Directed by Tod Browning
Starring Bela Lugosi, Helen Chandler and David Manners
Produced by Universal Pictures
Dracula is a bit of a puzzle.
It's a film everyone thinks they have seen, but have you really?
For me, it had been well over ten years since I last watched it, so I was anxious to revisit it when 1931 rolled around.
What struck me most is just how hazy my memory was of the film. Bela Lugosi's Dracula has been reduced over the last 70 years to a guy in a cape who can't pronounce the letter 'w.'
But Lugosi has a lot more than that going on. He never really goes big or chews the scenery. He's not some over-powered supernatural being. He must rely on cunning and stealth to achieve his bloody goals.
Lugosi is perfect in switching between the traveling aristocrat and the mind-controlling vampire. You realize watching it today that his accent is functional; its a disarming shield that intrigues his potential victims.
The other element that struck me this time was the production design. I had remembered moments, but scene by scene, shot by shot, this film is beautiful to watch. The count's Transylvanian castle. Mina's bedroom. Dracula crypt. And of course, that vast, neverending stone stair where Renfield meets his demise.
As with any film, there are problems as well, especially with the pacing. We often smash cut from one scene to another and have little idea where we are or with whom. The movie eventually catches you up, but its disorienting (and not in a positive way).
And Dracula just ends. Abruptly. You're waiting for the next line or scene and instead you fade to the ending credit.
Besides Lugosi, the rest of the actors are blank slates, which works for purposes of the movie. After all, if everyone is merely food to you, how many distinct character traits would you notice?
The only regrettably notable exception to this is Dwight Frye as Renfield. I dislike the tendency to go ridiculously over the top with the character, which is a tradition that finds its start right here. Tom Waits remains my favorite on screen iteration of the character.
Dracula holds a well-earned spot in the pantheon of monster movies. Anchored by Lugosi's pitch perfect performance and Browning's arresting visuals, it remains a timeless classic. Definite must see.
****1/2 out of *****
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