Bram Stoker's novel has been the inspiration for many legendary films from the unauthorized german Nosferatu (inspiring multiple remakes itself) to endless official versions over the decades including the huge 90s hit from exalted director Francis Ford Coppola. But the first Hollywood adaptation from 1931 remains the iconic piece of film history, also kicking off the Universal Monster series of films, a film series hard to match in terms of influence over time.
Based mostly on the stage play adaptation of the novel and "modernized" to the present (1930s) day Dracula became a sensation which has burned certain iconography into mainstream culture. It remains quite terrifying even to this day, partially because of the downright creepy performances of Legosi and Frye but also the moody, atmospheric cinematography and the deliciously pulp approach to Browning's story telling. It is a wonderfully watchable film with simple themes and an easy to appreciate story.
Dracula in the film is pure evil, unlike many of the misunderstood monsters of the other Universal films like the Frankenstein Monster or the Wolf Man. Like the previous film, Nosferatu, the vampire represents an insidious invading force. It plays on our fears of the other. Many years later vampires would be rehabilitated as more sympathetic in the works of Anne Rice or other popular novels and films but here they represent something terrible coming to undermine us.
Some sympathy for the vampire does show up in the original film's direct sequel, Dracula's Daughter, a film which implies a homoeroticism which would become common in vampire stories but told from the time's fear of queerness. The film focuses on a sort of "conversion therapy" gone wrong but does give its central character a sympathetic view.
The next sequel Son of Dracula is also a surprisingly satisfying sequel about losing one's love to something dark. Together the three films, made over the more than a decade, create a rather solid trilogy. Certainly the sequels are not nearly on the same level as the classic first film, but still remain quite enjoyable to this day.
Stoker's story has been adapted many times since, often incorporating elements from the 1931 film (or the silent Nosforatu) directly even more than elements of the novel. For me Coppola's gothic epic adaptation remains a personal favourite with its lush operatic approach to the story. Christopher Lee's famous Hammer Films series is almost as iconic as Universal's originals and many love Frank Langella's 70s take on the legend. However all of these pay their tribute to Legosi and Browning's film monster. It isn't just the direct revisiting of the story that owe so much to Browning's film, but vampire films in general who all pull from it in some way. It's hard to name too many films that have had more of an impact on cinema and popular culture than this legendary film.
Stoker's story has been adapted many times since, often incorporating elements from the 1931 film (or the silent Nosforatu) directly even more than elements of the novel. For me Coppola's gothic epic adaptation remains a personal favourite with its lush operatic approach to the story. Christopher Lee's famous Hammer Films series is almost as iconic as Universal's originals and many love Frank Langella's 70s take on the legend. However all of these pay their tribute to Legosi and Browning's film monster. It isn't just the direct revisiting of the story that owe so much to Browning's film, but vampire films in general who all pull from it in some way. It's hard to name too many films that have had more of an impact on cinema and popular culture than this legendary film.
Dracula
Starring: Bela Lugosi, Helen Chandler, Dwight Frye, Edward Van Sloan
Director: Tod Browning
Writer: Garrett Fort
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