BBC TV recently started its double bill horror season with "Dracula" and "Frankenstein", followed the next week by "Bride Of Frankenstein". All three of these are available in abridged form from Universal 8. Good as they are its a great pity they did not release these excellent films complete instead of the features that they chose to release such as "SCARFACE" "HELLS ANGELS" etc. These films did not sell well, which is typical of most of the films that some distributors chose to release. However, the abridged version of these films are well worth having, and if you cannot get them from Derann Films, then Red Fox USA should be able to supply. In this issue we are reviewing just one of these three films.

DRACULA.

1931 - d. Tod Browning.
l.p. Bela Lugosi, Dwight Frye.

The film opens on Dracula's castle, the camera pans through the crypt to a coffin. The lid rises and a hand slowly appears through a crack. Other coffins open as Dracula's wives awaken from their rest. Dracula too, risen from his coffin, stands.

In the early part, this film is sparse in dialogue and rich in visuals, giving an atmosphere of gloom to the scenes. Rats scuttle about the coffins, bats fly at the windows, and a wolf howls in the night. Cobwebs fill the castle, years of decay have left the drapes hanging in tatters around cracked and crumbling stonework.

A visitor, Renfield, stumbling over the rubble turns to find Dracula on the stairs, "I am Dracula... I bid you welcome". He then shows Renfield to his room, and whilst looking through his papers to enable the count to buy property in England, Renfield cuts his finger. Dracula is drawn by the blood, but a crucifix falls from Renfields neck repelling the vampire.

He offers drugged wine to his guest who collapse onto the floor. Dracula's wives move in for the kill but Dracula sends them away meaning Renfield for himself. Bitten by the vampire he will become his slave, guarding his masters coffin aboard the "Vesta", bound for England.

The crew all dead the ship arrives at Grimsby the captain tied to the wheel. Dracula walks the streets of England and Lucy Harker falls prey to him. Taking the form of a bat he enters her room through an open window. Professor Van Helsing finds the marks on her neck, but Lucy is already under Dracula's power and she goes with him to Carfax Abbey. Van Helsing and Harker follow.

Dracula forced to his coffin at daybreak is easy prey, and Helsing drives a stake through the counts heart. Lugosi gives a none too convincing groan as Lucy is released from the vampires spell.

Wonderfully atmospheric. Though there is rather a lot of crackling on the track this only adds to the feel of the film. Lugosi plays the part most convincingly making this one of the all time classics not to be missed.

Excellent print and sound.

This page was last updated 02 Dec 2002

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