Dracula

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Summary: An Improved "Dracula"
Review: Director Tod Browning's "Dracula" (1931) features a classic Bela Lugosi performance in a mostly stagebound film. However, Philip Glass' new score (beautifully performed by the Kronos Quartet) elevates the film from its theatrical origins and adds a new dimension to Browning's static atmospherics. Of course, Glass' music cannot rectify the film's occasional flaws, yet the score makes "Dracula" a more rewarding and satisfying experience. Purists may object, but this new release should be considered the definitive version.

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Summary: THE MOVIE'S FINE; THE MUSIC RUINS IT
Review: The idea to add a musical score to Tod Browning's 1931 classic is, in principal, a good one. Like most early sound films, "Dracula" lacked a musical score. Films like "Frankenstien" and "The Old Dark House" also lacked scores, but the use of sound effects were so expertly done that no one ever noticed. "Dracula" is a much stodgier film, and a grand score in the classic tradition could have made a good film into a great one. Unfortunately, Phillip Glass and the Kronos Quartet have written an all strings score that not only does not fit the action on screen, but it also makes the dialogue(and the few good sound effects) impossible to hear. The music isn't bad; it just doesn't fit this movie. Stick to the unscored version, and you'll appreciate Lugosi's performance and Karl Fruend's photography much more.

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Summary: Glass matches Browning
Review: Roger Ebert says "The movie was made at the dawn of the sound era and lacked a musical score; Glass has matched his new composition with Tod Browning's eerie images, and he conducted the Kronos Quintet in a performance that underlined the experience without upstaging it."

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Summary: 3 cheers for Bela Lugosi!
Review: No one can ever come close to Lugosi's performace as Dracula. It has to be the best of the Vampire movies. And not just Lugosi,but they all do fantastic. If any Horror Movie is good it is Dracula.

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Summary: Bela Lugosi Lives Forever
Review: Bela Lugosi is the quintessential Dracula. He is incredibly suave and pleasantly over-the-top, and in that way no one has ever been able to come close to him. Frank Langella, John Carradine, Christopher Lee, even Gary Oldman has never challenged him in their Dracula portrayals. The sets in this version are terrific for its 1920-30ish setting. Never mind the fact that it was based on the stage play and not the book, but then, why does it need to follow the book? It stands perfectly on its own. Second, apart from Lugosi, Edward Van Sloan, Dwight Frye, and Helen Chandler are simply supurb, and make this film emotionally charged. This is a more clean-cut and less gory than most of today's horror films, but it is very athmospheric and well acted, and that's what makes it the best Dracula film ever made.

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Summary: creepy
Review: dracula is one of my fav. movies of all time.when someone asks me why i just tell them to go watch it.this is the only movie i can't watch alone in the dark.bela lugosi is and always will be the best of all men to play dracula.blea is a legend!!if your looking for a creepy erie film don't go looking for any of those new teen slasher movies go get the 1931 bela lugosi staring dracula...it's worth it!!

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Summary: Bela Lugosi's Masterpiece
Review: This is the best Dracula movie ever. The mood, look, and feel of this movie is incredible. This is Bela Lugosi's greatest work. In it he delivers an Oscar worthy performance.

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Summary: The Granddaddy of em all
Review: Anyone wishing to appreciate classic horror and vampire films, there is no better place to start. The ending is disappointing, but the mood and the script plus Lugosi, Van Sloan and Dwight Frye's performances are absolutely incredible.

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Summary: great movie
Review: Buy i

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Summary: The only real Dracula
Review: This one is a horror classic. Bela Lugosi, in his greatest cinematic performance, sets a standard which none of his successors could ever meet. The script is strong, the sets are excellent, and the supporting cast is superb. Bela Lugosi is the definitive Dracula - get this one, and enjoy it again and again.