"All the other fishermen will be wearing pants."

A lot of rain here lately.. well Summer is almost gone I guess..

In today's film it's raining, too:

~ that's exactly what happens when I decide to go out camping: It pours! ~

Once upon a time...

...Howard Hawks made a film which was named BRINGING UP BABY (1938) - remember that one? A guy named Cary Grant, a gal named Katharine Hepburn and a lovely leopard called "Baby".. - years later in 1964 his homage to that film was released:

Easy, hm? Yes, it is MAN'S FAVORITE SPORT? ...

In a nutshell:

Roger Willoughby (Rock Hudson), engaged to beautiful Tex Connors (red-haired Charlene Holt), is a very successful seller for fishing items - he also wrote a popular book about fishing. Now his boss Mr. Cadwalader (John McGiver - doing just wonderful things with his toupee..) wants him to do some promotion and attend a fishing tournament set at a nearby Lake at the lodges of Isolde “Easy” Mueller’s (blonde Maria Perschy) father. Also attending the tournament are Roger’s customers Skaggs (Forrest Lewis) and Major Phipps (Roscoe Karns) – who are avid to compare their skills with Roger’s.

Easy’s happy-go-lucky friend Abigail Page (brunette Paula Prentiss) – who in Roger’s opinion is way too pushy – is to take care of him – much to his dislike. And while she considers him attractive he simply is overran by her..

Plus: Roger has a dark and treasured secret: In his whole life he didn’t catch a single fish…

~ another confession to make: I am not so good with 60s hats.. - I think to this one you should also carry a horse.. ~

Watch out for:

• Norman Alden as John Screaming Eagle – frequently telling about "Big Chief Confucius" - making fun of tourist's prejudices.. In AC Delco commercials he played a mechanic – people used to turn up to him to ask for advice because they believed he wasn’t acting.

A nodding acquaintance:

• Charlene Holt’s best know role might be Maudie from EL DORADO (1966). She was Miss Maryland in 1956.

~ Rock Hudson caught up in a sleeping bag , Maria Perschy giving him a hand - and Charlene Holt waiting to give him another.. ~

Schmooze:

• The part of Roger Willoughby was meant to be performed by Cary Grant – but he felt that the distance of age between his being 59 and Paula Prentiss being 24 was too big.
  
  
• Howard Hawks also wanted Katharine Hepburn for the female lead..
  
  

~ Oh - I wish for a copy of that nightgown Miss Perschy wears here - but in another color, please.. ~

Not sooo far away from Hollywood:

• The German title is EIN GOLDFISCH AN DER LEINE (= A goldfish on the string/fishing rod)
  
  
• In the German version Miss "Mueller" (though it is obviously a German name..) is changed into "Miller". Maybe that’s so because her accent doesn’t work in the German version - there she speaks French if needed..
  
  
  

~ a really talented girl Miss Perschy is.. ~

• Maria Perschy did her own dubbing for the German version - she has (just by the way) an Austrian accent.

• The nickname “Easy” seems (for me) to arise from the affectionate form of Isolde: “Isi” – which would be pronounced like “easy” – well, she also seems to be the easiest girl-character in this film – really a nice girl.

~ Roger trying to tell Abby and Easy that their shirts aren't that "visible" anymore.. ~

Let’s face the music..

• The theme song MAN’S FAVOURITE SPORT was composed by Henry Mancini – the lyrics are by Johnny Mercer.

~ Mr. Hudson impersonating the CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON ~

You should watch this film if you…

• … are a fan of fishing..
  
  
• … would like to know how it is to watch a Doris Day/ Rock Hudson film – without Doris Day..
  
  
• … all your life wished for hearing Rock Hudson say “itty bitty bird” ..
  
  
• … like “domineering females” like Roger Willoughby calls them..
  
  
• … always dreamt of seeing that Cary Grant/Katharine Hepburn walk out of the night club scene of BRINGING UP BABY – redone by Maria Perschy and Rock Hudson...

...on the other hand – you can do that right now:

Buttons and Bows:

• The costumes were designed by Edith Head – which means: They're great. I love the simple black dress Maria Perschy wears in that scene...
  
  

~ I really like Paula Prentiss' hairstyle here. And there's Rock Hudson - doing a James Dean pose..~

Quotes corner:

“That girl is a walking disaster.”

That girl meant in this sentence is Paula Prentiss' character Abigail - and I must confess that there are times where I just am annoyed by that woman (Abigail - I like Paula Prentiss..) I had tough times with Rock Hudson, too - just because I can't stand his German voice.. So I needed some time to like that film - and there are moments in which I am still feeling unconfortable with it.. But when I am in the right mood (and thanks to DVD I can watch the original version anytime I want to..) I really enjoy this movie.

“Come on, Napoleon – this way to Waterloo.”

~ the closest to a bikini we get in this film.. ~

Have a (kind of blurry) look :

If you like nicely done slapstick: this is your film - have another (better quality) look at that - please notice that this is one of the weaker scenes.. :

I am no big fan of fishing – but the fishing scenes in this movie are just hilarious. I just don’t know which fisherman is funnier – Rock Hudson in this flick or William Powell in LIBELED LADY (<- read my post about that film – if you like to..)

Rock Hudson is doing a real good job in this film - the whole cast is an awesome bunch of people - but he is the one who does this film..

~ Another gill-man snapshot of Rock Hudson ~

Thank you very much for listening.

Yours (very well and) truly

Irene - who thinks about taking a bath right now - after seeing all this people getting wet..

“You can play house later.”

These days some of us have to live with hot weather (and what is hot or not I'll leave to your own decision - as always..) - anyway: There are some films which in my opinion are quite good picks for hot summer days - and this post is dealing with one of them..

(well - any idea??)

Once upon a time William Alland – who was a member of Orson Welles’s Mercury Theater and played the journalist in CITIZEN KANE, you know: whose face you’ll never see.. ;”) – was at a dinner party at Orson Welles' when Mexican cameraman Gabriel Figueroa told a story about a half-fish / half-human being which should be living at the Amazonas area.

William Alland later made a film script from this story, which – directed by Jack Arnold - brought you one of film history's most beloved monsters - and also in 3D:

CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON (1954)

In a nutshell:

Dr. Carl Maia (Antonio Moreno) found a skeletal hand with webs in a lagoon at the Amazonas – he travels to the USA to get a team of scientists for an excursion.

When they arrive in the lagoon the waiting research team of Dr. Maia has been killed. Very soon the "still alive team" finds out that the missing link between humans and fish really exists: a gill-man (Ricou Browning for underwater parts / Ben Chapman ashore), who starts to take interest in Kay Lawrence (Julia Adams), the only women of the team. When the team’s boss Dr. Mark Williams (Richard Denning) decides – against the will of ichthyologist Dr. David Read (Richard Carlson), who is engaged to Kay - to bring back that creature to the marine institute (not necessarily alive..) instead of just some pictures of it – the situation really starts to become tense for the team..

Watch out for:

• The marks of the gill-man on Richard Carlson's body after the fight! - Isn't that just great? I love that they were that accurate in this aspect!
  
  
• You can spot some sharks in the marine biology institute!! Yay for that! (I LOVE SHARKS!!! – marvellous creatures..)

Schmooze:

• The original title for the film was “BLACK LAGOON” - but apparently Universal Studio bosses didn't find it appealing enough.
  
  
• Though the plan of William Alland was not to show the gill-man for more than the first half of the film because of the higher suspense effect - the studio decided to show it rather early in the film - the costume was apparently to expensive to be not shown..
  
  
• It is said that Ingmar Bergman watched this film every year at his birthday..
  
  
• When Jenny Clark of Cambridge University discovered a new fossile - she named it Eucritta melanolimnetes - which is greek and means: creature of the black lagoon.. ...
  
  
  


• The stuntman who did the “gill-man is on fire” bit was Rock Hudson’s stuntman..
  
  
• Ricou Browning also worked on TV-show FLIPPER and for the underwater shots of THUNDERBALL (1965) and NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN (1983).
  
  
• There was a $ 500,000 insurance for Julia Adams's legs – though they weren’t shown that often in her films – which would be mostly western.. - good for those of you who like to look at women's legs: In this film she is showing them quite a lot..

• The gill-man also appeared in an episode of TV show THE MUNSTERS (1964) - as Uncle Gilbert (I don't know about you - but I think this is funny.. It's the perfect name!)
  
  
• The actors who personated the creature could hardly see while wearing the costume. One time Ben Chapman had to carry Julia Adams into to creature’s cave – he misjudged the distance to the wall – and knocked Miss Adams almost unconscious.. ~ ouch! ~

Spoil the fun - the tricks they used:

• For the scenes in which the scientists use some chemical product to slightly poison the gill-man and these products dissolve underwater they actually used cream.
  
  
• So that the audience could tell which character they see in the underwater scenes the studio decided that Richard Carlson’s character carries 2 tanks while Richard Denning’s character carries 1 tank.

Murphy’s law:

• The wet footprints of the creature doesn’t match the way it walks – to remind Ben Chapman that he had to shovel his feet there were added some weight into the creature-suit, so that he would have troubles to lift his feet..

Buttons and Bows:

Hollywood costumes are awesome. I love most of them and get some inspiration from films - but actually I don't have that often the opportunity to wear those fancy dresses..

So I am always amazed by simple and "all-day" outfits: though back then the white bathing costume she wears in this movie was quite racy, the wardrobe of Julia Adams in this film is just great:

Let's face the music:

For this film the talents of Hans J. Salter, Herman Stein and Henry Mancini were used. The three-note-creature-theme is probably one of the most famous film themes ever. The composers were instructed to use it as much as possible - not quite the dream of a composer, I guess..

Never-ending story (sequels and remakes):

• There are two sequels:
  
  REVENGE OF THE CREATURE (1955)
  
  THE CREATURE WALKS AMONG US (1956)
  
  
• I am very excited because for 2012 there is a remake announced! - Though I am pretty sure it'll have a tough time beating this gem..

Ricou Browning once told a nice little anecdote:

One time while shooting underwater he noticed that he had to use the washroom – so he gave signals that he had to make a pause and decided instead of been carried by boat there that he would rather swim underwater to the shore.
When he arrived at the shore and climbed up the ladder there – the first thing he spotted were a child and the child’s mother just in front of him. The child started to scream. Ricou said “Boo!” – the child started to scream even more and ran away – followed by his mother. Ricou ran after them shouting: “It’s okay!!” – Surprisingly this didn’t help at all..

After that Ricou Browning didn’t scare people that often anymore.. ;”)

Let's have a look:

Quotes corner:

“You don’t sound like a scientist, but like some big-game hunter out for the kill.”

I am a bit too imaginary – so leaving things to my imagination and not showing them just does the trick for me. Showing how bodies are ripped, throats cut etc. just makes me think about the technique and make up and stuff like that – the real horror for me is just leaving me on my own – my brain can do horrible things to me.. That’s why even mainly considered poor films are that much enjoyable for me.. ;”) I just add things..

(When my sister and I watched this film for the first time she made fun of me because I actually was a bit appalled by scenes in which Julia Adams didn't know how near the gill-man was.. and the "Dr. Maia's team is going to be killed"- scene really appealed to me.. my sister was like: "Oh, please: there isn't even bowel - you're a sissy!")

I just adore the underwater scenes. (yes - I love bubbles..)

And I think the Julie Adams swims ”with” the creature scene is just awesome. Though it is another actress you’ll see when Kay is shown from an underwater angle.

Just btw: I would not swim in that water - by all means: dangerous catfish? Water I don’t know?? Amazonas?? Uhm.. no.. Thank you very much.. though.. I do swim in the North sea and the Baltic sea – and there are sharks.. (I never spotted them but they are there.. ;”) – I made some acquaintance with some other fish and underwater animals though..) hm.. maybe I'll rather stay out of the water from now on..

I love that the Julie Adams’ character Kay is not “just” the wife of someone of the crew but a scientist herself. Yeah, she is not the boss – but she isn’t a lovely little piece of decoration either. That’s great. She is there on this boat because she has a “task” – not just because a wife will go wherever her husband goes.. Lovely image – but I really prefer the “woman with a mission image”.

And of course I have great sympathy for that poor creature!! That lovely little thing.. so alone – and then some idiotic guys start to poke around in its home and attack it.. Just like Marilyn Monroe’s character in THE SEVEN YEAR ITCH said: “It just wanted to be loved.”

There are some scenes which actually could be translated as antipollution-appeals : E.g. the scene in which Kay stands on board of the boat and smokes - afterwards she just throws her cigarette into the water - where the gill-man is hiding and looking up to her - and that cigarette.. This scene is a bit sad in my opinion.. but as I said before: I am totally in the gill-man's team! (actually I look quite cute in green, too..)

You know, I think Jack Arnold has quite often such undertones in his films.. but maybe it's just me..

“Whatever the species may be, if you let it alone, it won’t bother you.”

Thank you very much for listening!

Yours truly,

Irene - also a lovely creature herself.. ;")

“So.. How ‘bout it then?”

To say it right in the beginning:

2009 I was more than avid to watch one special film – I waited for this “aaaaaages” – it was Richard Curtis’s THE BOAT THAT ROCKED – and I wasn’t disappointed at all.

It is still one of my all-time favourite modern flicks.. I know that a lot of people out there just loathe it. But not me – No, sir! I am officially in love with this film. It’s pure entertainment. It is unbelievable funny and it’s partly awful dramatic – it’s like a “catastrophe-musical”.. Yeah – okay – I am excited ... – and towards the end of this film I am absolutely always getting goose bumps.. yeah – kitschy, pathetic.. Whatever..

And now I am going to tell you a little bit about it – so relax, enjoy yourself and listen – but: Beware: I am completely disrespectful.. Wait – you knew that already, didn’t you?

So – why of all things do I start talking about modern movies with this film?

It’s easy – I was trying to seduce a very good friend of mine to watch THE BOAT THAT ROCKED – and it worked. Well, kind of...

…

He didn’t (yet)...

– but I watched it..

So: Dear friend, from now on I will let you alone when it comes to this film. ... Well... Maybe for today..

In a nutshell:

1966 – great times for British Rock’n’Roll – but BBC radio program only broadcasts less than 45 minutes of pop music – so the lovers of that music have to listen to Pirate Radio stations – which are anchored in North Sea and play Rock and Pop all-day (and -night) long – and so is Radio Rock..

Young Carl (Tom Sturridge) who is expelled from school is sent by his mother (Emma Thompson) to his godfather Quentin (Bill Nighy) – who (what a coincidence!) runs Radio Rock.. And with young Carl we get to know all those DJs of this pirate radio station..

Everything could be just nice – and Carl’s biggest problem could be to lose his virginity - if there wasn’t government minister Sir Alistair Dormandy (Kenneth Branagh) who – with a little help from his assistant Twatt (it’s all in the name.. - he is btw personated by Jack Davenport) - tries to close those pirate radio stations down..

Schmooze:

• The US title is PIRATE RADIO, the German one is RADIO ROCK REVOLUTION, in Italy the film is known as I LOVE RADIO ROCK and my favourite is the French title: GOOD MORNING ENGLAND ... yeah.. that’s what I call translation, baby!.. Isn’t it interesting that each of these countries has an alternate English title?? Think about that..

• Richard Curtis is responsible for such screenplays for films as FOUR WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL (1994), NOTTING HILL (1999) and LOVE ACTUALLY (2003) … It’s up to your decision if you’ll take that as a warning or a recommendation..

• Though the story is fictional it’s loosely based on popular pirate radio ship Radio Caroline – and so are most of the DJs loosely based on actual DJs..

You should watch this film if you...

• ... are a fan of 1960s music – in this case this film is a MUST. Hear me?!?

• ... are a fan of 1960s clothes

• … are disliking Philip Seymour Hoffman and want to change that. (- worked for two of my friends.. just btw… he is great in this one – but I am a fan already.. – so: don’t take my word – watch that movie!)

• … wished TITANIC (1997) would have had more free love and Rock’n’Roll.. ;”)

Ok – a little bit of an advance notice:

This film is hilarious – and a bit sad – and dirty – and naughty.. ;”) It contents “adult humor” and strong language.. I LOVE it!!

"Cuz if you shoot a bullet, someone dies. When you drop a bomb, many die. You hit a woman, love dies. But... if you say the f-word, nothing actually happens."

- Yeah, the Count (Philip Seymour Hoffman) is right - but I (for one) still try to avoid to use the f-word..

The cast is amazing. Ok, I fancy Rhys Ifans (that dreadful scumbag..) – but there is a lot of nice “material” on this ship - if I may say so.. I think I would go for more than half of the people on board and I include some gorgeous girls in this..

I love Felicity (Katherine Parkinson), the cook, who is allowed to stay because she is an “absolutely always-“ lesbian.. – and her love story is one sadly small but therefor very lovely part of the film.. It's like two minutes or so - but very cute..

You will maybe spot some naked breast - as I now learned it is possible that this scene is cut from the US release.. It is a homage to Jimi Hendrix’s “Electric Ladyland” album-cover.. You can see it here:

~ this is the US version, folks.. you can imagine what we Europeans are allowed to see, can't you? ;"p ~

And you have the chance to see Nick Frost (Dr. Dave in this film) in almost all his glory.. But don’t be afraid: No “(almost) real sex-scenes” in this flick.. ;”)

The cast is really just marvelous – yeah! I can’t say that often enough. We have the always great Bill Nighy, who is magnificently arrogant and arrogantly tongue-in-cheek - just like I love him to be - and we have Philip Seymour Hoffman, who is rocking cool, of course the awful Rhys Ifans, Kenneth Branagh (stiff as a broomstick..), Chris O’Dowd who is hilarious and tragic and makes me want to cuddle him ~ how could I not go for a guy named simple Simon?? ~ , a very stylish Emma Thompson, the lovely and very sweet Gemma Arterton (I adore her!!), stunning January Jones, cute Talulah Riley - and I especially love Ike Hamilton (Harold – who is maybe not saying soo much – but he is amazing - even without words – and I will state here and now that I like this tooth space.. It’s adorable..) and the very funny Rhys Darby (Angus) and many, many more..

And you GUYS may like to know: The men who apparently have the most sex in this film are the chubby one and the one who hardly says a word (and I do not refer to Harold..) – okay the last one will please the eye of some girls around here– but maybe you boys can learn a new “line”… - tell me if it works.. ;”p

For us girls it’s harder: we have to be gorgeous to get some fun it seems.. Oh – and a fringe helps obviously.. ;”)

But I would say: The girls around this blog are quite amazing - aren’t you, ladies?? See! I knew it! ;”)

Quotes corner:

The film gave me some wonderful quotes which made their way into my daily life:

“Walk woodpecker way!”

is used very often by my sister and me, when one of us notices that the other one is about to do something really idiotic and should change her plans. – Coming to think of it: my sister says this a lot more often than I do… hm…

Or we have:

“Aww.. You look like a unicorn – in a negligee..”

Ok – if you ever say that to me when I am sitting on your bed – get ready to pick your teeth up from the floor - and I don't care how cute you are.. Just mentioning it..

Let's face the music:

The Soundtrack is just amazing – it isn’t always true to the decade – e.g. The Who’s “WON'T GET FOOLED AGAIN” for sure wasn’t released in 1966. I am a The Who fan – and in this case I won’t get fooled again either – but it doesn’t matter – the song fits perfect into the scene. – And I also don’t care about the Muddy Waters-error..

Hans Zimmer wrote the one additional piece of music – and he is not credited for that. He did it as a favor for Working Title..

Gee, I could do a whole entry about the score - there are over 50 songs I guess which are used here.. - AND: There is even one Ennio Morricone tune! It’s the theme of FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE!!! – and of course it makes a great scene even greater! Ok, maybe the scene is just idiotic – or pathetic – Anyway - I like it.. ;”)

This scene didn’t make it into the film but so you have a chance to meet the team:

(I would cheer for Angus.. I would be alone with this– but I would cheer.)

- and now let's attend a wedding:

And finally - the trailer:

Hm.. I have the strange feeling I once stated my entries for newer films would be less long..

Doesn't seem like I am able to do that..

Sorry.

(Nah.. not really..)

"I've always lived for news and weather. Happy to die for them, too. Especially the weather."

Thank you for listening!

Yours (very well, groovy and) truly

Irene

"That's no good - ladies bruise too easy."

Basing on Vladimir Pozner’s (please, do not mix up with equally named Russian spy!) story, which was released in September and October 1945 in “Good Housekeeping” Nunnally Johnson wrote and produced a film under the same title, which became a box-office hit in 1946 and was directed by Robert Siodmak: THE DARK MIRROR.

In a nutshell:

Dr. Perada was murdered. Several witnesses saw Terry Collins (Olivia de Havilland) at that certain time near the crime scene. An easy case for Lieutenant Stevenson (Thomas Mitchell). But Terry has an alibi – and a sister: Ruth (Olivia de Havilland), a twin sister. Both occasionally switch roles. So, which one is the murderess? Maybe psychiatrist Scott Elliott (Lew Ayres) can be a help. The trouble with him: he’s going to fall for one of the sisters.

Schmooze:

• Lew Ayres stared as DR. KILDARE in 9 films of the film series of the same name. He became famous as an actor when he played the lead in ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT (1930). He was married to Ginger Rogers from 1934 to 1940.
  
  
• The story received a nomination for an Acadamy award.
  
  
• For radio-afficionados: there are some radio productions - with Olivia de Havilland (1950) and with Lew Ayres (1948) and one with both of them in THE HEDDA HOPPER SHOW - THIS IS HOLLYWOOD (1947)...
  
  
• In 1984 there was made a remake for television starring Jane Seymour as the twin sisters.
  
  
• Olivia de Havilland stated years later that the part of the mean twin sister still haunted her.
  
  
• Though in credits only mentioned as technical adviser Eugen Schüfftan – who was a legendary cameraman and special effects specialist - did a great job and mixed several trick shots and added back projection so that Olivia de Havilland often acts in front of a screen on which runs a shot of herself as "her" twin sister.

A nodding acquaintance:

• You may remember Richard Long (here: Rusty, the bellboy) from Orson Welles’ THE STRANGER (1946).
  
  
• Thomas Mitchell might be best-known as uncle Billy in Frank Capra’s IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946) or Gerald O'Hara in GONE WITH THE WIND (1939). I like him very much as Diz Moore in MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON (1939).
  
  
  

Celebrate the celluloid

Nibble some lemon drops! :”)

Sight-read

The soundtrack was composed by Dimitri Tiomkin, who also wrote "Do not forsake me, oh my darlin" for HIGH NOON (1952) – I bet you know that one!

See the beauty in it

The costumes were designed by Irene Sharaff – and some of them are really marvelous. There is a pair of blouses with ruching which is not quite my style – but Olivia de Havillands wardrobe in this film is heaven for any forties fashion addict.

Quotes Corner

“He’s a very smart guy for a college man.”

This film is awesome because of its technique. You seldom can spot errors. Olivia de Havilland is doing a fabulous job – well, she is always, isn’t she? - Of course the good sister is the one, who is more the type of a modest housewife and the bad one is the self-confident sister. No wonder: The war was over and women should leave the factories and go back to home. (Bye bye to Rosie the Riveter!) I have nothing against women staying at home and caring for husband and kids - but I think everyone/everywoman should be able to decide for herself and not feel guilty because they do not want to marry and/or raise children. -

So I recommend this film to every fan of Olivia de Havilland and everyone who is interested in trick technique and ask every viewer to take the characterization of the “better” sister not as the proof of “good” woman. There's a wide range of awesome women out there.. ;”)

“I never listened to such utterly nonsense in all my live.”

The End? Wait and watch!

Yours (well and) truly,

Frl. Irene Palfy

"I never drink... wine."

In 1897 a book was published by an Irish author that was not an immediate bestseller. That it should become in the following century. In the 1920s the novel was adapted as a play and became later a longtime hit on broadway. The actor who played the lead should star in the 1931 Universal Studios-adaptation of the play: Bela Lugosi. The author was Bram Stoker and the novel was DRACULA.

In a nutshell:

Renfield (Dwight Frye), a young British estate agent, travels to Transylvania to make a deal with Count Dracula (Bela Lugosi). Dracula, who is a vampire, takes possession of him and travels with Renfield to England. There Dracula meets Dr. Seward (Herbert Bunston), Mina Seward (Helen Chandler) -Dr. Sewards daughter -, Mina's fiancé John Harker (David Manners) and Lucy (Frances Dade), Mina's friend. Dracula turns Lucy into a vampire and tries the same to Mina, but is finally killed by famous Dr. Van Helsing (Edward Van Sloan).

Watch out for:

The voice of the harbour master - it is director Tod Browning himself!

Schmooze:

• The melody played at the opening credits is from Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake" and was Universal Studio's signature tune for their horror movies as THE MUMMY or the like.
  
  
• Though he was the star Bela Lugosi earned only $500/week.
  
  
• It exists a memo saying: "Dracula is only to attack women." - apparently there shouldn't be any gay subtext.
  
  
• Bela Lugosi and Edward Van Sloan are the only actors out of this picture who appeared also in the original 1927 play on Broadway.
  
  
• The hungarian innkeeper is played by Michael Visaroff, who also appears in Tod Browning's FREAKS (1932).
  
  
• A spanish version was filmed silmutaniously (same time, same set, different actors.)
  
  
• You can see the set (Carfax Abbey & Dracula's castle) in other Universal movies.
  
  
• It is said, that Bela Lugosi doesn't blink once in this film - I have not checked that yet..
  
  
• Dracula never shows fangs in this film.
  
  
• Bette Davis was supposed to play Mina but producer Carl Laemmle, jr. wasn't positive about her sex appeal.
  
  
• Helen Chandler and Frances Dade were good friends.
  
  
• Conrad Veidt, Paul Muni and Lon Chaney (who died before this film was realised) were considered to play Dracula.
  
  
• In Dracula's castle you can see some opossums - there are no opossums in mid/east europe. That applies too for other animals like the armadillo.
  
  
• Dwight Frye and Bela Lugosi appeared together with Frederic March in a broadway comedy play THE DEVIL AND THE CHEESE in 1926. Neither Lugosi nor Frye should play many comedies on screen after DRACULA.
  
  
• Geraldine Dvorak, who plays one of Dracula's wifes was Greta Garbo's stand-in.
  
  
• The first lines in this movie are spoken by Carla Laemmle - Carl Laemmle's niece - she plays a young tourist, who drives in the carriage together with Renfield and other people.

Sight-read:

• You can hear Franz Schubert's "Unfinished Symphony" and the prelude to Richard Wagner's "Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg".

Murphy's Law:

• Renfields briefcase appears magically on the table whilst it was seconds before in Draculas hands.
  
  
• Dr. Seward's asylum is considered to be near London and in Whitby - must be a really colossal estate for Whitby is on the Yorkshire coast in nothern England..

My favourite feature:

Dracula's castle.

Favourite character:

Renfield - I am a fan of Dwight Frye..

Scene to see:

Renfield arrives and Dracula welcomes him to his castle.


Quotes corner:

One of the most famous film lines ever is delivered by Dracula himself:

"Children of the night, what music they make."

This film differs for the most part from the novel, which I am a great fan of. If you want to see a more authentic adaptation I recommend the 1992 version with Gary Oldman as Dracula to you - I really love that film, but won't make a revision because it is way to young for this blog.. *sigh* - maybe I should make a parallel blog with newer films.. naah.. - The 1931 version was planned to be more authentic to the novel, but after the Great Depression to adapt the play was less expensive.

I like the fact that music is used very sparingly - which is normal for the beginning talkies: Music was only used when actually music was played in a scene and in the credits of course. The nontalking sequences are more intensive that way.

I love Bela Lugosi because he resembles my late grandfather and there for it's a great delight for me to watch DRACULA.

Goodbye I'll go and watch another movie - or this one again? -

"Isn't this a strange conversation for men who AREN'T crazy?"