by Casey Mensing

Created on: June 24, 2010

In 1931 Universal Studios released Dracula, which was based on the stage play by Hamilton Deane and John L. Balderston. The Horace Liveright production was based on the novel Dracula by Bram Stoker. The Broadway production was successful, running 261 performances before touring. The star of the stage production and subsequently the film version was Béla Lugosi, playing the role he would forever be identified with, Dracula.

The film was part of a series of successful horror films that Universal would release from 1923 to 1960. The director of Dracula was Tod Browning (Freaks, The Unknown), who was most famous for his silent film collaborations with the legendary Lon Chaney Sr.

Dracula begins with Renfield (Dwight Frye), traveling through the Carpathian Mountains via stagecoach. His fellow travels are afraid that the coach won’t arrive at the local inn before sundown. When they do arrive, Renfield refuses to stay at the inn and asks the driver to take him to the Borgo Pass, so he can make his way to Castle Dracula. The innkeeper and his wife warn him about vampires and give him a crucifix for protection before he leaves for Borgo Pass. At Borgo Pass, Renfield is met by Dracula's couch which will transport him to the castle. During the ride, there is a unintentionally comedic moment when Renfield leans out of the coach and sees that the stagecoach is being driven by a giant bat, which looks terribly fake, and probably even looked silly by 1931 standards.

One of the most visualizing interesting moments of the film comes when Renfield arrives at Castle Dracula. Browning pays tribute to the German Expressionists with a gorgeous and creepy shot of the castle. Renfield then meets Dracula for the first time. Bela Lugosi is sublime as the Count. Eerie, suave, and haunting from the moment he comes on the screen for the first time. Renfield and Dracula then discuss the Counts desire to buy Carfax Abbey before a tired Renfield heads to bed. Dracula then leaves and Renfield goes to his bedroom. Dracula hypnotizes Renfield into opening a window and then causes him to faint. A bat is seen at the window, which then morphs into Dracula. Dracula's three wives suddenly appear and start to move toward Renfield to attack him, but Dracula waves them away, and he attacks Renfield himself.

When the story picks up, Renfield is now a madman aboard the schooner, Vesta, on his way back to England. Also on board the ship is Dracula, who takes the opportunity to feast upon the

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