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From Amazon.co.uk
When Universal Pictures picked up the movie rights to a Broadway adaptation of Dracula, they felt secure in handing the property over to the sinister team of actor Lon Chaney and director Tod Browning. But Chaney died of cancer, and Universal hired the Hungarian who had scored a success in the stage play: Béla Lugosi. The resulting film launched both Lugosi's baroque career and the horror-movie cycle of the 1930s. It gets off to an atmospheric start, as we meet Count Dracula in his shadowy castle in Transylvania, superbly captured by the great cinematographer Karl Freund. Eventually Dracula and his blood-sucking devotee (Dwight Frye, in one of the cinema's truly mad performances) meet their match in a vampire-hunter called Van Helsing (Edward Van Sloan). If the later sections of the film are undeniably stage bound and a tad creaky, Dracula nevertheless casts a spell, thanks to Lugosi's creepily lugubrious manner and the eerie silences of Browning's directing style. (After a mood-enhancing snippet of Swan Lake under the opening titles, there is no music in the film.) Frankenstein, which was released a few months later, confirmed the horror craze, and Universal has been making money (and countless spin-off projects) from its twin titans of terror ever since. Certainly the role left a lasting impression on the increasingly addled and drug-addicted Lugosi, who was never quite able to distance himself from the part that made him a star. He was buried, at his request, in his black vampire cape. --Robert Horton
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
30 of 31 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:DVD
If you're a fan of Dracula, and particularly this 1931 version, then you should definitely seek this out. Restoration has produced an excellent print with no visible signs of damage. The sound, while never going to be DTS, is perfectly fine.
Extras -
The DVD shows of its true strength as a format with the extras Universal have provided. First, there's an entertaining 45 minute 'making of' documentary, which provides a fascinating insight into the movie's conception and production. There's also a commentary track by film historian David J. Skal, and though while scripted, tells us more than enough about the action on screen. There's the trailer and some production photographs, and last there's the opportunity to have a new orchestral score played with the film as you watch (the original features no music, except the opera scene).
Why not 5 stars?
The Region One version features the complete Spanish version of the movie, shot at the exact same time on the same sets (and reportedly superior) and is referred to frequently throughout the documentary and commentary. Why Universal, after taking so much care over this Region Two verson couldn't have provided us with this further look into Dracula's history is a shame.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray|Amazon Verified Purchase
First and foremost this is my favourite movie of all time and has been from the age of 6.. im only 20 years old but nonetheless the universal monster movies have captured my heart from the word go... but none moreso than this timeless classic... it would have to be bela lugosi's definitve portrayal of dracula that i can account to me being enchanted by the film... so i was VERY excited when the news broke that they where finally restoring these gems for blu ray but a bit wary as to what the quality of them would be (i need not have worried) the transfer is stunning on this (and the rest available) and the film looks as though it was made yesterday... we can finally appreciate this film as it was fully intended to be seen and heard by director tod browning.. the picture quality has to be seen to be believed and the sound is phenomenal as well.. i couldnt have asked for a better release of this movie... also the spanish version is also included and has been restored in the same vain as the english and it too looks stunning... the special features are an amazing bonus with a documentary on the making of the movie and one on lugosi.. there is a commentary by horror historian david j skal and also a score that can be listened to which some people may prefer as the film has no music in it apart from the opening title..
all in all Buy this blu ray as you wont be dissapointed
take care
xx
all in all Buy this blu ray as you wont be dissapointed
take care
xx
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:VHS Tape
Lugosi is the epitome of urbane menace and Victorian repression-melting sensuality in this classic chiller. He exudes class and sophistication - his much imitated/never bettered accent is essential to this movie's success. An aristocratic old-world psychopath and blood-rapist segues charmingly into the brash, modern, technocratic and meritocratic USA (supposedly a fog-ridden London) of the thirties like some metaphysical terrorist. Dracula prefers the ladies, but his use of Renfield as a blood host and slave indicates a bisexuality that moves beyond the need to feed. He's not just a one-dimensional ham-villain - listen the wistfulness with which he delivers 'to die, to be truly dead, that must be glorious' - a Shakespearian consummation devoutly to be wished. He's victim of an existential nightmare, elegantly clad in evening attire, trapped by darkness, superstitious villagers and his compulsion for blood, a parable of narcotics addiction to which, ironically, Lugosi succumbed towards the end of his life. Surrounded by three sepulchre-clad blood courtesans (who outlive him), his origins are never explained beyond the 'evil of the vampire' rhetoric preached by right-on man of science Van Helsing, who wields his crucifix like an AK 47.
The castle is beautifully done - watch Lugosi glide through automatically opening doors as we wonder what lies beyond. His dramatic exchanges with Van Helsing (Van Sloan) are electric, even now. You hardly ever got this exchange between Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing, more's the pity. The sparing use of music helps immeasurably; the use of silence adds a nightmarish quality. Karl Freund's black and white photography is the height of Caligariesque unease.... Read more ›
The castle is beautifully done - watch Lugosi glide through automatically opening doors as we wonder what lies beyond. His dramatic exchanges with Van Helsing (Van Sloan) are electric, even now. You hardly ever got this exchange between Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing, more's the pity. The sparing use of music helps immeasurably; the use of silence adds a nightmarish quality. Karl Freund's black and white photography is the height of Caligariesque unease.... Read more ›
17 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
...namely the Spanish version of the film, included in the US release.
When this film was made in 1930, it was common practice for Hollywood studios to make alternative versions of their films for foreign markets - a Spanish language version of Dracula, with a different cast and crew, was filmed simutaneously, using the same sets and script but working at night with a different cast and crew.
The Spanish version was included in the US release of this disc but someone in their wisdom has decided not to include it in the region 2 release. For that reason this is a very frustrating DVD - especially since the US disc is now unavailable.
Moving away from that point of contention, this is a very good DVD of an historic film with a memorable star performance, which is still very creepy and atmospheric if you can overlook its primitive technical level and stagey production. The commentary adds immeasurably to the viewer's appreciation, and the alternative soundtrack with Philip Glass's new musical score gives an additional, haunting dimension to the film, complementing Lugosi's theatrical manner rather nicely, though purists might find it a little inappropriate or intrusive. Definitely a worthwhile addition though.
An essential addition for any collector of classic movies - but again, very, very disappointing and frustrating that the Spanish version isn't here - especially since the commentary repeatedly refers to it and presupposes that the viewer has it to hand. When are we ever going to stop getting inferior releases over here?
When this film was made in 1930, it was common practice for Hollywood studios to make alternative versions of their films for foreign markets - a Spanish language version of Dracula, with a different cast and crew, was filmed simutaneously, using the same sets and script but working at night with a different cast and crew.
The Spanish version was included in the US release of this disc but someone in their wisdom has decided not to include it in the region 2 release. For that reason this is a very frustrating DVD - especially since the US disc is now unavailable.
Moving away from that point of contention, this is a very good DVD of an historic film with a memorable star performance, which is still very creepy and atmospheric if you can overlook its primitive technical level and stagey production. The commentary adds immeasurably to the viewer's appreciation, and the alternative soundtrack with Philip Glass's new musical score gives an additional, haunting dimension to the film, complementing Lugosi's theatrical manner rather nicely, though purists might find it a little inappropriate or intrusive. Definitely a worthwhile addition though.
An essential addition for any collector of classic movies - but again, very, very disappointing and frustrating that the Spanish version isn't here - especially since the commentary repeatedly refers to it and presupposes that the viewer has it to hand. When are we ever going to stop getting inferior releases over here?
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4.3 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great Film Making
If you are into horror and never watched Dracula then be prepared to be impressed. After watching 'Dracula' after 'Nosferatu' you can really see how they kept to the horror classic... Read more
Published 17 days ago by Liam Hobbs
2.0 out of 5 stars
A second rate movie makes a good second date movie
A good choice for a make-out movie, since there's no value in paying any real attention to this impossibly hammy production of the early '30s. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Philoctetes
4.0 out of 5 stars
Prompt delivery
This DVD was ideal for my yr 9 English group looking at horror they didn't even mind that it was black and white
Published 2 months ago by oliver lee
3.0 out of 5 stars
If you like the genre, it is worth to have it
I am a Dracula fan, so I could not miss this. I do like the F.F. Coppola's one best, but this is okay.
Published 5 months ago by Conti Raffaella
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very good horror classic
This film is a landmark film. It was the first "talkie" horror film made by Universal, it was the first official Universal horror film of the 1930s and it was also the only time... Read more
Published 5 months ago by FJY
5.0 out of 5 stars
Dracula 1931, looking and sounding better then ever.
I`ve always loved the old Universal Horror movies, and this new re-masted blu ray looks and sound fantastic, much better the my old dvd copy. Read more
Published 5 months ago by andrew bloomfield
5.0 out of 5 stars
Dracula Blu Ray Review
This restoration is nothing short of phenomenal. The clarity of the image and audio quality are breathtaking. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Adrian Drew
5.0 out of 5 stars
Dracula
If you don't know of this story then get reading as it was one of the definitive horror monsters of the 1930's.
This is the 2 disk universal legacy series ntsc import..... Read more
This is the 2 disk universal legacy series ntsc import..... Read more
Published 8 months ago by sunam
4.0 out of 5 stars
A true classic
Made in 1931, this classic version of the Dracula story may be old but it is still a marvellous version of the classic story. Read more
Published 9 months ago by T. R. Alexander
2.0 out of 5 stars
Get the US release
There is nothing wrong per se with this DVD, but the US release contains the Spanish version, shot on the same sets as the English one but with different actors, which is a nice... Read more
Published 20 months ago by count orlok
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