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Dracula (Universal Studios Classic Monster Collection) (1931)

Bela Lugosi , David Manners , Tod Browning  |  Unrated |  DVD
4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (272 customer reviews)

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Product Details

  • Actors: Bela Lugosi, David Manners, Edward Van Sloan, Helen Chandler, Dwight Frye
  • Directors: Tod Browning
  • Writers: Garrett Fort
  • Producers: Tod Browning, Jr. Carl Laemmle
  • Format: Black & White, Closed-captioned, Dolby, NTSC
  • Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono)
  • Subtitles: English, French
  • Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Rated: Unrated
  • Studio: Universal Studios
  • DVD Release Date: December 21, 1999
  • Run Time: 179 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (272 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B000035Z3K
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #29,672 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
  • Learn more about "Dracula (Universal Studios Classic Monster Collection)" on IMDb

Special Features

  • Includes the complete Spanish version, shot simultaneously on the same sets by by Paul Kohner, starring Carlos Villarias and Lupita Tovar
  • Documentary: The Road To Dracula an original documentary by David J. Skal
  • Poster and Photo Montage
  • Universal Web Link

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

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

Product Description

Dracula (The Restored Version) Although there have been numerous screen versions of Bram Stoker's classic tale, none is more enduring than the 1931 original. The ominous portrayal of Count Dracula by Bela Lugosi, combined with horror specialist director Tod Browning, help to create the film's eerie mood. Dracula remains a masterpiece not only of the genre, but for all time. Dracula (Featuring New Music By Philip Glass) The original version of Dracula starring Bela Lugosi has been remastered to feature a specially-composed musical score by world-renowned composer Philip Glass and performed by Kronos Quartet. Glass' music lends greater depth to an already timeless classic! Dracula (Original Spanish Version) Filmed simultaneously with the English language version, the Spanish version of Dracula is completely different, yet equally ominous vision of the horror classic. Utilizing the same sets and identical script, cinematographer George Robinson and a vibrant cast including Carlos Villarias and Lupita Tovar deliver this chilling and evocative tale.

Customer Reviews

I have seen most versions of Dracula and other vampire movies and Bela Lugosi is the best. stephanie west  |  69 reviewers made a similar statement
The new music score by Philip Glass is a fine complement to Lugosi's great performance. Jack  |  33 reviewers made a similar statement
As a bonus, this DVD also includes the Mexican, Spanish version of the film. Rudy Avila  |  30 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
121 of 129 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars One of the Finest DVD Presentations I've Ever Encountered November 19, 2002
Format:DVD
This DVD is the "Jewel in the Crown" of the classic Universal horror films released in that format. It includes a quality print of the Bella Lugosi DRACULA, with options to play the film with Philip Glass' recent soundtrack; the so-called "Spanish" DRACULA starring Carlos Villarias; and a fascinating documentary hosted by Carla Laemmle, who has a bit role in the Lugosi DRACULA and who was niece to Universal studio head Carl Laemmle. There is also an audio track by David J. Skal, production notes, and the like.

The Lugosi DRACULA is somewhat problematic. DRACULA had been previously (and illegally) filmed as the silent NOSFERATU, and a later stage adaptation proved a staple of the British theatre. When the stage play at last arrived in New York, the title role fell to Bela Lugosi. Although Universal optioned the material, studio head Carl Laemmle was not enthusiastic about it; although European films were comfortable with the supernatural, American films were not, and Laemmle did not believe the public would accept such an irrational story. Nor was Laemmle interested in Lugosi; if DRACULA was to be filmed, it would be filmed with Lon Chaney.

When Chaney died the screen role went to Lugosi by default, but there were further issues. Originally planned as a big-budget production, the deeping Great Depression made the film's box office possibilities seem even slighter than before and its budget was cut to the bone. And Todd Browning, who had been such a successful director of the macabre in the silent era, proved clumsy with sound. The resulting film was more than a little clunky--but it had two things going for it: a superior first thirty minutes and Lugosi....

For a brief time after the advent of sound, several studios made foreign language versions of their productions. The "Spanish" DRACULA was one such film, and when the English language company wrapped for the day the Spanish speaking cast arrived and filmed through the night using the same sets. This gave the Spanish company the benefit of hindsight: they were perfectly aware of what the English language company was doing, and they deliberately set out to best it. The result is a somewhat longer, more cohesive film with some of the most arresting visuals and camera work of the early sound era. But unfortunately, star Carlos Villarias was no Bella Lugosi: although much of his performance was more subtle than Lugosi's, it was also less intimidating, and where today Lugosi seems mannered, Villarias seems unfortunately comic. In a perfect world, we would be able to insert the Lugosi performance into the "Spanish" Dracula. As it is, we are left with two deeply flawed but nonetheless fascinating films.

In their own ways, both films proved incredibly influential, and it is difficult to imagine the evolution of the classic-style horror film without reference to both the Lugosi and the "Spanish" DRACULA. The Lugosi film is not perfectly restored, but the print is very, very good, easily the best I have seen. The "Spanish" DRACULA has more problematic elements, partly due the fact that the film borrowed some scenic footage from the Lugosi version and snips of footage from earlier films (there even appears to be a brief clip of the ballet from the silent PHANTOM OF THE OPERA in the film); the film is sometimes dark, sometimes very spotted, but short of a cgi restoration this is probably as good as it gets.

The Philip Glass soundtrack, which is optional, tends to divide viewers. The Lugosi DRACULA had virtually nothing in the way of soundtrack; the "Spanish" DRACULA used music to a greater degree, but even so that degree is comparative. The Glass score is often quite interesting, but it is also as often intrusive as it is effective. Some feel it adds quite a bit to the film; others find it distracts. Whatever one's reaction to the film, either English or Spanish language, or with or without the Glass score, this is a remarkable DVD package, and fans of classic horror will find it an almost inexhaustible pleasure. I cannot recommend it too strongly.

Gary Taylor (gft) Read more ›

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144 of 155 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Soooo fellow geek classic monster collectors, tell me, does this sound familiar? You are perusing various sites and store DVD racks and you stumble across these 75th Anniversary editions of DRACULA and FRANKENSTEIN and your geek heart starts palpitating at the thought of digitally restored version of these films and you get all excited and you start deciding which comic books you'll give up this month to buy these instead.......but then you remember you've bought the last TWO previously released DVD versions of these films and now you wonder if these are worth it? OK....well...maybe this is kind of an exaggeration, but you know what I mean. I bowed to temptation because, well....Universal has me with their monster releases from way back....period.

Soooo.....as it is obligatory when one has bought three releases of the same d@mn film, I sat down with them all and ran them through to decide which was the best of them. It is without question IMO, that the DRACULA 75th DVD is the best transfer when compared to the 90's (poster art), and the first LEGACY (green box art) releases. Picture-wise, the amount of speckles, noise and whatnot has been reduce quite a bit. This is most apparent in the darker scenes. So on a good note, seeing less snowy junk pop up is nice. Some of the scenes also look less jittery. For example, in the previous releases, the scene when Frye first comes into Drac's home and Lugosi is descending the staircase behind him, the film image is really jumpy...like watching a bad bootleg. In this 75th release it looks stable and doesn't have that funky aliasing look. The overall picture quality just feels cleaner in this release. But there is still a good amount of junk throughout the film that this cannot possibly be considered the definitive restoration.
... Read more ›
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40 of 40 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Dracula Disc December 25, 1999
By A Customer
Format:DVD
This DVD is a real treat for fans of Lugosi and Dracula. This disc has 3 "versions" of the 1931 film Dracula. The first is the original Lugosi version with restored extended groaning at the end when Dracula dies. The 2nd version is merely the original with an added modern score. The third version is a spanish version that was filmed on the same sets with spanish-speaking actors after the american crew had packed up for the day.

The image quality is the best it has ever been although somewhat grainy at the beginning of the film. The DVD has an excellent optional running commentary as well as a great documentary film explaining the genesis of Dracula and its transition from book to stage to screen. Finally, this DVD has a nice selection of movie posters, lobby cards and stills as an added feature.

This disc is a collector's dream!

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32 of 36 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best DVDs I own... May 31, 2004
Format:DVD
I love all of the old Universal Monster Movies and I love all the DVD versions that Universal has issued. They have done it right, giving us deluxe editions of The Wolf Man and The Mummy with all the bells and whistles. Of all of these, my favorite is Todd Browning's Dracula. Dracula may not be considered the best of the Universal films (that title usually goes to Bride of Frankenstein) but it certainly is the best DVD.

EVERYTHING is on this DVD. There is a wonderful DOCUMENTARY, The Road to Dracula. Amazingly, this is hosted by Carla Laemmle - the niece of the producer who actually ACTED in the movie. (She is the girl in the stagecoach who had the first line of dialogue in the film - indeed, in any sound horror film.) Clive Barker also adds valuable commentary. Although Barker is at the cutting edge (pun not intended) of hard-core horror, he still has great appreciation and insight about the classics.

FEATURE COMMENTARY: This is provided by David J. Skal, the noted Dracula/Vampire expert. Along with the documentary, this should tell you everything you ever wanted to learn about Dracula.

SPANISH LANGUAGE VERSION: It is now a famous story that, after Browning and his crew finished work for the day, a Spanish cast and crew would come in at night to film the same movie for the Spanish-speaking markets. The Spanish crew was very competitive and many critics say that the Spanish version is actually better. I do not agree with this. True, there are more interesting camera moves, but most of what we come to Dracula for is the Bela Lugosi performance - not to mention Dwight Frye as Renfeild with his inimitable laugh. The Spanish version is also great because it is a more accurate realization of the shooting script.

NEW SCORE: The old Universal movies did not yet have scored music.... Read more ›

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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars You're up to bat!
I never drink wine! I just watch great films from yesteryear! This is one of them!
Keep listening to the children of the night, and purchase this Blu-ray!
Published 20 days ago by Doc Frail
3.0 out of 5 stars Watch the Spanish Version
This set contains two movies-the 1931 Bela Lugosi version and the Spanish language version filmed at the same time. Read more
Published 22 days ago by Tony Marquise Jr.
5.0 out of 5 stars Clear as a Bell
Amazing job of restoration. Everything 'clear as a bell' most especially the sound quality which on previous restorations had produced a ton of hiss. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Joe Davis
4.0 out of 5 stars Establishing Modern Image of Vanpires
There are a bunch of vanpire movies but 1931 DRACULA featuring Bela Lugosi as Dracula is surely a must for vampire fans. Read more
Published 1 month ago by susumu-5
5.0 out of 5 stars Ordered for my older grandson.
Our older grandson loves these movies and it was ordered for him and he was thrilled with it. I am not a Dracula fan so I can't say if I liked it or not.
Published 1 month ago by Charlene Miller
5.0 out of 5 stars BUY IT WITH CONFIDENCE.
THIS ANNIVERSARY EDITION IS SPLENDID, AND LUGOSI'S PERFORMANCE STANDS THE TEST OF TIME. UNIVERSAL'S LATEST DVD EDITION SHOWS NO WEAKNESS EVEN COMPARED TO BLURAY.
Published 2 months ago by HAN XIAO
5.0 out of 5 stars Karloff???........Sidekick????............
This DVD of dracula has the original 1931 theatrical version as well as a version with a relatively new score which fills the movie from beginning to end with music and complements... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Stewart Cairns
1.0 out of 5 stars I could not see it because it was not formatted for my region. why...
it could not be played on my DVR because it was not formatted for my region. had i known this i never would have ordered it. Read more
Published 3 months ago by DOROTHY E. CONNER
5.0 out of 5 stars Dracula starring Bela Lugosi
This has been my favorite movie for years. Now I finally purchased a DVD. Thank you. I will turn out the lights and watch the movie.
Published 4 months ago by Natalie Johnson
4.0 out of 5 stars ILHM Reviews: Dracula
In 1931, the face of Horror would be changed forever as Carl Laemmle Jr. and Universal Studios introduced the world to two of their most famous monsters: Dracula and Frankenstein. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Carl Manes
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