Drac-ing To and Fro
Season 2: Episode 59
Dracula (1931)
Garrett Ford (Frankenstein, Mark of Zorro) would adapt the classic Bram Stoker novel for the screen which was directed by Tod Browning. The film is actually more based on the 1924 stage play and very loosely based on the novel.
Although Nosferatu (1922), german expressionist film, was released and ordered to be destroyed by Bram Stoker’s widow due to copyright infringement, the team of Dracula would study the film to help bring their film to life for Universal. The film feels like a silent film through style and direction due to Browning having most of his experience in silent films.
The film would star Bela Lugosi, Helen Chandler, David Manners and Dwight Frye. In 1998, Phillip Glass would compose a score for this Dracula. Interestingly enough, Tod Browning would film during the day and at night, George Melford would film the Spanish version of the same film which both versions can be found on the Blu-Ray release with interesting results.
Season 2: Episode 60
Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992)
This time around James V Hart would write the screenplay and director duties would be Francis Ford Coppola. The film would come to Coppola after Ryder presented it to him after feeling guilty for dropping out of Godfather Part III.
Filmed entirely on sound stages and using practical effects over digital effects, Coppola would rely on giving the film an erotic dream feel throughout the film. The film would get good notices for most of the cast though Keanu Reeves would be the brunt of bad reviews.
The film starred Wynonna Ryder, Keanu Reeves, Gary Oldman, Anthony Hopkins and Sadie Frost. The film would go on to win Academy Awards for makeup design and costume ignoring the acting categories all together.
Love At First Bite (1979)
Written by Robert Kaufman and directed by Stan Dragoti and a spoof of Dracula, the film would become a box office success. It would transport Dracula to New York City after being evicted from his Castle by the Romanian government as they needed his castle to be the new sports center.
The film would start George Hamilton, Susan St James, Richard Benjamin, Arte Johnson and Dick Shawn. They would showcase their comedy talent by looking at love and lust in 1970’s New York City. A sequel has been in planning stages since 1980 with no luck as of date.
Season 2: Episode 61
Rebecca (1940)
Written by a team of writers and Alfred Hitchcock’s first American film would bring him to the attention of the Academy Awards for a total of nine awards.
The film today is notable for having a lesbian flirtation going on with Mrs Danvers which Hitchcock would put into the film which was not in the script. The film was almost banned due to this but David O Selznick would push the film forward and eventually the Hayes board would back down for the film release.
The film starred Joan Fontaine, Laurence Olivier, Judith Anderson, George Saunders and Leo G Carroll. The film is a somewhat faithful adaption of the classic Daphne du Maurier and the first of three of her works filmed by Hitchcock. This is also the first film to start the film noir movement in Hollywood.
Season 2: Episode 62
