Dracula (1931)
Posted on June 22, 2005
Filed Under Black and white, Classics, Vampires
There have been numerous attempts to adapt Bram Stoker’s landmark work to the big screen but the one that still stands above all others is Universal’s 1931 offering. That is not to say that Todd Browning didn’t make mistakes-he did-but the end result is perhaps the definitive telling of the perennial tale of Count Dracula.
There is no need to go over the story beyond noting that Browning sticks pretty faithfully to the original text. The cuttings he did make are generally positive, for example totally omitting the annoying bits in the book with the Whitby simpletons, and the overly draw-out convalescence of Lucy. Unlike many later adaptations ‘Dracula’ steers clear of trying to impose its own agenda or interpretations onto Stoker’s story and tells the tale simply and with clear direction. At times it does come across as a little stunted but as they only had an hour or so to play with it holds together very well.
What Browning does exceptionally well is capture the sinisterly captivating persona of Count Dracula and here he is helped along by the two things that really make the film stand out; the cinematography and Bela Lugosi in the lead role. The first twenty minutes of ‘Dracula’ are stunningly executed, from the spellbinding atmospherics of Harker’s journey to Castle Dracula to the Gothic-ally dark aura of the Count himself. Browning and Karl Fruend (his cinematographer) capture the audience after the first few frames, with an irresistible combination of stunning sets and flawless camerawork which are more than enough to compensate for the disappointing turn the film takes in the second half, when it reverts almost to the stage show which inspired Universal to take it into production. There is a real feeling of dislocation between the first and second halves of the film as we’re forced from the liberating panorama of Transylvania and the roaming adventure of the Count in London into a claustrophobic drawing-room drama.
Without doubt, Bela Lugosi was born to play this role and in ‘Dracula’ we see him at the apogee of his career. His interpretation of the role-seductive yet distant, suave yet primevally brutal-set the standards for most subsequent portrayals of the Count and it is impossible having watched ‘Dracula’ to think of anyone coming close to putting in such an outstanding performance. Tragically, Lugosi himself realised this which is why he turned down the role of Frankenstein that same year (it being beneath such a fine actor) and thus started along the path of obscurity and eventual ruin. Though clearly the outstanding talent in the film it must be pointed out that the supporting cast complement Lugosi perfectly, with David Manners and Edward Van Sloan particularly worthy of praise.
I haven’t managed to watch the Spanish language version of ‘Dracula’ that was filmed alongside this one, which is considered by many to be technically a far better movie. Even when I do get around to it I doubt that it would do enough to knock this version off its pedestal as the finest Dracula movie of them all. Though it tails off a little towards the end Browning does more than enough to grab the viewer in the first half of the movie to retain their loyalty and in doing so has produced the definitive telling of the Dracula story. Lugosi never escaped from his role as Count Dracula (he was actually buried in the costume) which is perhaps fitting because this film leaves such a lasting impression that viewers will forever equate him-and Browning’s effort-as the finest telling of the Bram Stoker’s tale.
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