Dracula-thon (Part 2)

And now, the Universal films..

Dracula (1931)

The film-

The Lugosi one, or, sometimes just "the Lugosi", or even just "Lugosi".

This is the one every one thinks of, even if they've never actually seen it.
All the parodies are based on it, the cartoon caricatures of the character, this is Dracula for most of the..well...species.

Aaand, it's a actually good 'un.
For an old black & white, it's got some eerie moments.
...got some cheesey ones too...but overall, cool flick.

The guts of the novel are there, stuff is omitted, rather than liberties taken, which is way more than can be said for other re-interpretations.

Yeah, I like this one.
Recommended.
TCM or somebody usually plays it at least once come Halloween time.

The history-

Faint memories of seeing this on cable since I was a kid.
This, and the sequels/spoofs, of course.

Think I've always had a thing for the monsters....
Even had the action figures of 'em from the 80's..*Googles*...shit, here they are!! 


Anyhoo...it was quite a few years until Drac made a comeback, there were "sequels", but they didn't actually have Dracula in 'em...then, finally, came....


House of Frankenstein (1944)

The film-

The first big all-star monster mash!
Mmm, not the first crossover, that was "Frankenstein Meets The Wolfman", but...no Dracula see, so...
Don't worry, I'll get to it.

Definitely the first "monster rally".

Anyway, this does actually pick up from Frankie meets Wolfie.

John Carradine is Dracula, and...he actually looks more like he's supposed to in the novel.
Good job there, actually.

Glenn Strange is The Frankenstein Monster, even though Karloff is in the flick as another character.
I dunno what was up with that.

BUT, Lon Cheny Jr. always stayed Wolfman for this series.
So, that was something.

Fun flick, what I can remember of it, anyway..see history.

History-

I haven't seen this since I was little, the memories are faded, I gotta see this, and a bunch of the others again.

Also...man, what I wouldn't give for a full out "monster rally", of the modern guys I grew up with.
The Freddys, the Pinheads, all of those.
Then, the slashers vs the classics.
Then, the puppetoon version.
I want it all!!

Why not?
Look at the 40's, they used to give it all to ya!
Now, you get little Dixie cups of horror, it's pathetic.


House of Dracula (1945)

The film-

All the characters are back, picking right up from the last one, everyone's in the same roles, 'cept Karloff isn't back.

Here, "The Mad Doctor", becomes a sort of Mr Hyde, so, you have a Jekyll/Hyde on top of everyone else.

Gawd, I gotta watch these...*Googles*
HOH! SQEEEE!! Youtube has 'em!
Well, I know what IIII'm watching!


Abbot and Costello meet Frankenstein (1948)

The film-

Ostensibly follows the two "house..", flicks, but, the continuity is a little sloppy...
It can be forgiven, I suppose.

But, Lon Cheny Jr. is still Wolfman, Glenn Strange is still The Monster, aaaand, Lugosi returns at last, as Dracula!
YAY!!

The history-

Gawd, I remember when all of these were on rotation on TV.
Now, not so much.

Come on, TV, be fun again!
Enough with this "Honey Boo Boo", horseshit.

Also,...man, I miss this phase in the sequel cycle.
I said it before, in regard to "Three Stooges Meet Hercules", but, how fun would that be?
Pinhead vs. Eddy Murphy?
Dr. Heiter vs. Will Ferrell?
It'd be a blast, and you fucking well know it.


Dracula (1979)

The film-

The Langella one.
Yeah, just "the Langella one", I don't know if it's earned just "Langella", like Lugosi earned "Lugosi".
It might get there though, we'll see.

This one is pretty good, but it took some liberties with continuity, and character names.

The history-

Hmm..y'know, only seen bits and pieces of this one.
I gotta see it all the way through.

Skeletor as Dracula, how could that not kick ass?

Ope, Youtube's got it, on the list it goes....
I'll update in comments my further thoughts on this one.

Okay, this next one's not from Universal, but it's about the Universal monster era..in a sense...


Ed Wood (1994)

Yep, again.

It just turned 18 this year, and, here's my review again.

Man, you know, I bet a generation know Bela Lugosi more from this, than Dracula.
That's...actually kind of a shame...but...it is a great friggin' Bela...I don't know how to feel....


So, that's Universal, up next, Hammer.