Dracula "Spanish Version" (1931)

Release date: 1931 USA

Director: George Melford
(The Cat And The Canary 1930; The Sea Wolf 1920)

Producer: Universal Pictures

Writer: Garrett Fort / Baltasar Fernandez Cue
(based on the novel by Bram Stoker
and the play by Hamilton Deane & John Balderston)

Director of photography: George Robinson



>>Cast:

-Conde Dracula.................Carlos Villarias
-Eva Seward......................Lupita Tovar
-Juan Harker.....................Barry Norton
-Renfield..........................Pablo Alvarez Rubio
-Van Helsing....................Eduardo Arozamena
-Dr. Seward......................Jose Soriano Viosca
-Lucia...............................Carmen Guerrero



>>Summary:

Dracula (Carlos Villarias) travels from Castle Dracula in the
Carpathian Mountains to London to establish himself in
respectable society by day and carry on his blood-lusting by
night. However, he has not reckoned on Dr. Van Helsing
(Eduardo Arozamena), who is aware of his vampirism.
This Dracula is a completely different vision of the horror
classic.



Cinematographer George Robinson's fluid camera work and a
complex depth of focus create a menacing atmosphere.
In addition, the sensuality of the vampire maidens adds an
unexpected raciness to this timeless tale.









>>Note:

- Before the dubbing of Hollywood movies into foreign languages
became the norm, it was common for studios to make two or more
versions of a movie simultaneously. 1931's Dracula was the only
one of Universal's horror films that received this two-for-one
treatment: the English-language version was shot during the
daylight hours, while, at night, the same script and sets were used
for the Spanish version.

- Director George Melford did not speak or understand Spanish
and had to work with his cast through translators.

- In 1989, horror-movie historian David J. Skal discovered the
legendary Spanish-language version of the 1931 Dracula in Cuba.

- The sexual elements of vampirism are played to a greater degree
in the Spanish version.

- Lupita Tovar (as Eva, Dracula's intended victim) was wooed by the
Czech-born producer of the movie, Paul Kohner, and they married
in 1932.