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Dracula(1931 ) was the motion picture that spawned Universal ’s classic teras movie productions for a 25 year period . While it also start a franchise of its own , theDraculafollow - ups were not as consistent or cohesive as some of its monster stable companion . Here is every original UniversalDraculamovie ranked from spoiled to best .
Tod Browning’sDraculawas a Brobdingnagian achiever upon its original release in 1931 . base on the long - running Broadway looseness , which was , in twist , based on the famous Bram Stoker novel , it was Universal ’s most profitable film of the yr . After a long search for a tether , Bela Lugosi — the star of the Broadway edition — was in the end chosen to recapitulate his role . Co - manufacturer Carl Laemmie Jr. was initially hesitant to cast Lugosi , who had no film credits to his name . After a long , sleeveless lookup for a name actor , Lugosi successfully lobbied for the role . The picture would make him a star , and subsequently create along - running monstrosity world for the studio .
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WhileDraculaproved to be a strike for Universal , they had a difficult time following it up with a sequel . James Whale’sFrankenstein — which was also released in 1931 — had a much more successful billet of subsequence , beginning withBride of Frankensteinin 1935 . Rights issues with the Stoker estate held up a square protraction , which ultimately informed the charge ofDracula ’s Daughterfive years later . In total , there were five cinema that include Dracula or his descendants in addition to a Spanish version that was shoot on the same set and the same meter as Browning ’s production .
7. House of Dracula (1945)
This follow - up to the popularHouse of Frankensteinwas one of the lastclassic Universal monsterteam - ups , and also one of the more convoluted entries . Dracula is play for the 2d time by John Carradine - who also act the vampire menace inHouse . The game revolves around Dr. Edelmann ( Onslow Stevens ) who trust that vampirism can be cure by blood transfusions . He is gossip by Dracula , using the pseudonym Baron Latos , who wants to be set barren of his curse . Ironically , Edlemann is also jaw by Larry Talbot ( Lon Chaney Jr. ) on the same Nox , front for a curative to his lycanthropy . Directed in a workingman - like manner by Erle C. Kenton , it does Dracula a vast ill service by using him as a convenient secondary scoundrel .
6. Son of Dracula (1943)
This late follow - up to the 1931 hit is an uninventive reworking of the original with Lon Chaney Jr. diddle Count Alucard ( Dracula ) . The orphic vampire gets involved with the rich daughter of a plantation owner . Though his motives are shadowy , it seems the Count has set his plenty on a new Brigid and her estate . A morbid dearest triangle of sort is played out with the girl ( Louise Allbritton ) , her boyfriend ( Robert Paige ) , and the Count . The fertile Robert Siodmak mastermind the photographic film from a tale create by his pal Curt . Whether Chaney ’s character is the real Dracula , his son , or even a close relation is never made clear . The genuinely creepyDracula ’s Daughterfrom 1936 is disregarded entirely .
5. House of Frankenstein (1944)
Building on the success ofFrankenstein Meets the Wolf Man(1943 ) , this fun entry gets a quite a little of gas mileage out of its excellent casting . Boris Karloff , Lon Chaney Jr. and John Carradine give solid carrying out in this second attempt at a behemoth match - up . Dr. Niemann ( Karloff ) head for the hills from prison and sets out on a commission to locate Dracula , The Wolf Man , and Frankenstein ’s Monster for nefarious means . While Dracula ( Carradine ) is closely senseless , much of the photographic film form as a slight follow - up toFrankenstein suffer the Wolf Man . This was stunt man Glenn Strange ’s first time playing Frankenstein ’s Monster — a theatrical role he would double in the next two oecumenical behemoth outings .
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4. Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)
This was the first of drollery teamAbbott and Costello ’s Universal goliath film . It was also the last metre that “ the enceinte three ” colossus — Dracula , Frankenstein ’s Monster , and The Wolf Man — would look in the same film . Of eminence would be Lugosi ’s takings to his iconic role — the only time he would seem again as Dracula . Completely abandoning any continuity with the previous unveiling , Charles Barton ’s comedy is essentially a serial of slapstick scene that allow for the comedians to trifle off the menace of the fiend . Chick ( Bud Abbott ) and Wilbur ( Costello ) are two Florida baggage shop assistant who get involved with the local wax museum , which is a front for the monstrosity ’s Christ’s Resurrection . The film was staggeringly pop and inspired several more films where the duo met celebrated creatures .
3. Dracula’s Daughter (1936)
The only film with any true continuity to the original Dracula , this 1936 sequel pick up at the very end of the 1931 original . Just after Van Helsing — a returning Edward Van Sloan — has spike Dracula with a stake , he is arrested and sent to Scotland Yard . At the same time , Countess Marya Zaleska , Dracula ’s girl ( Gloria Holden ) , appears with the intention of burning her father ’s soundbox so as to free herself from vampirism . Holden ’s character reference is much more appealing than the original Dracula , which adds a haunting , dramatic element to the history . Director Lambert Hillyer ’s film is a more challenging and adult follow - up than audience were expect , and did not perform to expectation . It has take in regard in recent twelvemonth for its somber tone and , perhaps unplanned , sapphic subtext .
2. Dracula (1931)
ho-hum and poetic , the originalDraculais still an entertaining ride . Though not as visually impressive asNosferatu , F.W. Murnau ’s unauthorized version from 1922 , it maintains a creepy black bile throughout . Bela Lugosi ’s iconic portrayal of the form of address character still has the power to unnerve . His interpretation of the Count returning soon in a new graphic novel . evenly unsettling is Dwight Frye ’s Renfield , a carrying into action that set the template for the demented assistant for years to total . While the stage - bound aesthetic may not have aged as well as some of its contemporaries , it remains an engaging example of pre - code movie house . Browning would be it up a yr later with his horror chef-d’oeuvre , Freaks .
1. Dracula – Spanish Language (1931)
Director George Melford ’s Spanish language version ofDraculais a more engaging cinematic experience than Browning ’s film . Shot in tandem with the English rendering , it uses the photographic camera more boldly , telling more of the narration through the lens . Carlos Villarias plays Dracula and deliver a more enforce performance than Lugosi . Shot in the evening after the Browning crew get out the set for the day , the creative squad had the benefit of seeing dailies from their English counterpart . This allowed them to make changes for the effective , include adapt lighting and other technical aspects they felt were miss in the American footage . This translation is a beautiful , overlooked option to the EnglishDracula , and one of the best , if obscure , Universal freak films .
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