Like many Horror
Characters Dracula started off in a novel. The idea of Dracula was conceived by y a novelist
names Bram Stoker in 1897. Dracula himself was said to be inspired by a prince
named “Vlad the impaler”.
Over 30 years later
Dracula made his debut on the big screen in “Dracula” 1931. However before those 10 years ago Bram Stoker’s film
had already been made in film without his permission as “Nosferatu” which
suggests that Nosferatu is based on the Dracula character. Dracula however had a lot of different characteristics
than Nosferatu. For example like a lot of horror characters Nosferatu is
depicted as a grotesque monster who looks out of the ordinary along the lines
of future horror characters such as Frankenstein.
Dracula appeared as a sophisticated and didn’t look to out of the ordinary. This
is in great contrast to other Nosferatu and other horror characters which are traditionally
monsters. Back in 1931 the film was considered horrific as newspapers reported
that people were fainting in cinema’s watching it. The supernatural wasn’t something
that was used in many films back then so it was considered a big risk, but fortunately
it paid off with huge box office success.
Synopsis Dracula 1931
After a harrowing ride through the Carpathian mountains in
eastern Europe, Renfield enters castle Dracula to finalize the transferral of
Carfax Abbey in London to Count Dracula, who is in actuality a vampire.
Renfield is drugged by the eerily hypnotic count, and turned into one of his
thralls, protecting him during his sea voyage to London. After sucking the
blood and turning the young Lucy Weston into a vampire, Dracula turns his
attention to her friend Mina Seward, daughter of Dr. Seward who then calls in a
specialist, Dr. Van Helsing, to diagnose the sudden deterioration of Mina's
health. Van Helsing, realizing that Dracula is indeed a vampire, tries to
prepare Mina's fiance, John Harker, and Dr. Seward for what is to come and the
measures that will have to be taken to prevent Mina from becoming one of the
undead (Source IMDB))
27 Years later a new Dracula film was released by hammer
studios and was the first time Dracula appeared in colour on the big screen,
this was done with Technicolor. Like the previous Dracula film it was
considered a huge success and cemented Dracula firmly as a huge pop culture
icon.
In 1979 the 3rd rendition of “Dracula” appeared on
the big screen produced by Marvin Mirisch and Walter Mirisch. Despite getting
good reviews this is the first Dracula film not to take the box office by storm
as it only preformed ok at the box office.
In 1981 the Comedy horror “Monster squad” was released and
was the first that Dracula appeared in that was not one of his main films.
Monster squad features a bunch of universal horror characters lead by Dracula.
This showed the first big evolution of his character from an ominous dark
character to a more comedic character
Synopsis Monster Squad 1981
Dracula is alive. In fact, he plans to rule the world and that
is why he seeks the help of other legendary monsters. However, a bunch of kids
regarded by their peers as losers uncover the devious plan and prepare for a
counter strike. Source (IMDB)
The
first Entry to Dracula in the 21st century was offered by “Dracula 2000”
Which shows a more modern Dracula. it shows dracula in a modern setting so the current generation of movie goers would be able to realte to it more as it seems more fammiliar .However the film received a lot of bad reviews
and failed to make back the money it cost to make it.
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