I can't help but crack up when the show Lugosi grimacing as though he is on the toilet extremely constipated. Plus he looks a little wonk-eyed as well. Some of his acting in this film just doesn't sit well with me. I won't go as far as to say it is terrible but I do not find it intriguing.
In my opinion, Lugosi made this movie. He gave a truly memorable performance that stands out in comparison to the rest of the film, which seems hokey and dated. He was creepy and charming at the same time, the perfect Dracula. Edward Van Sloan and Dwight Frye were great as well.
Horror_Metal
Frye was excellent as Renfield. Van Sloan was alright although he seemed a little stiff (literally) at times.
I don't know what it is about this movie that I have seen it about a dozen times but on examination it really is a badly made film. No score, the plot is clunky, the dialogue is a bit cheesy, and it all seems like it should be on a stage rather than a movie set. It was made close to the dawn of modern film making so certain allowances must be made. But you can really see in how the quality of film making improved just ten years later in another horror film Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1941)http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0033553/?ref_=nv_sr_2 where the special effects and over all quality of the film is much better.
My Vote history: http://www.imdb.com/user/ur1914996/ratings
I used to think that grimace was a bit silly looking as well until I recently saw Dracula in a theater. When you see it on the big screen, the shot is much more effective because it looks like Dracula, who has been a fairly muted character up to that point, is coming right at you, almost to eat you.
What was wonderful about seeing that movie with an audience was that for the first ten minutes or so they would titter and even laugh a little bit, but by the end the film had really drawn them in. I just love Dracula.
I still say though Al Lewis played the best Count Dracula
shareThe grimace Lugosi does as Dracula is one of the most creepy, frightening things in the movie.
share