Day 2: Dracula (1931)

Day Two: Dracula (1931)

A Month of Horror

I have always wanted to do a marathon of "HORROR" throughout the month of October, one where I would revisit a new horror movie every day from the first to the thirty-first.  I will revisit the classics as well as new entries into the canon.  There are many movies that define this time of year, and I hope to showcase 31 of them this month...

October 2:  Dracula (1931)

For day two, I decided to did through the vaults and go all the way back to one of the true originals.  Tod Browning's "Dracula" practically defines horror iconography, from the rich Gothic sets, to the brilliantly defining work of Bela Lugosi as the eerie and commanding Count Dracula.

This film, and James Whale's "Frankenstein" from the same year became the foundation of Universal Picture's classic monsters, a roster that would grow to include "The Wolfman", "The Mummy", "The Creature From The Black Lagoon", "The Phantom of The Opera", "The Invisible Man", and a whole slew of sequels over the year's (as well as the inevitable remakes and re imaginings in more recent years).

The original "Dracula" is a product of its times, but the Gothic imagery and timeless nature of Bram Stoker's original tale have cemented it as a timeless classic, one that has been spoofed, parodied, and imitated to unprecedented levels over the years.

While not the original telling of the story (that honour belongs to F.W. Munau's equally ambient and effective "Nosferatu" from 1922), Browning's version remains one of the most popular horror films of all-time.

When people think of "Dracula", the image that comes to mind is always one of Bela Lugosi's widow's peak and piercing gaze peering out from behind his cape; and his necklace.  Even the voice is intrinsically linked to that portrayal:  "I vant to suck your blood."

The Universal Classics defined what horror would mean to generations of "horror" lovers, and they did so in a way that defined the genre.  It is always good to revisit the classics...

Tomorrow, we will take focus on at the moon.  It will be a howl!