ALIGN="LEFT" BORDER="0">Dracula, Universal
1931
Tod Brownings'
eerie version of the Stoker classic succumbs to the ravages of
time when see today, but still manages to conjure up tombsfull
of thrills and an overall atmosphere of unease. When young real
estate agent Renfield arrives in Transylvania at dusk one evening,
seeking the Castle Dracula, he is shunned by the local villagers.
A carriage arrives from the Castle driven by a ghoulish driver
and Renfield completes the final portion of his journey. That
night, he walks into the strange abode of the Ciunt and after
a few moments of exploration, is confronted by Dracula and three
of vampire's undead concubines. The Count seems overhospitable
until Renfield cuts his finger. The vampire's bloodlust is revealed
and, soon, Renfield is a slave of the unholy nobleman.
Returning to
england, Renfield is kept in an institution for the insane. Dracula
follows his lackey to England via ship, killing the entire crew
during the voyage. Setting up headquarters in a deserted abbey,
Dracula sets his bloodshot sights on Lucy (Helen Chandler) and
soon has her in his power. Lucy's beau (David Manners) begins
to smell a rat in the guise of a Count and confers with good
friend Dr. van Helsing (Edward van Sloan). Van Helsing begins
to probe the supposedly insane Renfield for the truth about the
Count. The bug-eating Renfield meets with a nasty fate but, by
that time, van Helsing suspects the identity of Dracula. Confronting
the Count during a neighborly visit, van Hlesing springs open
a silver jewelry box with a mirror inside. The vampier recoils
- he casts no reflection! Lurching for the elderly doctor's throat,
Dracula is repelled when van Helsing removes a small crucifix
from his coat pocket.
With the villain
and the hero both aware of each other's presence, the pace quickens.
Lucy is spirited away by the undead Transylvanian, put in a hypnotic
trance, while van Helsing and Lucy's betrothed engage in hot
pursuit. Returning to his coffin before sunrise, Dracula is found
in a state of repose by the two men and is killed by van Helsing
by a stake through the heart. Lucy swoons, freed from her prison
of evil.
Scripted by Garret
ford from the play by Hamilton Deane and John Balderston.
Text
is copyrighted 1975 to Ed Naha from his fabulous book "Horrors
from Screen to Scream"
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