History of Dracula

The history of Dracula is very rich and began with Bram Stoker's 1897 novel. The world has always had a certain fascination for Count Dracula, the most notorious vampire. Dracula's fame, however, was really heightened through his portrayal in classic films. These films were adapted from the stage production which came to the United States in 1927. Although there have been many film versions of Dracula, the 1931 Universal Studios production and the 1958 Hammer Film production both hold significant places in history.

In 1931, Universal Studios produced the first Dracula film with director Tod Browning. Inspired by the American stage production, Dracula donned a black and red satin cape. This particular costume choice encouraged a specific persona that then became common in the history of Dracula. Dracula was portrayed by Bela Lugosi who was originally born in Hungary. At the time of the film, Lugosi was already well-known for playing the part of Dracula in the stage production. Because English was not Lugosi's native language, his dialect offered an exotic and interesting element to the vampire's character. Consequently, many actors who played the role after Lugosi tried to imitate his delivery because they believed it truly captured Dracula's essence.

In 1958, the history of Dracula continued with the British film by Hammer Film Productions. Hammer was already established in the horror genre, and this production helped create a market for future vampire films. The film was directed by Terence Fisher, and the title role of Dracula was played by Christopher Lee. This updated version was still inspired by the original stage production, but it varied from the original Dracula film. In order to avoid confusion regarding the 1931 Universal Studios film, the American release was entitled The Horror of Dracula.

Both films helped to solidify Dracula as a cultural icon. They also encouraged a passion and market  for other horror films. The history of Dracula in film is similar to the history of the werewolf in film. It seems as if the public is captivated by studio portrayals of tortured men forced to live a nocturnal life of deception, and that trend hasn't seemed to go away. In fact, check the ClassicMoviesAndRadio blog on a regular basis to learn more about Hollywood history.