Did You Know…
There was a Spanish language version of Dracula produced the same year as the original one starring Bela Lugosi? In 1930, Paul Kohner, Head of Universal’s Foreign Department, approached Carl Laemmle to discuss options to recreate Universal films into Spanish language versions. Kohner proposed that his productions reuse the same sets as the original domestic releases and filming take place during off-hours in the nighttime. Each foreign production would have an estimated budget of $35,000. Laemmle agreed with Kohner’s proposal and chose a Spanish version of The Cat Creeps as Universal’s first attempt in this new market.
Starring Lupita Tovar in Helen Twelvetrees’ original role as Annabelle West, La Voluntad del Muerto had a triumphant tour in Mexico. The success of this production paved the way for Universal to produce a Spanish version of Dracula with Tovar assigned as the feminine lead role. Directed by veteran director George Melford and starring Carlos Villar as Dracula, the Spanish version began filming on the night of October 23, 1931. The domestic version of Dracula directed by Tod Browning and starring Bela Lugosi began filming on September 29, 1931. By utilizing the same sets, filming timetable, and learning from Browning’s mishaps with his production, the Spanish version of Dracula cost one-tenth of its domestic contemporary and in the view of many critics, it is considered to be the more polished of the two films. As part of Universal’s 100th anniversary film restoration commitment, the Spanish Dracula was selected to be fully restored this year.
Paul Kohner and Lupita Tovar eventually married and had two grandsons, Paul and Chris Weitz. The Weitz Brothers are known for directing and writing many of Universal’s hit films including: American Pie, About a Boy, and In Good Company.
Did you know…
Universal’s 1932 production of The Mummy was heavily inspired by actual events? Previous to The Mummy, Universal’s successful horror features were based on literary characters – Frankenstein and Dracula. But when actual tales of terror emerged following the discovery of King Tutankhamun’s burial chamber in 1922, Universal capitalized on the public’s fascination with the “Mummy’s Curse” that supposedly guarded the grave.
The curse was said to doom anyone who dared defile a mummy’s tomb; and British tabloids of the 1920s exploited many tragic stories of people affiliated with British archaeologist Howard Carter and his discovery. According to these newspapers, by 1929 eleven people connected with the excavation of King Tut’s tomb died early and of unnatural causes. This included Howard Carter’s wealthy patron, Lord Carnarvon; Carter’s personal secretary, Richard Bethell; and Bethell’s father, Lord Westbury. The press followed the deaths carefully, attributing each new one to the “Mummy’s Curse,” and by 1935 there were 21 victims credited to King Tut.
After the success of Frankenstein and Dracula, Carl Laemmle Jr. sought a major horror vehicle, and also wanted another big part for his Frankenstein star, Boris Karloff. The notoriety of the King Tut discovery and coincidental tragedies was a logical choice for Laemmle, and he hired John L. Balderston to write a screenplay loosely based on the actual stories. The result was one of the great horror classics of all time.
The Mummy has inspired a legacy of sequels and re-interpretations at Universal – from The Mummy’s Hand in 1940 to the “Revenge of the Mummy Ride” located at Universal Studios Hollywood.
Pressbook
Dracula (1931)
Originally promoted as a romance and released on Valentine’s Day in 1931, Dracula starring Bela Lugosi was advertised as “The Strangest Love a Man Has Ever Known.” Do the following display lines inside the original pressbook accurately publicize the film any better?:
Weird! Wild! Breath-taking!
The story of the strangest passion the world has ever known!
TERRIFIC in its startling drama! AMAZING in its daring theme!
Gripping! Exciting! Shivery! Eerie thriller of One who roamed the night!
Its daring will ASTOUND you! Its suspense will chain you to your seat! You’ll never forget “Dracula!”
He lived on the kisses of youth! “Dracula”-the undead-the world’s greatest vampire!
Everyone who has read Bram Stoker’s gripping book-all who have seen the stage shocker-will want to see it. All others must see it for the entertainment surprise of a life-time.
Do vampires really exist? Dracula answers with a thousand thrills!
Dracula-he walks at night-and walks alone!
Dracula will get you if you don’t watch out!
He will haunt you-chill you-thrill you-BUT you will love “Dracula”
Out of the cobwebby darkness of an age-old castle-heavy with the dust of centuries, comes
Dracula to roam the night in his weird, wild, breath-taking adventures.
DRACULA! He of the fiery fingers, flaming lips and crimson kisses!
