Dracula (1931)
I have recently taken on the octobermovie challenge to watch a different horror movie every day in October. This is the first movie of the month. I will be cross posting my thoughts here.
Dracula (1931) d. Tod Browning
Starring Bela Lugosi, Dwight Frye, David Manners, Helen Chandler
This is the classic that came to define the vampire myth for decades to come. It is a marvelously atmospheric film, but it is strange experience for the modern viewer. It's hard to imagine the experience of the 1931 audience. Today, even people who have no interest in seeing the film are familiar with the myth and the visual style associated with it. This familiarity takes much of the surprise out of the film for a modern viewer. It is an unusual film, shot in a manner reminiscent of silent films but with so many wonderful quotable lines. The lack of an underlying musical score is unsettling.
The film is short, only 75 minutes, but it seems longer. Most of the best and most memorable moments are in the first half. The characters of Dr. Seward, Mina, Harker and Van Helsing are boring in contrast with the performances of Dwight Frye as Renfield and Bela Lugosi as the Count. Those two characters make the film.
I had not watched this in many years. I was struck by the fact that I was still engrossed in the story in spite of the familiarity. Lugosi dominates every scene in which he appears, as does Frye in his scenes. The other characters are dull. David Manners, in particular is grating as Harker. I've enjoyed his performances in other films, but I really found him almost dislikable here. The female characters, Mina and Lucy, are unmemorable. Overall, I enjoyed revisiting this classic and revelling in the beginnings of a cultural phenomenon.
Dracula (1931) d. Tod Browning
Starring Bela Lugosi, Dwight Frye, David Manners, Helen Chandler
This is the classic that came to define the vampire myth for decades to come. It is a marvelously atmospheric film, but it is strange experience for the modern viewer. It's hard to imagine the experience of the 1931 audience. Today, even people who have no interest in seeing the film are familiar with the myth and the visual style associated with it. This familiarity takes much of the surprise out of the film for a modern viewer. It is an unusual film, shot in a manner reminiscent of silent films but with so many wonderful quotable lines. The lack of an underlying musical score is unsettling.
The film is short, only 75 minutes, but it seems longer. Most of the best and most memorable moments are in the first half. The characters of Dr. Seward, Mina, Harker and Van Helsing are boring in contrast with the performances of Dwight Frye as Renfield and Bela Lugosi as the Count. Those two characters make the film.
I had not watched this in many years. I was struck by the fact that I was still engrossed in the story in spite of the familiarity. Lugosi dominates every scene in which he appears, as does Frye in his scenes. The other characters are dull. David Manners, in particular is grating as Harker. I've enjoyed his performances in other films, but I really found him almost dislikable here. The female characters, Mina and Lucy, are unmemorable. Overall, I enjoyed revisiting this classic and revelling in the beginnings of a cultural phenomenon.