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Bela Lugosi, death, Dracula, film, Forrest J. Ackerman, horror, In Memoriam, movie, Universal Studios, White Zombie
I am Dracula. I bid you welcome.
When Universal Studios released “Dracula” in 1931, I don’t think anyone imagined the worldwide obsession that would follow. Bram Stoker’s novel was already 34 years old, and “Dracula” wasn’t the first vampire film. But this was the first time the audience was introduced to a charming and dapper Count Dracula; a villain they wanted to love.
In England, in 1924, “Dracula” the stage play was the first adaptation of the novel authorised by Stoker’s widow. In 1927, the play came to America and in his first major English-speaking role, Hungarian actor Bela Lugosi donned the famous Dracula cape for the first time. And a legend was born.
Lugosi and Edward Van Sloan (Van Helsing) both acted in the stage play and then reprised their roles for the Universal film.
Béla Ferenc Dezső Blaskó was born on October 20, 1882. “Dracula” was his claim to fame, but as is the sad destiny of many actors, he was the victim of typecasting and would never be free of the horror villain role that made him famous. His heavy accent also limited his future acting opportunities.
I am definitely typed, doomed to be an exponent of evil.
“White Zombie” (1932)
There’s no question that Lugosi is best remembered for his role in “Dracula”, but his other films are certainly worth a second look too. “White Zombie” (1932) is a creepy tale of mind control and the walking dead. Lugosi also paired up with fellow Universal horror legend Boris Karloff in a number of films: “The Black Cat” (1934) and “The Raven” (1935) most notably. A personal favourite of mine is the lesser-known “The Corpse Vanishes” (1942), and of course the Universal classic “The Wolf Man” (1941) where Lugosi plays the character of Bela — the son of a gypsy fortune-teller who is responsible for turning Larry Talbot (Lon Chaney Jr.) into a werewolf.
Lugosi’s career and health deteriorated over the next decade or so, and his final (and dialogue-less) film appearance was in the heavily scorned “Plan 9 From Outer Space”. Both the film and its director Ed Wood have been dubbed “the worst” (worst movie ever made/worst director ever). Lugosi died before the film was completed, but footage shot of him still made it into the final product.
He may have ended on a low note, but Lugosi has never (and will never) be without a faithful legion of friends and fans. And thankfully, his mesmerizing and charismatic portrayal of the most famous vampire in history will forever outshine any duds that may be lurking in his film closet.
Bela Lugosi suffered a heart attack and died on the 16th of August, 1956 at the age of 73. A showman to the end, he was buried in his Dracula costume. When friends and fellow horror masters Peter Lorre and Vincent Price came to pay their respects, Lorre quipped to Price, “Do you think we should drive a stake through his heart just in case?”
Today, on the anniversary of his death, we remember this talented actor from Hollywood’s Golden Age. His career may not have been as diverse as he wanted, but if you’re an undying fan of classic horror like I am, then his fright-heavy filmography doesn’t bother you one bit.
I’d like to close this post with the words of Forrest J. Ackerman, who wrote this touching memoriam for his close friend, the Immortal Count. May he live forever.
*****
Dracula is dead.
Requiem for the Generation of Vampires.
Black Mass.
A thousand stakes through his heart could not keep him from resurrecting nightly, but at last the Grim Reaper has had his way.
On 18 August 1956, Bela Lugosi lay for the last time in the coffin from which he would rise no more. Scant weeks before, my friend and I had been photographed and televised together just two blocks away on Hollywood Blvd. At the premiere of his “Black Sleep”. Now the true, the final black sleep had come to Bela. A tired, ill, suffering, disintegrating, grateful-for-friends old actor was gone.
He lay in state as Count Dracula, complete with cape and ring and medallion. Among the many who passed by his coffin to pay their last respects were Zoltan Korda, Tor Johnson, Manly P. Hall, Don Grollman, and Bela Lugosi Jr. All saw that he looked magnificent in death.
In death?
But Bela Lugosi will never really die.
Through the miracles of motion picture and television, as long as there are those who enjoy the frisson of horror, the fun or fear of the fantastic, the shock and thrill of science, there will be revivals of the films in which he starred.
Hail, but not farewell, Bela Lugosi.
*****
How strange — and yet fitting — to honor an actor best known for playing the undead on his death day! I agree with Peter Lorre. Can we really be sure he’s gone? Not that we’d want him to be. And actually, we know that, thanks to the magic of film and wonderful tributes like this one, he never will be. As long as future generations can watch and enjoy his performances, Bela Lugosi will live on.
And thank God for that. Because for me — and for you too, I well know after many conversations on this topic! — Lugosi represents a time when there was a sense of fun in the great horror films. Sure, they gave us a shiver, but it came with a smile. With so many of today’s horror films, we’re more likely to feel unsettled — and not in a good way. We’re not smiling, we’re grimacing. We can admire the technical prowess of today’s films, but the stories they’re bringing us are of dubious value.
There’s something else I’ll always like about Lugosi’s Dracula (and Christopher Lee’s, which I know is your personal favorite!), and that’s the fact they never slip into portraying the Count as a good guy. As you and I have discussed before, the trend of moral confusion that mars so many of today’s films is disturbing. Audiences may have enjoyed Lugosi’s and Lee’s characterizations, and “liked” them because of how skilled they were at acting, but no one would ever mistake Dracula for a good guy in their films. And that’s the way it SHOULD be.
One of the reasons your blog is my favorite is how you keep the best of classic horror alive in posts that are so enjoyable to read. You always find the best pics (and I know for a fact you hunt high and low to get the best prints!), and gather them into these fun, informative posts. When you tell me what you’re going to write, and you send me a draft to review, I’m not exaggerating when I act excited. I know I’m in a for a treat! And you never prove me wrong.
So kudos for another winning post, GF! I’m sure Lugosi is smiling down from a certain castle in the sky. It’s crumbling and filled with cobwebs, but it looks like a fun place to visit. Once in a while, I mean — from the safety of a warm couch! ;)
Aww, thanks so much, Boss! The thought of Lugosi leaning out of his rundown ol’ castle in the sky puts such a smile on my face! As does knowing how much my biggest fan enjoyed this post! :)
And I do my best to deliver quality here on my blog. You certainly do know the lengths I’ll go to in order to find THE best photos available. My real problem is not being able to choose from the massive stash I create! So many wonderful shots, and so few blog posts to use them in!
I could not agree with you more about how the classic horror films were fun. Today, that is so rare it’s not funny. In fact, I can’t think of one modern film that even tries to capture what we’re talking about. Today you either get wet-the-bed terrifying or deliberate mockery in the guise of humour that’s really more dumb than anything. And this is why it’s so important that we keep these gems alive — and the actors who brought them to life! As we’ve said to each other so many times before, it’s much nicer to sit down and enjoy something that you feel good about afterwards. If what you just saw left you feeling so wrong inside that you need to binge on Leave it to Beaver and The Munsters? Just to be able to sleep that night? Something is truly wrong with that.
And YES to what you said about how Lugosi and Lee’s Draculas ARE indeed MONSTERS. As they should be. When it comes to these classic films, there’s nothing to send your moral compass spinning. There is clearly defined good, clearly defined evil, and good always wins. And THAT’S the way it should be.
Now, what say the Boss and Gal Friday have a Bela Lugosi movie marathon? ;)
The legends of sci – fi, fantasy & horror never really vanish. As long as there are Halloweens & camp fires around which to tell scary ghost stories & tell strange legends of ghosts, goblins, spooks, vampires & monsters constructed from dormant flesh, movie screens upon which to project golems & other unearthly beings from fantastic realms, the legends will never truly die. Because they tell tales of Promethean hubris & ventures into forbidden, forgotten realms, alternate realities resonating with strange tales – Humanity would be poorer without them.
Amen! I couldn’t agree with you more. Very well said.
I was strongly influenced by Ray Bradbury’s story, ” Usher II ” which was a good vignette included in his ” Martian Chronicles ” anthology. I had just re – watched it on Youtube & have it in paperback form somewhere. I recommend it as a story AGAINST rampant censorship. We MUST preserve our legends, whether they be Robin Hood, Anakin Skywalker / Darth Vader, Davros, or Frankenstein’s monster.
It doesn’t get any better than Bela Lugosi. He was an actor’s actor, comfortable in the lead role as well as in a supporting role. He adds a whole new dimension to the Frankenstein franchise as Igor. Bela Lugosi stands as a shining example to the artistry behind adaptations from the classics that go on to become classics in their own right.
I couldn’t have said it better myself. A true legend!
Monsters are a counterpoint to everyday, boring ( ” boring ” being a relative term. ) routine life. We NEED them, in a way, just like Ridley Scott’s ” Aliens “, Cylons, Cybermen, Daleks, Martians from ” War of the Worlds ” to the Martians from the slightly more…… erm, ” Grade B ” movie ” MARS ATTACKS “, Terminators, etc.
I don’t quite understand how vampires were imbued with sexuality ( If you’ve seen the B&W ” Nosferatu ” by Max Schrek, you’ll know where I’m coming from. He looks like Montgomery Burns. :) ), but it amped – up the legend.
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