Dracula/Frankenstein/the Mummy [VHS]

Director Browning was no stranger to the macabre. He was reasonably successful in directing the famous Lon Chaney in several silent movies. This movie is slightly different to Stoker’s brilliant novel. Renfield (Dwight Frye) is sent to Transylvania on a secret business trip. He is to rent an abbey to the infamous count. The count quickly puts Renfield under his powers. The count and Renfield travel to England aboard in the doomed ship- Vesta, and thus Dracula begins his reign of evil in England. Todd Browning took on quite a challenge. Transforming Bram Stokers magnificent prose into a movie is no easy task. Stoker’s book is a complex endeavour that is seen through the eyes of many characters. Those who has read the novel knows that Renfield did not travel to Transylvania. Rather it was Jonathan Harker who did so.

Browning only had about seventy-five minutes to bring more than 400 pages to the screen. Many changes in the story had to be made. Thankfully Todd Browning was willing to take the risk. If he had not, would the name of Dracula be so recognised even today? I have read other reviews of this movie that are quite critical of Browning’s directing. Several people have said that the movie loses its focus after Dracula arrives in London, but I don’t really agree. Even though the opening scenes in Castle Dracula are superb, I do not believe that those scenes were very difficult for Browning to film. Browning used Lugosi’s performance and the sets to make those early scenes the classics that they are.

In London, Browning really had to work to keep the movie moving along. The atmosphere is slightly different. Count Dracula is out of his environment. He left the security of his dark and sinister castle for a new land. Browning had to balance the performance of Lugosi with the other characters. If he were unable to do this, Dracula would have completely overshadowed the other actors, or Dracula's role would have become lost in a maze of supporting cast members.

There are some major differences between the novel and the movie. Naturally, it has to be this way. However, the script is a very workable one. The dialogue clearly explains what vampires are and the powers they possess. Seventy years ago this was very important. Even today it helps make this movie worth watching. Lugosi's portrayal of Dracula is one of my all-time favourites. Like Karloff in Frankenstein, Lugosi is one of the keys to the movies success and importance. His voice and movements bring the count to life, making him seem mysterious and eerie. Lugosi’s Dracula becomes a fascinating creature that you want to watch, again and again. Edward Van Sloan also provides a stellar piece of acting. He portrays Van Helsing-Dracula's nemesis. Van Sloan is well cast in this role. He does an excellent job of offsetting Dracula’s powers and strength.

The DVD version is restored. It includes the option of listening to a new score by Philip Glass. I like the original production without a sound track. The new music fits the movie. Yet, I feel that adding music to the influential movie took something away. This DVD also includes the Spanish version of Dracula. It was filmed at the same time as English-speaking version. The same sets were used. French or English subtitles can be chosen. It was interesting to watch. I found the English version more to my liking. In the Spanish version, Dracula (Carlos Villar) is not as diabolical as Lugosi's portrayal. Carlos Villar does not give the count a look as menacing as Lugosi does. The facial expressions do not work. Villar almost seems like a spoof of Dracula, not a serious version. His movements seemed forced and not natural.

At times his attempts to grin sinisterly fail completely. Lugosi's acting performance is far superior. Todd Browning also does a better directing job then George Melford. The camera work in the Spanish version is a little different. The cameras move more. The film seems a little more fluid. Technically speaking, this version has a little higher quality. The documentary "Road to Dracula" explains why this was so. The Spanish version was filmed on the same sets as the English version. The English version was filmed during the day. The Spanish crew filmed at night. The Spanish crew watched what was filmed during the day and decided to improve on it. The biggest plus I found in the Spanish version is Lupita Tovar. She plays the role of Eva. Helen Chandler plays the same role, but as the character of Mina in the English version. Tovar’s portrayal of Eva is much closer to the novels characterisation of Mina. The movie might be a bit tame compared to the horror movies of the 21st century but the new horror movies cannot create the same air of mystery, elegance and classic eeriness of this movie, and so making it a movie worth watching if you are a vampire fan.

Frankenstein is the story of the man who made the monster. This man is Colin Clive whoes cries of "It's alive!" tell of how a man can be obsessed with creating life. This turns out not to be the brain of the man he wished and his creation is a monster. The pathetic quality in Karloffs eyes as he plays this creature is never truely equaled in remakes. James Whale uses the Rupert Julian trick from Phantom of the Opera to increase the shock when Karloff first appears.

The mummy which has recently been remade remains a classic tale of love surviving death. Karloff a real star and actor plays the egyptian priest buried alive for trying to bring back his lost princess. in doing this he kidnapps her reincarnation and sends his finder mad.