85 Years Of Dracula

A Tribute to Bela Lugosi.

- David Weiner

“Listen to them. Children of the night. What music they make.”

Director Tod Browning’s DRACULA, starring Bela Lugosi as Bram Stoker’s immortal king of the vampires, endures as a cinematic classic. Lugosi’s turn as the count, alongside Boris Karloff’s Frankenstein’s Monster, remains one of the absolute pillars of Universal Studios’ dream team of famous monsters, thanks to his indelible performance.

This year marks the 85th anniversary of DRACULA, and in celebration we’ve rounded up two men who are connected to the film — and Bela Lugosi himself — perhaps more than anyone else.

Bela Lugosi, Jr. grew up in the shadow of his legendary father, and shares not only his favorite memories of the cinematic icon, but what he thinks of his legacy — and the film that started it all.

And Martin Landau, who won an Oscar for playing Bela Lugosi in Tim Burton’s 1994 film, ED WOOD, provides insight into what it was like to play the DRACULA legend, finding the humanity of the Hungarian actor without falling into the trappings of parody.

Famous Monsters: With his role as Count Dracula, describe your father’s influence on the horror film genre.

Bela Lugosi, Jr.: When my dad landed the role of Count Dracula in the 1927 Broadway production of DRACULA, he created his version of the character — the makeup, the mode of dress, the mannerisms, and, of course, the eyes. Along with his distinct accent, this became the characterization for which he is famous. In 1931, Dad brought his portrayal to the screen.