason that Count Dracula was Bela Lugosi’s most iconic role. He fully imbodied the Vampire.

I’d also like to note that there is a Spanish Version of the movie that was filmed simultaneously with the English version, but I haven’t been able to find the entire movie. Both movies followed the same script, used the same sets, but told slightly different stories. I’ll write a different post about the Spanish version, starring Carlos Villarias as Count Dracula, when I’m able to find the entire film.

Beyond the opening credits use of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake suite, there is no music the entire movie. Paired with the detailed sets, the excellent chemistry between all of the actors, and the outstanding acting, it all creates an eerie atmosphere that will continue to strike fear into the hearts of all that watch.

You can watch Dracula (1931) on Amazon Prime, YouTube, and Apple T.V.

Dracula (1931) is owned by Universal Pictures Studios.