| Dracula | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||
| Starring | Bela Lugosi David Manners Helen Chandler Dwight Frye Edward Van Sloan | |||
| Series | Universal Dracula Series | |||
| Series Order | 1 of 3 | |||
| Directed By | Tod Browning | |||
| Written By | Garrett Fort | |||
| Producers | Tod Browning Carl Laemmle Jr. | |||
| Release Date | February 12, 1931 (New York) February 14, 1931 (United States) | |||
Dracula is an American supernatural horror film directed and co-produced by Todd Browning, written by Garrett Ford and starring Bella Lugosi as Count Dracula. Released in 1931, it is based on Hamilton Deane and John L. Balderston's 1924 stage play Dracula, which in itself is an adaptation of Bram Stoker's novel Dracula. Lugosi portrays Count Dracula, a vampire who emigrates from Transylvania to England and preys upon the blood of living victims, including a young man's fiancée. Produced and distributed by Universal Pictures, Dracula is the first sound film adaptation of the Stoker novel. Dracula was a commercial and critical success upon release, and led to several sequels and spin-offs. It had a notable impact on popular culture, and Lugosi's portrayal of Dracula established the character as a cultural icon, and the archetypal vampire in later works of fiction.
Synopsis[]
Renfield is a solicitor traveling to Count Dracula's castle in Transylvania on a business matter. The local village people fear that vampires inhabit the castle and warn Renfield not to go there, but Renfield refuses to heed their warnings. Renfield is driven to the castle by Dracula's coach, with Dracula disguised as the driver. Renfield enters the castle and is greeted by the charming but eccentric Count, not knowing that the Count is in fact a vampire. They discussed Dracula's plans to rent Carfax Abbey in England, where he planned to travel the next day. Dracula hypnotizes Renfield to open a window. When a bat appeared, Renfield fainted and Dracula's three women approached him. Dracula waved them away, then attacked Renfield himself. On the schooner Vesta, Renfield becomes Dracula's raving mad slave, hiding in a coffin and feeding on the ship's crew. When the ship reached England, it was found that Renfield was the only one alive. Renfield is sent to Dr. Seward's sanatorium adjoining Carfax Abbey.
Dracula meets Dr. Seward at a London theatre. Seward introduces him to his daughter Mina, her fiancé John Harker, and a family friend, Lucy Weston. Lucy is fascinated by Count Dracula. That night, Dracula enters her room and feasts on her blood while she sleeps. Lucy dies the next day after a string of blood transfusions. In the sanatorium, Professor Van Helsing analyzes Renfield's blood and discovers his obsession with eating flies and spiders. Renfield begs Seward to send him away, claiming his nightly cries could disturb Mina's dreams. When Dracula summons Renfield through the medium of a wolf howling, Renfield is disturbed by Van Helsing showing him wolfsbane, which is used for protection from vampires.
While Mina slept in her bedroom, Dracula enters her room and bites her. The next evening, Dracula enters for a visit, and Van Helsing and Harker notice that he does not have a mirror reflection. When Van Helsing reveals this to Dracula, he smashes the mirror and leaves. Van Helsing deduces that Dracula is the vampire that is behind the latest tragedies. Mina leaves her room and runs to Dracula in the garden, who assaults her. Newspapers report that a women in white is luring kids from the park and biting them. Mina acknowledges the woman as Lucy, risen as a vampire. Harker desires to take Mina to London for protection, but is convinced to to leave Mina with Van Helsing. Van Helsing orders Nurse Briggs to take care of Mina when she sleeps and not to remove the wreath of wolfsbane from her neck.
Renfield escapes his cell and listens to the men discussing about vampires. Before his attendant returns Renfield to his cell, he tells them how Dracula persuaded him to let him inside the sanatorium by promising him thousands of rats full of blood and life. Dracula walks into the Seward parlor and speaks with Van Helsing. Dracula declares that Mina is now his and advises Van Helsing to return to his homeland. Van Helsing promises to excavate Carfax Abbey and exterminate Dracula. Dracula tries to hypnotize Van Helsing, but the latter's willpower is too strong. Dracula charges at Van Helsing, but Van Helsing takes a crucifix from his cloak, causing Dracula to flee.
Harker visits Mina on a terrace, and she speaks of how much she loves "nights and fogs". A bat flies above them and squeaks to Mina. She then attacks Harker, but Van Helsing and Seward save him. Mina confesses what Dracula has done to her and tells Harker their love is finished. Dracula hypnotizes Briggs into removing Mina's wolfsbane from her neck and unlocking the windows. Van Helsing and Harker notice Renfield on his way to Carfax Abbey. When they arrive, they see Dracula with Mina. When Harker calls out to Mina, Dracula suspects Renfield of betraying him by guiding them there and murders him. Dracula is pursued by Van Helsing and Harker, who are aware that Dracula needs to sleep in his coffin during the day, as the sun is rising. While Harker looks for Mina, Van Helsing prepares a wooden stake. Van Helsing kills Dracula by impaling him through the heart, and Mina returns to normal.