| Son of Dracula | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Robert Siodmak |
| Screenplay by | Eric Taylor |
| Story by | Curt Siodmak |
| Produced by |
|
| Starring |
|
| Cinematography | George Robinson |
| Edited by | Saul A. Goodkind |
| Music by | Hans J. Salter |
Production company | Universal Pictures |
| Distributed by | Universal Pictures |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 80 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Son of Dracula is a 1943 American horror film directed by Robert Siodmak – his first film for Universal Pictures – with a screenplay based on an original story by his brother Curt. The film stars Lon Chaney, Jr. and his frequent co-star Evelyn Ankers. Notably it is the first film where a vampire is actually shown physically transforming into a bat on screen. It is the third Dracula film from Universal's Classic Monster series, preceded by Dracula and Dracula's Daughter, though Count Dracula himself does not return to the series until the fourth installment, 1944's House of Frankenstein.
Plot[]
Hungarian Count Alucard (Lon Chaney Jr.), a mysterious stranger, arrives in the U.S. invited by Katherine Caldwell (Louise Allbritton), one of the daughters of New Orleans plantation owner Colonel Caldwell (George Irving). Shortly after his arrival, the Colonel dies of apparent heart failure and leaves his wealth to his two daughters, with Claire receiving all the money and Katherine his estate "Dark Oaks". Katherine, a woman with a taste for the morbid, has been secretly dating Alucard and eventually marries him, shunning her long-time boyfriend Frank Stanley. Frank confronts the couple and tries to shoot Alucard, but the bullets pass through the Count's body and hit Katherine, seemingly killing her.
A shocked Frank runs off to Dr. Brewster, who visits Dark Oaks and is welcomed by Alucard and a living Katherine. The couple instruct him that henceforth they will be devoting their days to scientific research and only welcome visitors at night. Frank goes on to the police and confesses to the murder of Katherine. Brewster tries to convince the Sheriff that he saw Katherine alive and that she would be away all day, but the Sheriff insists on searching Dark Oaks. He finds Katherine's dead body and has her transferred to the morgue. Dr. Brewster is shown reading the novel Dracula.
Meanwhile, Hungarian Professor Lazlo arrives at Brewster's house. Brewster has noticed that Alucard is Dracula spelled backwards and Lazlo suspects vampirism. A local boy brought to Brewster's house confirms this suspicion—there are bite marks on his neck. Later, the Count appears to Brewster and Lazlo but is driven away by a cross.
Vampiric Katherine enters Frank's cell as a bat and starts his transformation. After he awakens, she tells him she still loves him. She explains that she only married Alucard (who is really Dracula himself) to obtain immortality and wants to share that immortality with Frank. He is initially repulsed by her idea, but then yields to her. After she explains that she has already drunk some of his blood, she advises him on how to destroy Alucard. He breaks out of prison, seeks out Alucard's hiding place and burns his coffin. Without his daytime sanctuary, Alucard is destroyed when the sun rises. Brewster, Lazlo, and the Sheriff arrive at the scene to find Alucard's remains.
Meanwhile, Frank stumbles into the playroom where Katherine said she would be. He finds her coffin and gazes down at her lifeless body. Knowing he must kill the love of his life, Frank takes off his ring and puts it on Katherine's left ring finger. Once Brewster and the others reach the room, they see Frank appear at the door. He steps back allowing them to follow. As they enter the room, they see Katherine's burning coffin. They all stare, speechlessly, while Frank mourns the loss of his love.
Cast[]
Lon Chaney, Jr. plays the part of Count Alucard, the son of Dracula, a part that had previously been portrayed by Bela Lugosi in Universal's 1931 film Dracula.[1] Chaney was previously known for his role as Larry Talbot / The Wolf Man in The Wolf Man.[2]
- Lon Chaney, Jr. as Count Alucard (Dracula)
- Robert Paige as Frank Stanley
- Louise Allbritton as Katherine 'Kay' Caldwell
- Frank Craven as Dr. Harry Brewster
- J. Edward Bromberg as Professor Lazlo
- Patrick Moriarity as Sheriff Dawes
- Evelyn Ankers as Claire Caldwell
- Adeline De Walt Reynolds as Madame Queen Zimba
- Etta McDaniel as Sarah, Brewster's Maid
- George Irving as Colonel Caldwell
- Sam McDaniel as Andy (uncredited)
- George Meeker as Party Guest (uncredited)
Themes[]
Son of Dracula dates the original Count Dracula as being destroyed in the 19th century, when the original novel was set.
The following year, the Dracula-related series continued with House of Frankenstein in 1944, and House of Dracula in 1945, both of which starred John Carradine as the original Count Dracula.[3] The famous arrival of Dracula's coffin by train was reprised in the Abbott and Costello film Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948).[4]
While Brewster and Lazlo speculate that he might be a descendant of the original Dracula, congruent with the film's title, Katherine tells Frank that "he is Dracula". The film never clarifies if this means he is indeed the original Dracula who survived his supposed end, or if he is a descendant by the same family name that also happens to be a vampire. However, he is described as his descendant in the 1943 press kit.[5]
This is the first Universal Dracula film to take the Count out of Europe and bring him to America.
Production[]
The film was based on the story by Curt Siodmak, which was adapted to the screenplay by Eric Taylor.[6]
Robert Siodmak, then on $150 a week contract, says he was reluctant to take the film calling the script "terrible - it had been knocked together in a few days". He says he was persuaded to take the job by his wife who said if he showed he was "a little bit better" than Universal's other directors, it would impress the studio. He says three days into shooting he was offered a seven year contract. "We did a lot of rewriting and the result wasn't bad," he said, "it wasn't good but some scenes have a certain quality."[7]
Effects[]
The film was the first to show on-screen the bat-to-man transformation of a vampire, and the first (and only in the Universal series) to show vampires turning to mist and back again. The effects were the work of special-effects artist John P. Fulton.[8] Fulton was Universal's chief special-effects artist, starting with 1933's The Invisible Man.[9]
Critical reception[]
![[icon]](https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/ultimatepopculture/images/0/01/Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg.png/revision/latest?cb=20211122062953){kind=small} | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (August 2019) |
Review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reports an approval rating of 60% based on 15 reviews, with an average rating of 5.33/10.[10]
See also[]
- Dracula in popular culture
- Creature Features
- Vampire films
References[]
- ↑ Browning, John Edgar; Picart, Caroline Joan (Kay) (April 8, 2009). Draculas, Vampires, and Other Undead Forms: Essays on Gender, Race and Culture (illustrated ed.). Lanham, Maryland, USA: Scarecrow Press. p. 17. ISBN 9780810869233. OCLC 371085890. https://books.google.com/books?id=7yHqm9bfwfIC&pg=PA17&dq=%22Son+of+Dracula%22+1943&hl=en&sa=X&ei=xgQ0UdCLLuLniwK_5oGoBw&ved=0CCQQ6AEwAQ. Retrieved March 4, 2013.
- ↑ Guiley, Rosemary (2004). The Encyclopedia of Vampires, Werewolves and Other Monsters. New York City, New York, USA: Infobase Publishing. p. 63. ISBN 9781438130019. OCLC 593218217. https://books.google.com/books?id=5soL2qxSBDgC&pg=PA63&dq=%22Lon+Chaney,+Jr.%22+%22the+wolf+man%22+1941&hl=en&sa=X&ei=lSQ0UZShHo_yiQKnk4GIDQ&ved=0CCEQ6AEwAA. Retrieved March 4, 2013.
- ↑ Weaver, Tom; Brunas, Michael; Brunas, John (2007). Universal Horrors: The Studio's Classic Films, 1931-1946 (2nd ed.). Jefferson, North Carolina, USA: McFarland & Company. p. 502. ISBN 9780786491506. OCLC 812193275. https://books.google.com/books?id=Wut4jYBtUdsC&pg=PA502&dq=%22House+of+Frankenstein%22+%22John+Carradine%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=kZs1UffVGIblyQHX2ICQAg&ved=0CCcQ6AEwAQ. Retrieved March 5, 2013.
- ↑ Nollen, Scott Allen (January 1, 2009). Abbott and Costello on the Home Front: A Critical Study of the Wartime Films. Jefferson, North Carolina, USA: McFarland & Company. p. 152. ISBN 9780786453252. OCLC 431511689. https://books.google.com/books?id=rloU-4ntD_EC&pg=PA152&dq=%22Abbott+and+Costello+Meet+Frankenstein%22+Dracula+coffin+train&hl=en&sa=X&ei=0p41UcfaLuPSyAGTwYHYAw&ved=0CCUQ6AEwAQ. Retrieved March 5, 2013.
- ↑ Universal publicity department (1943). "Press kit from 1943 film" (Press release). http://www.zomboscloset.com/.a/6a00d83451d04569e201a3fd3ec7ea970b-pi.
- ↑ Smith, Don G. (May 1, 2004). Lon Chaney, Jr.: Horror Film Star, 1906-1973 (illustrated ed.). Jefferson, North Carolina, USA: McFarland & Company. p. 89. ISBN 9780786418138. https://books.google.com/books?id=HSPwUaOuQNUC&pg=PA89&dq=%22Son+of+Dracula%22+1943&hl=en&sa=X&ei=xgQ0UdCLLuLniwK_5oGoBw&ved=0CC8Q6AEwBA. Retrieved March 4, 2013.
- ↑ Encounter with Siodmak Taylor, Russell. Sight and Sound; London Vol. 28, Iss. 3, (Summer 1959): 180.
- ↑ Dixon, Wheeler W. (September 1, 2010). A History of Horror (illustrated ed.). New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA: Rutgers University Press. p. 34. ISBN 9780813547961. OCLC 461324157. https://books.google.com/books?id=5CtYoSSxomcC&pg=PA34&dq=%22Son+of+Dracula%22+1943+bat-to-man+transformation+Fulton&hl=en&sa=X&ei=bCc0UeyAK4XUiwK81IHYAg&ved=0CCEQ6AEwAA. Retrieved March 4, 2013.
- ↑ Miller, Ron (March 1, 2006). Special Effects: An Introduction to Movie Magic (illustrated ed.). Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA: Twenty-First Century Books. p. 25. ISBN 9780761329183. OCLC 60419490. https://books.google.com/books?id=JTIMIDNIVg8C&pg=PA25&dq=%22John+P.+Fulton%22+Universal+%22special-effects%22+1933+%22The+Invisible+Man%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=NKE1Uev4LaXUygHPxIG4AQ&ved=0CCkQ6AEwAg. Retrieved March 5, 2013.
- ↑ "Son of Dracula (1943)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved August 29, 2019.
{{cite web}}:
External links[]
- [1] – The Universal Dracula series
- Son of Dracula at the Internet Movie Database
- Son of Dracula at AllRovi
- Son of Dracula (1943 film) at Rotten Tomatoes
- Son of Dracula at the American Film Institute Catalog
Template:Robert Siodmak
| Bram Stoker's Dracula | ||
|---|---|---|
| Characters | Original novel | Count Dracula • Abraham Van Helsing • Jonathan Harker • Mina Harker • Lucy Westenra • Arthur Holmwood • Dr. John Seward • Quincey Morris •
Renfield • Brides |
| Other works | Adri Nital • Alucard • Count Alucard • Count Orlok • Count von Count • Dracula (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) • Doctor Sun • Eva • Hamilton Slade • Janus • Postmortem • Turac | |
| Historical | Vlad Călugărul • Vlad the Impaler • Vlad II Dracul | |
| Films | Universal series |
Dracula (1931 English-language) • Drácula (1931 Spanish-language) • Dracula's Daughter (1936) • Son of Dracula (1943) • House of Frankenstein (1944) • House of Dracula (1945) • Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948) |
| Hammer series |
Dracula (1958) • The Brides of Dracula (1960) • Dracula: Prince of Darkness (1966) • Dracula Has Risen from the Grave (1968) • Taste the Blood of Dracula (1970) • Scars of Dracula (1970) • Dracula A.D. 1972 (1972) • The Satanic Rites of Dracula (1973) • The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires (1974) | |
| Dracula 2000 |
Dracula 2000 (2000) • Dracula II: Ascension (2003) • Dracula III: Legacy (2005) | |
| Parodies | Mad Monster Party? (1967) • Batman Fights Dracula (1967) • Blacula (1972) • Mad Mad Mad Monsters (1972) • Blood for Dracula (1974) • Vampira (1974) • Son of Dracula (1974) • Dracula in the Provinces (1975) • Dracula and Son (1976) • Love at First Bite (1979) • The Halloween That Almost Wasn't (1979) • Fracchia contro Dracula (1985) • The Monster Squad (1987) • Scooby-Doo! and the Reluctant Werewolf (1988) • Dracula: Dead and Loving It (1995) • Monster Mash (1995) • Monster Mash (2000) • Zora the Vampire (2000) • Hotel Transylvania (2012) • Hotel Transylvania 2 (2015) | |
| Other | Dracula's Death (1921) • Nosferatu (1922) • The Return of the Vampire (1943) • Drakula İstanbul'da (1953) • Blood of Dracula (1957) • The Return of Dracula (1958) • Batman Dracula (1964) • Billy the Kid Versus Dracula (1966) • Dracula (1968) • Blood of Dracula's Castle (1969) • Count Dracula (1970) • Los Monstruos del Terror (1970) • Cuadecuc, vampir (1971) • Vampyros Lesbos (1971) • Dracula vs. Frankenstein (1971) • Bram Stoker's Dracula (1973) • Count Dracula's Great Love (1974) • Count Dracula (1977) • Dracula's Dog (1978) • Doctor Dracula (1978) • Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979) • Dracula (1979) • Nocturna: Granddaughter of Dracula (1979) • Dracula's Widow (1988) • To Die For (1989) • Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat (1989) • Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992) • Nadja (1994) • Shadow of the Vampire (2000) • Dark Prince: The True Story of Dracula (2000) • Dracula: Pages from a Virgin's Diary (2002) • Dracula (2002) •
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003) • Van Helsing (2004) • Van Helsing: The London Assignment (2004) • Dracula 3000 (2004) • The Vulture's Eye (2004) • Blade: Trinity (2004) • The Batman vs. Dracula (2005) • Bram Stoker's Dracula's Curse (2006) • Dracula (2006) • Bram Stoker's Dracula's Guest (2008) • The Librarian: Curse of the Judas Chalice (2008) • House of the Wolf Man (2009) • Young Dracula (2011) • Dracula Reborn (2012) • Dracula 3D (2012) • Saint Dracula 3D (2012) • Dracula 2012 (2013) • Dracula: The Dark Prince (2013) • Dracula Untold (2014) | |
| Television | Series | Draculas ring (1978) • Cliffhangers (1979) • Drak Pack (1980) • Count Duckula (1988–1993) • Dracula: The Series (1990–1991) • Little Dracula (1991–1999) • Ace Kilroy (2011–2012) • Young Dracula (2006–2014) (characters • episodes) • Dracula (2013–2014) • Penny Dreadful (2014–2016) |
| Episodes | "Treehouse of Horror IV" (1993) • "Treehouse of Horror XXI" (2010) • "Buffy vs. Dracula" (2000) • "The Crypt of Dracula" ((smaller|2017}} | |
| Other novels |
The Dracula Tape and sequels (1975–2002) • Anno Dracula series (1992–present) (Anno Dracula • The Bloody Red Baron • Dracula Cha Cha Cha) • Dracula's Guest and Other Weird Stories (1914) • The Revenge of Dracula (1978) • Little Dracula (1986) • Dracula the Undead (1997) • The Historian (2005) • The Book of Renfield (2005) • Bloodline (2005) • Young Dracula and Young Monsters (2006) • Fangland (2007) • Dracula the Un-dead (2009) | |
| Plays | Dracula (1924) • Dracula (1995) • Dracula (1996) | |
| Musicals | Dracula (Czech musical) (1995) • Dracula: A Chamber Musical (1997) • Dracula, the Musical (2004) • Dracula – Entre l'amour et la mort (2006) • Dracula: the Musical (2010) • Dracula – L'amour plus fort que la mort (2011) | |
| Comics | The Tomb of Dracula • Dracula (Marvel Comics) • Dracula (Dell Comics) • Dracula Lives • Hellsing • The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen • Sword of Dracula • Batman & Dracula: Red Rain • Victorian Undead • Wolves at the Gate • X-Men: Apocalypse vs. Dracula • Purgatori | |
| Video games |
The Count (1981) • Ghost Manor (1983) • Castlevania series (1986–present • Dracula) • Dracula (1986) • Dracula the Undead (1991) • Dracula Hakushaku (1992) • Bram Stoker's Dracula (1993) • Bram Stoker's Dracula (handheld) (1993) • Dracula Unleashed (1993) • Dracula: Resurrection (2000) • Dracula 2: The Last Sanctuary (2000) • Van Helsing (2004) • Dracula 3: The Path of the Dragon (2008) • Dracula: Origin (2008) • Vampire Season Monster Defense (2012) • Dracula 4: The Shadow of the Dragon (2013) • Dracula 5: The Blood Legacy (2013) • The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing (2013) • Drac's Night Out (unreleased) | |
| Pinball | Dracula (1979) • Bram Stoker's Dracula (1993) • Monster Bash (1998) | |
| Other games | The Fury of Dracula | |
| Castles | Castle Dracula • Bran Castle • Poenari Castle • Corvin Castle | |
| Albums | Dracula • Dracula 2000 • Iubilaeum Anno Dracula 2001 • Perfect Selection: Dracula Battle • Transylvania • Van Helsing | |
| Songs | "Love Song for a Vampire" | |
| Audio dramas | Legend of the Cybermen | |
| Related topics | Dracula in popular culture • Don Dracula • Transylvanian Society of Dracula • Dracula Society • Dracula tourism • Lugosi v. Universal Pictures • "Dracula/The Rose" | |
Template:Curt Siodmak