This loose interpretation finds African Prince Mamuwalde transformed by Dracula into Blacula! During the 1700s Blacula was imprisoned in a coffin until 1972 where he wreaks havok on Los Angeles. Blacula is followed by Scream Blacula Scream and Blackenstein.
Kicking off the 70s is 1971’s Dracula Vs. Frankenstein. This one is difficult to sit through. It sounded promising enough, a funky film pitting the two biggest monsters against each other. Dracula sounds like he recorded his audio from the bottom of a deep well. Lon Chaney (Son of Dracula) is completely wasted as an axe wielding drunken hillbilly under the Count’s spell. This one is only for the completists and die hard fans.
1967 also gave us this gem that I have yet to see, Dracula in Pakistan. This film was the first to be given a X Rating in Pakistan. The censors cut out all dance scenes because they were too provocative. Has anyone out there seen this one?
1958’s Horror of Dracula ushered in the Silver age of monster movies. Hammer Studio produced the first Dracula film in full color. Christopher Lee has made more films as Dracula than any other actor. This film also paired Lee with Iconic actor Peter Cushing who played Van Helsing.
Okay people, after Carradine, things are going to get weird. The legacy of Dracula continues in ……….. Istanbul. 1953’s Dracula stars Atif Kaptan as the count. I haven’t actually seen this movie because I was too busy making this painting. According to Wikipedia, there is no Renfield and Mina is a showgirl. Oh yeah and Dracula is bald and Turkish. If anyone has actually seen this let me know. I have stopped listing these on Etsy because I have something else in mind when this series is done.
During the production of the 1931 Dracula that starred Bela Lugosi, a Spanish speaking version was being filmed simultaneously. While the English version was filmed by day, Drácula was filmed at night with Carlos Villarías starring as the Count!
My all time favorite Dracula is Bela Lugosi. No one has ever owned the role in the way that he did. In 1931, Director Tod Browning brought us this classic that ushered in the golden age of Universal horror films. This was the highlight of Bela Lugosi’s career and although his life didn’t improve from this point on, he immortalized the role in a way that no one else has achieved since.
Last year for the month of October, I did 1 painting every day of Halloween based art. This year every day will be a different interpretation of Dracula. In 1922, F. W. Murnau was not able to secure the rights to Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Instead he cast Max Schreck as Count Orlok, the vampire. He was later sued by the widow of Bram Stoker over copyright infringement. To this day many folks see this as the best and most dynamically filmed portrayal of Dracula.
Painting in progress for Ltd Gallery. My favorite Scooby Doo iteration was 13 Ghosts of Scooby Doo. See you all at San Diego Comic Con.
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