ABSOLUTELY RIGHT !!! ONLY ONE BELA LUGOSI. ALTHOUGH I LIKE CHRISTOPHER LEE AS DRACULA, BELA IS THE --- R E A L DRACULA. RIP TO THE GREAT BELA LUGOSI.❤️❤️
@@colleencrouch4346 - I concur. I've been told that I impersonate Lugosi's Count and Lee's Count quite admirably. It might have something to do with my lineage, since I'm Hungarian and Romanian on my mother's side and English on my father's side.
@@tonylast9181 Yes at this time. But you must remember it was different when Bela Lugosi was Dracula. Christopher Lee will always remembered as Dracula. But Bela Lugosi was the first.
@@amysands2413 I'm a fan of Christopher Lee' but Lugosi is the only Dracula for me! As much as I love the horror of Dracula' Peter Cushing stole that film anyway' Lee hardly uttered a word in it. No contest really' just my opinion.
@@tonylast9181 Christopher Lee was good as far as the color horror films go snd has an imposing presence, but he lacks the feel of Eastern Europe. Lugosi is exotic and unfamiliar.
Sorry, but Christopher Lee IS Dracula, he has made the role his own! Bela Lugosi looks like a pantomime character, with little or NO menace about him whatsoever! I would actually say that Lugosi best Universal Horror performance was that of Igor in the 1939 classic “ Son of Frankenstein “ But his Dracula role , particularly now looks incredibly dated and very pale, it is quite spooky in parts but that’s about it. Christopher Lee’s Dracula had everything that Lugosi had, but far more savage and ferocious, and as a result far more threatening!
when people mentioned Bela when I was a little kid, I instantly saw him as Dracula in my head. Now when people mention him, I see him as a person and a diverse and great actor! I don't just vision him in the cape anymore.
@@Tchernobog That’s on purpose idiot. What’s this about money all the time? Why don’t you earn some rather than beg for it like the loser you obviously are.
@@garyfrancis6193 I don't understand your purpose. At least I am actually respecting the past and being a fan of an actor from 1930's movies, why don't you go attack some uncultured Xbox playing kid instead?
I'm really glad that there are still honest folks like you guys, who are not out for a cash-in or just flimsy web-fame, but who put all heart and soul in their work. Your specials almost burst with such a deep love for cinema, its deviant genres and dark icons, that you manage not only to inform and entertain but even to bring the occasional tear to the eye. Thank you very much. And keep 'em coming.
This documentary is fantastic!! Béla Lugosi is and will forever be Count Dracula! No other comes close in my opinion! Also, The Raven is a fantastic film and so is The Black Cat!
I appreciate that this video points out that despite its flaws, the 1931 Dracula has an eerie power that helps it remain iconic among classic horror films. The film's stillness I think actually enhances the experience. Yes, David Manners is a weak hero, but with Lugosi, Frye, and even the reliable Edward Van Sloan to keep him in check, I can't complain too much. It's like Lon Chaney's Erik keeping Norman Kerry's Raoul under control in Phantom of the Opera. And one more excellent point about the Spanish version: just because a film is better made, doesn't mean it's better overall. It's not only the lack of Lugosi, but I think the actor playing Renfield in the Spanish version is too over-the-top and not creepy enough.
I couldn't agree more. I have both versions and Bela has a screen presence and hypnotic power that is inimitable. The same goes for Dwight Frye. His almost tongue-in-cheek performance is perfectly juxtaposed by Bela's much more serious take on The Count. As for the slow stillness, which I always feel reflected Browning's (and the movie industry's relative newness to Talkies from Silent Cinema) worked so well in atmospheric terms and in giving the viewer a long lingering moment to contemplate the real horror of the situation.
Why are all the early Universal horror films saddled with David Manners as the 'hero'? He was in "Dracula", "The Mummy" and "the Black Cat"; always as the ineffectual and clueless boyfriend of the female victim.
@@careyatchison1348 My guess is he had a good agent. I do have to say that with each new film, his character gets a bit less annoying. Perhaps casting a "leading man" in that sense was simply obligatory and the filmmakers must've known that the monsters or villains played by Lugosi and Karloff were the real stars.
Ferenc Blasko and William Pratt. Existed at the same time nearly one hundred years ago and can still put a shiver up anyone's spine. God bless them both.
Bela Lugosi never got the financial rewards and accolades during his lifetime that he deserved. I'm happy that, although belated, the years following his death have shown an increasing appreciation for the man and his body of work. Your excellent TH-cam channel has done much to contribute to that. Thank you for your splendid videos honoring the great actors, producers, and studios that have produced classic and iconic films of the horror genre. I look forward to seeing and savoring more content in the future.
Legosi was excellent as Dracula. One of the epic performance of all time. When I read Bram Stoker's classic novel, he is who I envisioned as Dracula. Fascinating video! Thanks for this.
"Spanish Dracula" has an accolade usually not commented on. It's the only Dracula movie (that I'm aware of) to use the crosses correctly. Most Dracula movies feature people wearing rosaries around their necks, which my Catholic husband tells me, is a massive faux-pas. They're meant to be carried in the pocket, or worn around the wrist, not treated as a necklace. In "Spanish Dracula," the actors wear plain crosses. Since it was a cast made of people from Hispanic cultures, they were probably more aware of that cultural rule than the makers of other Dracula movies.
In the novel, the old lady at the inn puts a rosary around Harker's neck "for your mother's sake" on learning that he is going to Dracula's castle. Either Stoker made it up, or the superstitions surrounding vampires in the old country permitted such a deviation from standard practice.
@@colleencrouch4346 Indeed, though most of the rosary loops are too small to be put around the neck. I'm Catholic, though I always wondered, Vlad who inspired Dracula himself is Orthodox. They have prayer beads but no rosaries, Hungary though, that dominated the region at the time is predominantly Catholic.
@@barriolimbas I'm not Catholic, but the vast majority of rosaries that I have ever seen, in films, catalogues and other places, are the 5 decade type, which are quite long enough to be worn as a necklace.
I love Lugosi but I’m so curious to see what a Dracula played by Lon Chaney would look like. I wonder if such a universe would retain the iconic image of Dracula in popular culture
Well if you’ve ever seen some of the photos from Chaney’s 1920’s lost vampire film London After Midnight it might have been interesting, Chaney actually looked more like Bram Stoker’s description of Dracula than Lugosi did, as did Conrad Veidt who I would also have loved to have seen him playing Dracula being that Veidt looked exactly like Stoker’s Dracula.
Chaney was such a great actor, no doubt he would have been iconic if he‘d playd it. Bit it is what it is now, and the role will forever be Bela Lugosi. It‘s like watching the screen tests with different actresses for Gone with the Wind. I thought some of them could have been really great, but Scarlett is and forever will be Vivian Leigh.
Some film historians have argued that Lugosi was right to reject Frankenstein as it existed at the time. The script, by all accounts, was terrible, and the monster makeup (borrowing liberally from Paul Wegener's Golem) was ridiculous.
The shot of Dwight Frye (Renfield) crawling toward the nurse was a gag from the stage play that was inexplicably cut. Just as he seems about to attack the nurse, he grabs an insect that had landed on her and gobbles it up. It's still there in the Spanish version.
I watched this again recently, and was struck by the silence and stillness of it - the inverse of what we expect from a "horror movie". This made it much more disturbing and compelling to watch. Somehow it brought to mind what Anthony Hopkins did in Silence of the Lambs. Nothing! He stood there. THAT was the horror of it.
Conrad Veidt was another person Universal wanted, and while he did great in The Man Who Laughs from 1928, I don't see him being Dracula, nor Lon Chaney. We have such a distinct look and feel of Dracula that we can't imagine another person being him.
@@scombs6543 I kinda disagree with you regarding Veidt, in that, I think he could have been a fantastic Dracula, but in the end, I think that Lugosi was the best choice. Also, I think that Boris Karloff was the only possible choice for Frankenstein's monster. I can't imagine Lugosi playing that part at all.
@@yohannbiimu I can see Veidt being a great Dracula, just not to Lugosi's level of recognition. I agree with the Frankenstein and Karloff thing too, even though Lugosi was the monster in Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man, he was barely in it, and when he was it didn't feel like the monster. More like Lugosi under makeup.
@@scombs6543 That's probably the worst thing about F Meets The Wolf Man, that Universal butchered Lugosi's role. I know the story is that the audience didn't like hearing Ygor's voice in the Monster, but they could've eased that issue by using a clip or two from Ghost of Frankenstein, where the Monster speaks with Ygor's brain. God knows they were already taking the stock footage route at that point with The Mummy's Tomb and Mummy's Curse, so it wouldn't have stuck out or seemed weird that much...
I enjoy Dark Corners Reviews regular content, but these long form videos are always so well done! I especially enjoyed this one. I am eagerly looking forward to the next installment. Fantastic work here DCR, and thank you for it.
I must say, this was a VERY well done video. The production value is obviously of top standard. I have been a fan of classic Universal horror films for a number of years. You touched on things I didn’t know. Best of luck in the future. Cheers!
An excellent look at Lugosi's early career and the beginning of his relationship with Dracula. Very much enjoyed having voice actors read the quotations, which adds a nice dimension and insures that we know they are actual quotes. Looking forward to Part 2 & the American v Spanish Dracula comparison.
Thanks for mentioning the thing with Dracula walking through the spiderwebs. Many people miss that it’s the point of the movie where Redfield finally realizes I might be in some trouble here. I remember seeing that on TV thinking that’s not right that man.
Lugosi defined the role for eternity, with Lee a close second. Lugosi's acting style and presence is a perfect match for such a gothic character. That being said, if you read the original book by Bram Stoker, you might be left with the conclusion that the definitive Dracula film has yet to be made! It is a very rich text - I recommend The Annotated Dracula with notes and bibliography by Leonard Wolf. Unfortunately this annotated edition is out of print, but there are other annotated versions out there. Dark Corners is the best, most insightful and knowledgeable Horror channel in existence, IMO. It warms my heart to see a young person such as yourself so devoted to these classic films. All the best.
Bela Lugosi was the quintessential Count Dracula - his exceptional performance is matched by none before or after him. Bela exuded elegance and a unique sensuality that brought a special quality to the character. I used to watch his movies as a kid - horror movies back then were so enjoyable because I inherently knew they were pure entertainment and fun. Conversely, horror movies made today like Friday the 13th that feature some nutzoid chasing kids and killing them are too real and not entertaining or fun - but show gore and violence - I won't watch those kind of movies. Thank you for dedicating this documentary to the great Bela Lugosi - he shall not be forgotten.
Outstanding job on this one! Your in-depth specials just keep getting better and better. They are so well crafted and clearly done with love. I can't wait for part two! I would be overjoyed to see you guys compare the Lugosi and Spanish films at length. The Spanish version was definitely better edited, but I just can't get past Villarias' performance. His Nicolas Cage-esque facial expressions sap all the menace out of the character, as far as I am concerned.
6:24 Hungarian Bolsheviks took over Hungary right after WW1, they were no victims, Mr Bailes! They were soon overthrown by the army. I know it is hard for you to believe this Robin Bailes, but Communists create very oppressive governments, they then got some hell back
Can't wait, I've been watching loads of old horrors lately, is this the 'listen to them.....the children of the night' one? Doesn't matter, I'll love it anyway. 😁
As a direct result of this video, I just watched the original Dracula for the first time in more than 50 years. I was extremely impressed by just how effective it is. The extreme close ups of Lugosi's face, with lights sometimes not quite on his eyes, are, for me, not the best images for the film; the long shots, showing his trim figure & stately manner, are much more powerful. The lack of the now ubiquitous background music makes the music there is much more moving. Mina's descent into vampirism is very well done & even the mechanical bat is much better than many that followed. I'm looking forward to watching the Spanish version, and then the DC comparison review.
An achievement to be remembered as "The greatest dracula to ever grace the silver screen" is sufficient reward. The idea of being typecast is a blessing and not a curse, for acting in bit parts he would never have reached monumental stardom of such great proportion.
I love your documentaries and deep dives in cinema history! It was 'Top 10 Lost Films' that introduced me to your channel and I've been an avid viewer ever since.
Great Review!!!! Dracula is my favorite Horror novel and the 1931 Dracula was the first universal classic movie i bought on dvd and got me into watching classic horror movies!!
You've done it again, Dark Corners people. I very much enjoyed this I'm very much looking forward to the sequel and, even more so, to the comparison video of the two 1931 Draculas.
Thank you for all the time and effort to bring us this truly terrific video. It's videos like this which can often make *TH-cam* the _go-to_ for quality content IMO.
Someone who actually knows how to pronounce his name, bravo Im not hungarian but my mom once worked in banking in LA, and one contract she worked on a few occasions....was the Legosi Estate. And when she mentioned “Bella” oh boy were they not happy.
Excellent documentary👏!!!! You mentioned information, and scenes/photographs, that is all new to me. And, I've watched alot of them☺️. This was just as good, as the documentary included, on the 75th., anniversary box set of Universal's, Dracula. Love Belá Lugosi since, I was a kid.
DC Classics is one of the best documentary series on fantastic film nuts and bolts that is available, huge props. I feel that Black Cat and Chandu the Magician are probably the two best places to enjoy Lugosi's astonishing screen presence, although the blu-ray of Dracula really improved my understanding of the special accomplishment of that film. I love Browning's silent melodramas, especially Unknown, Unholy Three and West of Zanzibar, and I now think with a cleaned up soundtrack and something near the sharpness of 35mm I can understand why audiences responded so strongly that wet winter back in 1931. It's not so much scary as what they used to call "uncanny", like some of Sheriden le Fanu's best stories where you are left baffled and disturbed in some way beyond description.
I recommend you guys watch Return of Dracula played by Eastern European actor Francis Lederer. Its from the 50's. Like Lugosi, Lederers European accent gives Dracula that aristocratic touch that Lugosi emitted.
Another great video I love your content, You should have way more subscribers and views . Thank you for it all I will keep watching and supporting anyway I can
Very enjoyable, thank you. I subscribed after seeing your hammer videos. I prefer these great documentary style videos to the sarcastic, funny reviews. Thank you.
As an spanish person, I can't help but find the spanish Dracula HILARIOUS. I mean, cinematography it's great and all but, oh boy, THE VOICES. THE ACCENTS!!
@@suedenim Every single one of the actors came from a different part of Spain or South America and it shows. Just imagine Dracula being from Brooklyn and Van Helsing having indian accent, for example.
I bet Dracula 1931 is most iconic of all times, Bela Lugosi did it, and only Bela Lugosi capable do it once and best way, noone else didn't so well as Bela Lugosi
A most interesting and informative video. Even though Bela Lugosi has become iconic I do have to say that Conrad Veidt, when made up as Dracula as described in the book, might have been quite effective also (see, The Man Who Laughs).
2022 and the 100th anniversary of Nosferatu have got me on a classic movie kick. Went in relatively blind, knowing nothing but Lugosi's legacy and agree that it was a magnificent performance by Lugosi in need of a better film than we got despite the best efforts of Van Sloan and Frye. The ending was what I found the most disappointing, with its sudden resolution feeling tacked on. I didn't realize that it was the fault of budgetary constraints and development hell until watching this. Thank you for taking the time and effort to produce such quality essays. I've been really enjoying your stuff.
Thanks for this heartfelt and informative piece. I have a box set of the Universal films and recently rewatched "Dracula" for the first time in years, and was surprised at how lethargic I found it, especially in that second half. I believe the Spanish Dracula is included on the disc, and must give it a try.
Max Schrek and Bela Lugosi will always be my two favorite Draculas, even though Schrek’s name in Nosferatu was “Graff Orlock”. I actually have a 1929 printing of Bram Stoker’s Dracula with some pictures from the Broadway play and a Bela Lugosi cover.
I suggest you check out Louis Jourdan from the 1977 BBC television production "Count Dracula". The special effects are lacking and it suffers from being shot on film for the exterior scenes video tape for the interiors, but the acting is solid from all concerned and this version is the most faithful to the book.
Bela Lugosi was an extremely underrated actor. He worked very hard at his craft and it showed. There was only one Bela Lugosi.
ABSOLUTELY RIGHT !!!
ONLY ONE BELA LUGOSI.
ALTHOUGH I LIKE CHRISTOPHER LEE AS DRACULA, BELA IS THE
--- R E A L DRACULA.
RIP TO THE GREAT BELA LUGOSI.❤️❤️
I always remember the interview where he said "dracula....dracula never die"....prophetic words. RIP Bela.
It was criminal how the studios took advantage of actors like Lugosi and Karloff, never paying them what they were worth.
Christopher Lee only got 750 UK pounds for his role in the original Hammer Dracula.
Yes, it is. The word is "repugnant".
Now we have actors that aren't worth the millions that they are paid, go figure.
@@55Quirll Christopher Lee commented that it seemed that actors who had higher salaries were more likely to be hired!
Scott H..Agreed..Soo True..Soo Verry True..Ugh..🦇☠🦇
Bela was so underrated as an actor. Thanks Robin and Dark Corners for highlighting his Universal Studio performances.
Lugosi's Count will never die as long as filmdom exists.
As Christopher Lee said, if you ask someone to "do" Dracula, they don't do Lee's voice, it's always Lugosi's accent & delivery that they attempt.
@@colleencrouch4346 - I concur. I've been told that I impersonate Lugosi's Count and Lee's Count quite admirably. It might have something to do with my lineage, since I'm Hungarian and Romanian on my mother's side and English on my father's side.
oh knows illegals dont even know who George Washington was
@@walterfechter8080 do you want to bite necks ha ha kidding
@@onlythewise1 Yes, indeed -- the necks belonging to younger versions of Caroline Munro, Jane Seymour and Julie Newmar.
Bela Lugosi is Dracula. The movie lacks many things, but it has him. And Karloff is Karloff, the magnificent Karloff.
No, Christopher Lee did the best portrayal of Dracula
@@tonylast9181
Yes at this time. But you must remember it was different when Bela Lugosi was Dracula.
Christopher Lee will always remembered as Dracula. But Bela Lugosi was the first.
@@amysands2413 I'm a fan of Christopher Lee' but Lugosi is the only Dracula for me! As much as I love the horror of Dracula' Peter Cushing stole that film anyway' Lee hardly uttered a word in it. No contest really' just my opinion.
@@tonylast9181 Christopher Lee was good as far as the color horror films go snd has an imposing presence, but he lacks the feel of Eastern Europe. Lugosi is exotic and unfamiliar.
Sorry, but Christopher Lee IS Dracula, he has made the role his own! Bela Lugosi looks like a pantomime character, with little or NO menace about him whatsoever!
I would actually say that Lugosi best Universal Horror performance was that of Igor in the 1939 classic “ Son of Frankenstein “
But his Dracula role , particularly now looks incredibly dated and very pale, it is quite spooky in parts but that’s about it.
Christopher Lee’s Dracula had everything that Lugosi had, but far more savage and ferocious, and as a result far more threatening!
when people mentioned Bela when I was a little kid, I instantly saw him as Dracula in my head.
Now when people mention him, I see him as a person and a diverse and great actor! I don't just vision him in the cape anymore.
Envision. “Vision” is not a verb.
@@Tchernobog Not really. You don’t own the language. Being British gives you no special privilege.
@@Tchernobog I can see you’re an ignorant person.
@@Tchernobog That’s on purpose idiot. What’s this about money all the time? Why don’t you earn some rather than beg for it like the loser you obviously are.
@@garyfrancis6193 I don't understand your purpose.
At least I am actually respecting the past and being a fan of an actor from 1930's movies, why don't you go attack some uncultured Xbox playing kid instead?
I'm really glad that there are still honest folks like you guys, who are not out for a cash-in or just flimsy web-fame, but who put all heart and soul in their work. Your specials almost burst with such a deep love for cinema, its deviant genres and dark icons, that you manage not only to inform and entertain but even to bring the occasional tear to the eye.
Thank you very much.
And keep 'em coming.
Excellent analysis. I've probably watched Lugosi's Dracula 200 times.
This documentary is fantastic!! Béla Lugosi is and will forever be Count Dracula! No other comes close in my opinion! Also, The Raven is a fantastic film and so is The Black Cat!
I appreciate that this video points out that despite its flaws, the 1931 Dracula has an eerie power that helps it remain iconic among classic horror films. The film's stillness I think actually enhances the experience.
Yes, David Manners is a weak hero, but with Lugosi, Frye, and even the reliable Edward Van Sloan to keep him in check, I can't complain too much. It's like Lon Chaney's Erik keeping Norman Kerry's Raoul under control in Phantom of the Opera.
And one more excellent point about the Spanish version: just because a film is better made, doesn't mean it's better overall. It's not only the lack of Lugosi, but I think the actor playing Renfield in the Spanish version is too over-the-top and not creepy enough.
I couldn't agree more. I have both versions and Bela has a screen presence and hypnotic power that is inimitable. The same goes for Dwight Frye. His almost tongue-in-cheek performance is perfectly juxtaposed by Bela's much more serious take on The Count.
As for the slow stillness, which I always feel reflected Browning's (and the movie industry's relative newness to Talkies from Silent Cinema) worked so well in atmospheric terms and in giving the viewer a long lingering moment to contemplate the real horror of the situation.
@@WeeRattyMau5 Agreed.
@@connorbrennan4233 Thank-you! Heh, I could gush about this movie all year long, I love it so much! 😊
Why are all the early Universal horror films saddled with David Manners as the 'hero'? He was in "Dracula", "The Mummy" and "the Black Cat"; always as the ineffectual and clueless boyfriend of the female victim.
@@careyatchison1348 My guess is he had a good agent. I do have to say that with each new film, his character gets a bit less annoying. Perhaps casting a "leading man" in that sense was simply obligatory and the filmmakers must've known that the monsters or villains played by Lugosi and Karloff were the real stars.
I hope Bela Jr. gets to see this. I know he'd be honored.
Looking at the photos of young Bela, you can really see the father-son relationship!
Bela Jr. is a spitting image of his dad.
Man. He looked amazing in his 40s-50s
And he was striking as a young man
Twist: Because Lagosi was a real vampire.😁
Gorgeous man ❤
Ferenc Blasko and William Pratt. Existed at the same time nearly one hundred years ago and can still put a shiver up anyone's spine. God bless them both.
Bela Lugosi never got the financial rewards and accolades during his lifetime that he deserved. I'm happy that, although belated, the years following his death have shown an increasing appreciation for the man and his body of work.
Your excellent TH-cam channel has done much to contribute to that.
Thank you for your splendid videos honoring the great actors, producers, and studios that have produced classic and iconic films of the horror genre. I look forward to seeing and savoring more content in the future.
Loved Hollywood Gothic which really detailed the long and torturous route of Dracula from book to stage to film....
Legosi was excellent as Dracula. One of the epic performance of all time. When I read Bram Stoker's classic novel, he is who I envisioned as Dracula. Fascinating video! Thanks for this.
As always, a fantastic production, Robin. You and your people deserve all credit.
"Spanish Dracula" has an accolade usually not commented on. It's the only Dracula movie (that I'm aware of) to use the crosses correctly. Most Dracula movies feature people wearing rosaries around their necks, which my Catholic husband tells me, is a massive faux-pas. They're meant to be carried in the pocket, or worn around the wrist, not treated as a necklace. In "Spanish Dracula," the actors wear plain crosses. Since it was a cast made of people from Hispanic cultures, they were probably more aware of that cultural rule than the makers of other Dracula movies.
In the novel, the old lady at the inn puts a rosary around Harker's neck "for your mother's sake" on learning that he is going to Dracula's castle. Either Stoker made it up, or the superstitions surrounding vampires in the old country permitted such a deviation from standard practice.
@@colleencrouch4346 Indeed, though most of the rosary loops are too small to be put around the neck. I'm Catholic, though I always wondered, Vlad who inspired Dracula himself is Orthodox. They have prayer beads but no rosaries, Hungary though, that dominated the region at the time is predominantly Catholic.
@@barriolimbas I'm not Catholic, but the vast majority of rosaries that I have ever seen, in films, catalogues and other places, are the 5 decade type, which are quite long enough to be worn as a necklace.
@@colleencrouch4346 Most, but not all though, emphasis on the beads rather than on it being worn, the 5 decades are standard.
Good point
Your documentaries are always so well done. The early cinema must never be forgotten.
I love Lugosi but I’m so curious to see what a Dracula played by Lon Chaney would look like. I wonder if such a universe would retain the iconic image of Dracula in popular culture
Well if you’ve ever seen some of the photos from Chaney’s 1920’s lost vampire film London After Midnight it might have been interesting, Chaney actually looked more like Bram Stoker’s description of Dracula than Lugosi did, as did Conrad Veidt who I would also have loved to have seen him playing Dracula being that Veidt looked exactly like Stoker’s Dracula.
Chaney was such a great actor, no doubt he would have been iconic if he‘d playd it. Bit it is what it is now, and the role will forever be Bela Lugosi. It‘s like watching the screen tests with different actresses for Gone with the Wind. I thought some of them could have been really great, but Scarlett is and forever will be Vivian Leigh.
Some film historians have argued that Lugosi was right to reject Frankenstein as it existed at the time. The script, by all accounts, was terrible, and the monster makeup (borrowing liberally from Paul Wegener's Golem) was ridiculous.
The shot of Dwight Frye (Renfield) crawling toward the nurse was a gag from the stage play that was inexplicably cut. Just as he seems about to attack the nurse, he grabs an insect that had landed on her and gobbles it up. It's still there in the Spanish version.
I watched this again recently, and was struck by the silence and stillness of it - the inverse of what we expect from a "horror movie". This made it much more disturbing and compelling to watch. Somehow it brought to mind what Anthony Hopkins did in Silence of the Lambs. Nothing! He stood there. THAT was the horror of it.
Thank you for the books indications! By the way, did somebody already tell you your videos are great? They are!
Thank you.
As good as Lon Chaney was I just can't imagine him playing Dracula nearly as well as Bela Legosi.
Conrad Veidt was another person Universal wanted, and while he did great in The Man Who Laughs from 1928, I don't see him being Dracula, nor Lon Chaney. We have such a distinct look and feel of Dracula that we can't imagine another person being him.
@@scombs6543 I kinda disagree with you regarding Veidt, in that, I think he could have been a fantastic Dracula, but in the end, I think that Lugosi was the best choice. Also, I think that Boris Karloff was the only possible choice for Frankenstein's monster. I can't imagine Lugosi playing that part at all.
@@yohannbiimu I can see Veidt being a great Dracula, just not to Lugosi's level of recognition. I agree with the Frankenstein and Karloff thing too, even though Lugosi was the monster in Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man, he was barely in it, and when he was it didn't feel like the monster. More like Lugosi under makeup.
@@scombs6543 That's probably the worst thing about F Meets The Wolf Man, that Universal butchered Lugosi's role. I know the story is that the audience didn't like hearing Ygor's voice in the Monster, but they could've eased that issue by using a clip or two from Ghost of Frankenstein, where the Monster speaks with Ygor's brain. God knows they were already taking the stock footage route at that point with The Mummy's Tomb and Mummy's Curse, so it wouldn't have stuck out or seemed weird that much...
I agree with both of you
This was a good, spot on analysis, Dark Corners! Keep it up!
My nan's favourite actor, i remember her telling me how surprizing his accent was when talkies 1st came out.
I enjoy Dark Corners Reviews regular content, but these long form videos are always so well done! I especially enjoyed this one. I am eagerly looking forward to the next installment. Fantastic work here DCR, and thank you for it.
Bela Lugosi is one of the best Dracula 🧛♂️. Please restore all the Dracula movies 🎥 he was in.
Bravo Dark Corners! Always enjoy your deep dives on film history and love the Vlad shirt!
Oh my! Isn't it amazing? I've got to get myself one of those! 🧛♀️🧛♂️❤
I must say, this was a VERY well done video. The production value is obviously of top standard. I have been a fan of classic Universal horror films for a number of years. You touched on things I didn’t know. Best of luck in the future. Cheers!
An excellent look at Lugosi's early career and the beginning of his relationship with Dracula. Very much enjoyed having voice actors read the quotations, which adds a nice dimension and insures that we know they are actual quotes. Looking forward to Part 2 & the American v Spanish Dracula comparison.
Thanks for mentioning the thing with Dracula walking through the spiderwebs. Many people miss that it’s the point of the movie where Redfield finally realizes I might be in some trouble here. I remember seeing that on TV thinking that’s not right that man.
Lugosi defined the role for eternity, with Lee a close second. Lugosi's acting style and presence is a perfect match for such a gothic character. That being said, if you read the original book by Bram Stoker, you might be left with the conclusion that the definitive Dracula film has yet to be made! It is a very rich text - I recommend The Annotated Dracula with notes and bibliography by Leonard Wolf. Unfortunately this annotated edition is out of print, but there are other annotated versions out there.
Dark Corners is the best, most insightful and knowledgeable Horror channel in existence, IMO. It warms my heart to see a young person such as yourself so devoted to these classic films. All the best.
A brilliant documentary.
Bela Lugosi was the quintessential Count Dracula - his exceptional performance is matched by none before or after him. Bela exuded elegance and a unique sensuality that brought a special quality to the character. I used to watch his movies as a kid - horror movies back then were so enjoyable because I inherently knew they were pure entertainment and fun. Conversely, horror movies made today like Friday the 13th that feature some nutzoid chasing kids and killing them are too real and not entertaining or fun - but show gore and violence - I won't watch those kind of movies.
Thank you for dedicating this documentary to the great Bela Lugosi - he shall not be forgotten.
Outstanding job on this one! Your in-depth specials just keep getting better and better. They are so well crafted and clearly done with love. I can't wait for part two! I would be overjoyed to see you guys compare the Lugosi and Spanish films at length. The Spanish version was definitely better edited, but I just can't get past Villarias' performance. His Nicolas Cage-esque facial expressions sap all the menace out of the character, as far as I am concerned.
Bela Lugosi's voice is the one that people used when do a Dracula impression in the same way Robert Newton's voice is copied to do a pirate voice
I'm sitting here with just mesmerized attention and I suddenly here "Join us next time". I can't tell if I feel excited or cheated! 😄
Just finished watching the Universal Dracula collection this morning and now getting this excellent (as always) video . Thank you.
6:24 Hungarian Bolsheviks took over Hungary right after WW1, they were no victims, Mr Bailes!
They were soon overthrown by the army.
I know it is hard for you to believe this Robin Bailes, but Communists create very oppressive governments, they then got some hell back
Can't wait, I've been watching loads of old horrors lately, is this the 'listen to them.....the children of the night' one? Doesn't matter, I'll love it anyway. 😁
It is!
Which is a direct quote from the novel!
As a direct result of this video, I just watched the original Dracula for the first time in more than 50 years. I was extremely impressed by just how effective it is. The extreme close ups of Lugosi's face, with lights sometimes not quite on his eyes, are, for me, not the best images for the film; the long shots, showing his trim figure & stately manner, are much more powerful. The lack of the now ubiquitous background music makes the music there is much more moving. Mina's descent into vampirism is very well done & even the mechanical bat is much better than many that followed. I'm looking forward to watching the Spanish version, and then the DC comparison review.
Excellent again! I look forward to Dark Corners videos every week.
An achievement to be remembered as "The greatest dracula to ever grace the silver screen" is sufficient reward. The idea of being typecast is a blessing and not a curse, for acting in bit parts he would never have reached monumental stardom of such great proportion.
Haven't watched a single video but just looking at the thumbnails was was an instant sub for me.
Hope you like the videos too.
Nice t-shirt. Thanks for the video, looking forward to the next installment.
This is a great documentary. Thank you for uploading.
There used to be greeting cards with Carlos Villares mis-identified as Lugosi!
I've seen photos of Noel Willman (Kiss of the Vampire) mis-identified as Christopher Lee!
I love your documentaries and deep dives in cinema history! It was 'Top 10 Lost Films' that introduced me to your channel and I've been an avid viewer ever since.
informative passionate & a wonderfully entertaining tube. Thank-you for all your hard work on this movie/horror icon.
Great Review!!!! Dracula is my favorite Horror novel and the 1931 Dracula was the first universal classic movie i bought on dvd and got me into watching classic horror movies!!
You've done it again, Dark Corners people. I very much enjoyed this I'm very much looking forward to the sequel and, even more so, to the comparison video of the two 1931 Draculas.
Been too long since you put out another great retrospective. Thanks guys.
Thank you for all the time and effort to bring us this truly terrific video. It's videos like this which can often make *TH-cam* the _go-to_ for quality content IMO.
Lugosi, Karloff, Chaney legends forever cinematic genius near on a century old never to be bettered
Someone who actually knows how to pronounce his name, bravo
Im not hungarian but my mom once worked in banking in LA, and one contract she worked on a few occasions....was the Legosi Estate.
And when she mentioned “Bella” oh boy were they not happy.
Thank you for noticing. I get called up on pronounciation a lot so I do make an effort to get it right.
This Dark corners Reviews is a masterpiece. Hope they get the recognition that is deserved.
Excellent documentary👏!!!! You mentioned information, and scenes/photographs, that is all new to me. And, I've watched alot of them☺️. This was just as good, as the documentary included, on the 75th., anniversary box set of Universal's, Dracula. Love Belá Lugosi since, I was a kid.
Glad you enjoyed it!
By far the best treatment of this subject in my experience.
DC Classics is one of the best documentary series on fantastic film nuts and bolts that is available, huge props. I feel that Black Cat and Chandu the Magician are probably the two best places to enjoy Lugosi's astonishing screen presence, although the blu-ray of Dracula really improved my understanding of the special accomplishment of that film. I love Browning's silent melodramas, especially Unknown, Unholy Three and West of Zanzibar, and I now think with a cleaned up soundtrack and something near the sharpness of 35mm I can understand why audiences responded so strongly that wet winter back in 1931. It's not so much scary as what they used to call "uncanny", like some of Sheriden le Fanu's best stories where you are left baffled and disturbed in some way beyond description.
I recommend you guys watch Return of Dracula played by Eastern European actor Francis Lederer. Its from the 50's. Like Lugosi, Lederers European accent gives Dracula that aristocratic touch that Lugosi emitted.
Another well written and presented video. Now I await the teased follow up.
What a perfect start to a Sunday. Thank you so very much.
Another great video I love your content, You should have way more subscribers and views . Thank you for it all I will keep watching and supporting anyway I can
Very enjoyable, thank you. I subscribed after seeing your hammer videos. I prefer these great documentary style videos to the sarcastic, funny reviews. Thank you.
Amazing documentary, by the way!! A great companion to "Hollywood Gothic".
Thank you for the video. Amazing!!
As an spanish person, I can't help but find the spanish Dracula HILARIOUS. I mean, cinematography it's great and all but, oh boy, THE VOICES. THE ACCENTS!!
Can you elaborate a little for non-Spanish speakers?
@@suedenim Every single one of the actors came from a different part of Spain or South America and it shows. Just imagine Dracula being from Brooklyn and Van Helsing having indian accent, for example.
Great video!
I bet Dracula 1931 is most iconic of all times, Bela Lugosi did it, and only Bela Lugosi capable do it once and best way, noone else didn't so well as Bela Lugosi
Bella lugosi was famous for the play and the movie....its very sad what happened to him in the later part of his life....
Wonderful video essay, per usual.
You make great specials 🙂
Holy 1989 Batman batwing cameo clip !!!!
Thank You!
Yeah, I noticed the same clip! It was an awesome reference.
Fantastic job Robin and the other fellas working on this . Great job
ahh i always love your videos! this one was great! i cant wait for the next episode!!!
Thanks. Hopefully it will be out on December 12th.
Finally a video about dracula
beautifully made you are good standard on how to make documentaries.
you can hear and feel the love and i love every moment
Enjoyed this very much...TY *Dark Corners*
How I love these videos, thank you so much
Another great video, thank you. BTW love the Vlad shirt!
Great video! I love these types of videos
Another fantastic documentary! Keep them coming! :)
A most interesting and informative video. Even though Bela Lugosi has become iconic I do have to say that Conrad Veidt, when made up as Dracula as described in the book, might have been quite effective also (see, The Man Who Laughs).
thank you this is a SUPREME JOB, Dark Corners! GOD BLESS
I just discovered this channel but I am working to catch up! Well done.
Another excellent documentary.
Great stuff. Sharing with others.
A fantastic Review - Bravo !
2022 and the 100th anniversary of Nosferatu have got me on a classic movie kick. Went in relatively blind, knowing nothing but Lugosi's legacy and agree that it was a magnificent performance by Lugosi in need of a better film than we got despite the best efforts of Van Sloan and Frye. The ending was what I found the most disappointing, with its sudden resolution feeling tacked on. I didn't realize that it was the fault of budgetary constraints and development hell until watching this. Thank you for taking the time and effort to produce such quality essays. I've been really enjoying your stuff.
TH-cam recommended your channel to me. And I'm glad it did.
TH-cam working for a change. Glad to have you here.
Fascinating and soooo well done
Thanks for this heartfelt and informative piece. I have a box set of the Universal films and recently rewatched "Dracula" for the first time in years, and was surprised at how lethargic I found it, especially in that second half. I believe the Spanish Dracula is included on the disc, and must give it a try.
Max Schrek and Bela Lugosi will always be my two favorite Draculas, even though Schrek’s name in Nosferatu was “Graff Orlock”.
I actually have a 1929 printing of Bram Stoker’s Dracula with some pictures from the Broadway play and a Bela Lugosi cover.
I suggest you check out Louis Jourdan from the 1977 BBC television production "Count Dracula". The special effects are lacking and it suffers from being shot on film for the exterior scenes video tape for the interiors, but the acting is solid from all concerned and this version is the most faithful to the book.
Wonderfully done!
Awesome documentary :)
Why would you make me wait for more 😭 this was sooo good
Another superb video. You kind of wish that Lugosi starred in the 'Spanish Dracula'