Dracula movie review

Dracula is a classic horror movie released by Universal Pictures in 1931 starring Bella Lugosi, Dwight Frye, and Helen Chandler, and directed by Tod Browning. The movie is based off of the 1924 play, which also starred Bela Lugosi as Dracula, which was based off of the 1897 novel by Bram Stoker. Let me just say right now that this is one of my favourite movies of all-time, and the movie that I am the most likely to re-watch, and to quote from. The film starts off with Renfield (Dwight Frye) riding in a coach deep in the Carpathian Mountains of Transylvania, through the Borgo Pass, on his way to meet Dracula at his castle. The purpose for his mission is to close on a real estate deal making Count Dracula the new owner of Carfax Abby in England. After some of the most memorable lines in movie history, for example "The Children of the night, what music they make", and "I never drink...wine" (which were along with other memorable dialog used in the Francis Ford Coppola version Bram Stoker's Dracula, which we shall be discussing in the future). Dracula insists that Renfield stay at his castle. Then after an encounter with the brides of Dracula, we see Dracula stoop over Renfield's body, as we can assume that he turns him into a vampire. So the ship carrying Dracula to England goes through a big storm and mysteriously the entire crew dies, and the only person alive is a deranged Renfield who seems to have gone stark raving mad. Now we meet the other main characters of the story, with the breathtakingly beautiful Mina, her best friend Lucy, Mina's father who also runs the local sanitarium where he lives with Mina and all of the inmates, and Johnathan Harker (Mina's fiance). Dracula meets them at a theater and introduces himself, as Carfax Abby neighbors Dr Seward's Sanitarium. Lucy falls for the charming count Dracula, and soon later becomes a vampire herself feeding on children. Then Mina falls prey to Dracula, and at this point is where we meet Dr Vanhelsing, who is brought in to help save Mina, all the wile you have the deranged Renfield running around, eating flies and spiders, constantly breaking out of his room, and talking crazy talk (by the way he is the one who invited Dracula into the Sanitarium, because as we all know a Vampire cannot enter a dwelling without being invited). The movie at this point becomes a race to save Mina from Dracula's spell over her, can they do it, or will she become his bride to live on for eternity? First off this movie starts with a beautiful piece of music that plays over the credits, then when the movie kicks in, there is no soundtrack that plays during the movie, which ends up giving it this creepy eeriness that works really well for setting the tone of the film. The sets are absolutely beautifully done, i love the masterfully painted back drops, which I always thought was a beautiful thing that many old movies did in the early days. The movie being black and white, has this magic to it that is missing from modern horror movies, the horror that is created is done through actual story telling, dialogue, and scenes that suggest something horrible is taking place, which is beautiful, and crates this beautiful tone and feel that I feel is missing from modern horror movies. The characters are all wonderfully cast, Bela Lugosi playing the hypnotic and seductive Count Dracula, he is the Dracula that most other versions of Dracula are based off of, he is the Dracula that most people think of when they think of Dracula, he is iconic in this role, and one of the most recognizable characters in movie history. Helen Chandler as Mina Seward is breathtakingly beautiful, she is also a spirited character, and she plays the role so perfectly. The dialogue of this movie is almost as memorable as Lugosi's portrayal of Dracula. Just really everything about his movie is nearly perfect. One thing that takes many modern movie viewers by shock when they watch these old movies, is the abrupt ending that they have, and Dracula is no exception to this, as it ends very abruptly, also many of these classic movies cut straight to the point and are usually 90 minutes or shorter, many clocking in closer to 60 minutes. Sadly some of the special effects, for example the bat that Dracula turns into is quite obviously a rubber bat dangled from what is very likely a fishing pole off screen, but honestly cheesy effects like that don't ruin a movie for me, but instead I appreciate them, and they create a sort of charming quality. Dracula was also one of the first "talkie" horror movies, and came at the very tale end of the silent era, when movies were just starting to be made with sound, which is part of why there is so much silence in the film. I really can't say anything truly negative about this movie as I said it is one of my favourite movies ever.

It also should be mentioned that when Tod Browning was casting for Dracula, he had no interest in casting Bela Lugosi, even though Lugosi had been successfully playing Dracula on stage for years, and was adored by the audience. However in time Lugosi won him over, party if it could be due to the fact that he offered to take the role for a very meager pay, compared to other actors who considered the part. Sadly we would not see Lugosi return in the sequels of Dracula, until 1948 when he donned the cape once more for the film Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein). Would I recommend this movie? Yes, matter of fact it is the movie that I recommend nearly every time I am talking to people a bout movies. This is an iconic classic, and one of the greatest horror movies of all time. I really do think everyone should see this important part of film history. So pop up some popcorn my friends, and snuggle with the person you love and enjoy this dark beautiful piece of history.