Thursday, March 21, 2013

DRACULA is the "weirdest story in the world" (1931)

"Dracula Is Called Most Weird Story"
Bran Stoker's Famous Mystery Story Comes To Screen At Huron Tomorrow
 The Evening Huronite, April 13, 1931


"The weirdest story in the world" has been dramatized on the talking screen.  The story in question is Bram Stoker's immortal and nerve-tingling novel of a deathless vampire, entitled "Dracula." So if you plan to go to the Huron theatre during the week of Sunday, Monday or Tuesday prepare yourself for a truly different and exciting evening's entertainment.

Of course, if you've read "Dracula" there is no need to tell you more. All the king's horses and all the king's men won't be able to keep you from seeing the picture. And if you've never heard of "Dracula" you owe it to yourself to see this uncanny dramatization of Bram Stoker's justly famous novel. For "Dracula" is a mystery story unlike any other you have ever seen. And meeting "Dracula" for the first time is an experience in theatre-going you will long remember.

Without telling you too much, suffice to say that "Dracula" is a story of a vampire man, dead more than five hundred years, who comes to life between the hours of sunset and sunrise, stalking the earth to search out young and beautiful victims. Sometimes he comes to life in the form of a wolf, other times as a soft, choking, mysterious mist, wreaking his strange vengeance on all those who cross his path". This combat of deathless forces, as you may well imagine, makes for gripping, fantastic, awe inspiring drama that arouses and maintains intense interest from beginning to end.

The role of the vampire. Count Dracula, is played with remarkable skill by Bela Lugosi, noted actor of the legitimate stage, who originally created this role in the highly successful stage version of Stoker's "Dracula." Sinister, evil and terrifying to look upon, Lugosi's Dracula is a high mark in unusual and fantastic characterization. David Manners portrays the role of the young boy who desperately attempts to save his finance from the influence of Dracula; and Dwight Frye is convincing as the lawyer who fails under the spell of the deathless vampire.

Others in the cast include Helen Chandler, in a fine role, Edward Van Sloan, a member of the stage cast, Frances Dade, Joan Standing and Herbert Bunston. "Dracula" was directed by Tow Browning, remembered for many of Lon Chaney's
successes.

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