After reading the Norton Critical Edition of Dracula that contains an annotated version of the 1897 British edition of Bram Stoker’s novel, along with a wealth of supporting material in categories relating to Context, Dramatic and Film Variations and Criticism, I was delighted to find this collection of Dracula movies filmed by Universal Studios to add to my collection.

Especially after reading the section on Dramatic and Film variations, it was great to be able to view some of the best examples on screen. The gem of this collection is the 1931 Dracula. As a film buff, I was especially interested in the comparison between the English language and the Spanish language versions of the 1931 Universal film. (Both films, are very distinct yet were shot on the same sets, using the same script, but with different casts, crews, and director.) The lesser entries in this collection (Dracula’s Daughter, Son of Dracula and House of Dracula) are less interesting but still worth viewing if only to watch the evolution of the film version of the Dracula legend. It is interesting to see what elements have been taken from the original novel and what elements have survived from the various stage and screen adaptations throughout the years.

To round out the Dracula viewing experience, you may want to also add some of the later film versions (like the 1992 Bram Stoker’s Dracula), but this collection is a great place to start.


Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Good for a Rainy Day
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older