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Friday, September 17, 2021

Girls, Join Us Tomorrow Night, As Svengoolie Presents One Of Cinema's Masterworks, The 1931 "Dracula!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"


                                                 This film, with  "Frankenstein" released in succession,  not  only  put Universal on  the  path  to being the horror studio,  it also put Lugosi and vampirism on the map.



                                                     There is so  much to enjoy in this film.  The Victorian look of the cinematography gives the film its  period feel.  Lugosi's performance is signature, but not to be overlooked are Dwight Frye, who almost steals  the show as Renfield, and Frances Dade as Lucy Westenra, dressed and mannered like  a Twenties flapper,  yet her performance works, anyway.  And how about that brief scene where  she is  victimizing children, as "the Bloofer lady?"    That  is the  most  disturbing scene  in  the film,  and Universal was lucky to get that by the censors.   Maybe they would have included the scene of  the distraught peasant woman,  banging on the door, screaming, "Monster, give me my child!"  That  would have been great.  But I think, censorship wise,  it might have  been too much for the time.



                                                         So,  darlings, when watching "Dracula" tomorrow night,  and  I hope you do, cherish these moments, which are now iconic screen moments and images.



                                                          Not to mention,  the film  is  now 90 years  old!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



                                                           See you tomorrow, dolls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2 comments:

Victoria said...

What would be the modern day equivalent to these films?
Not the “Twilight Saga”, that’s for sure!

The Raving Queen said...

Victoria,

Definitely not "Twilight."
I am not sure there is an equivalent today.
Horror has gone by the wayside. Yes, there
are the 'Conjuring' and 'Annabelle' fillms,
but, really now, will they stand the test of
time?