{"id":18724,"date":"2011-07-20T20:33:47","date_gmt":"2011-07-21T03:33:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=18724"},"modified":"2020-12-25T00:12:15","modified_gmt":"2020-12-25T07:12:15","slug":"dracula-1931","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=18724","title":{"rendered":"Dracula (1931)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;Listen to them: children of the night. What music they make!&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Dracula-Poster.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Dracula-Poster-193x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"193\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-18725\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Dracula-Poster-193x300.jpg 193w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Dracula-Poster-82x128.jpg 82w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Dracula-Poster.jpeg 319w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 193px) 100vw, 193px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nA lawyer (Dwight Frye) travels to Transylvania to meet with the vampire Count Dracula (Bela Lugosi), who promptly bites him, then moves to England to pursue other victims; but with Van Helsing (Edward Van Sloan) on his trail, Dracula&#8217;s days are numbered.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Bela Lugosi Films<\/li>\n<li>Horror<\/li>\n<li>Tod Browning Films<\/li>\n<li>Vampires<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Response to Peary\u2019s Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nPeary argues that while this &#8220;horror classic was once considered terrifying&#8221;, it&#8217;s now &#8220;often appreciated solely for its camp value&#8221; by movie fans who &#8220;regard it with tremendous affection&#8221;. There&#8217;s some truth to the latter part of this statement (<em>Dracula<\/em> <u>is<\/u> beloved by most horror fans simply for its pivotal role in cinematic history), but I&#8217;m not sure I agree that its &#8220;camp value&#8221; remains its primary allure &#8212; though there&#8217;s certainly some fun to be had in Dwight Frye&#8217;s loopily over-the-top performance as the bug-eating Renfield. Also arguably of camp value is Lugosi&#8217;s oft-imitated central performance as Dracula &#8212; though Peary generously argues that Browning&#8217;s &#8220;close-ups of Lugosi&#8217;s heavily rouged face and those wide, aggressive eyes are genuinely frightening&#8221;, and posits that while &#8220;Lugosi is no great actor&#8230; he is a great Dracula&#8221;. Peary accurately points out that director &#8220;Tod Browning&#8217;s direction is too stagey&#8221; &#8212; perhaps in part because the screenplay was based on <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Dracula_%281924_play%29\">a theatrical adaptation<\/a> rather than <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Dracula\">Bram Stoker&#8217;s original novel<\/a> &#8212; but notes that &#8220;cinematographer Karl Freund&#8221; (who purportedly directed numerous scenes) &#8220;manages to give [the] film some haunting atmosphere, particularly in the [early] Transylvania scenes&#8221; (which remain the most chilling moments in the movie). While undeniably creaky at times (it feels longer than its 75 minutes), this one is ultimately too historically important for film fanatics to miss. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Bela Lugosi&#8217;s highly influential performance as Dracula<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Dracula-Lugosi.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Dracula-Lugosi-1024x599.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"374\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-18727\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Dracula-Lugosi-1024x599.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Dracula-Lugosi-128x74.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Dracula-Lugosi-300x175.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Dracula-Lugosi.png 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Dwight Frye&#8217;s campily mad portrayal as Renfield<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Dracula-Renfield.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Dracula-Renfield-1024x599.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"374\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-18728\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Dracula-Renfield-1024x599.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Dracula-Renfield-128x74.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Dracula-Renfield-300x175.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Dracula-Renfield.png 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Magnificently baroque sets<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Dracula-Sets2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Dracula-Sets2-1024x599.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"374\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-18729\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Dracula-Sets2-1024x599.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Dracula-Sets2-128x74.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Dracula-Sets2-300x175.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Dracula-Sets2.png 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Dracula-Brides.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Dracula-Brides-1024x599.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"374\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-18731\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Dracula-Brides-1024x599.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Dracula-Brides-128x74.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Dracula-Brides-300x175.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Dracula-Brides.png 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Karl Freund&#8217;s atmospheric cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Dracula-Cinematography.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Dracula-Cinematography-1024x599.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"374\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-18730\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Dracula-Cinematography-1024x599.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Dracula-Cinematography-128x74.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Dracula-Cinematography-300x175.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Dracula-Cinematography.png 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Dracula-Imagery2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Dracula-Imagery2-1024x599.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"374\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-18732\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Dracula-Imagery2-1024x599.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Dracula-Imagery2-128x74.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Dracula-Imagery2-300x175.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Dracula-Imagery2.png 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nYes, as a flawed but historically relevant classic of horror cinema.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Genuine Classic<\/li>\n<li>Historically Relevant<\/li>\n<li>Noteworthy Performance(s)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p> (<span style=\"color:red;font-weight:bold;\">Listed in <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-static\/1001Movies.htm\"><em>1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die<\/em><\/a><\/span>) <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0021814\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1931\/02\/13\/archives\/the-screen-bram-stokers-human-vampire.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/php_review_template.php?identifier=145\">James Berardinelli&#8217;s Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.filmsite.org\/drac.html\">FilmSite Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/classic-horror.com\/reviews\/dracula_1931\">Classic Horror Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/moria.co.nz\/horror\/dracula1931.htm\">Moria Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/dvdsavant\/s2104drac.html\">DVD Savant Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/reviews\/great-movie-dracula-1931\">Roger Ebert&#8217;s Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/73563\/dracula#articles-reviews?articleId=33868\">TCM Article<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/7qf_PCbc8eQ\">Tired Old Queen at the Movies Video Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Listen to them: children of the night. What music they make!&#8221; Synopsis: A lawyer (Dwight Frye) travels to Transylvania to meet with the vampire Count Dracula (Bela Lugosi), who promptly bites him, then moves to England to pursue other victims; but with Van Helsing (Edward Van Sloan) on his trail, Dracula&#8217;s days are numbered. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Bela Lugosi Films Horror Tod Browning Films Vampires Response to Peary\u2019s Review: Peary argues that while this &#8220;horror classic was once&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=18724\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18724","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-responses-to-peary"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18724","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=18724"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18724\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":59364,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18724\/revisions\/59364"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=18724"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=18724"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=18724"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}