Dracula - Spanish-language version (1931) Movie Review
Dracula - Spanish-language version (1931) Movie Review
I never drink… vino.
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Dracula en Español has never been buried — it was released in theaters back in the day, it was a big deal upon rediscovery in the 1970s, it plays revival shows now, it's been on TV, DVD and there's probably even an iPhone app for it. But quite a few of my friends had never seen it before programmers played a print at the 2010 VampireCon in L.A., and I hadn't seen the notorious flick on the big screen. I recalled bits and pieces, but was eager to catch it all its silver screen glory — so covering the event (the Con is just a toddler; this is year two) was the icing on the casket.
The first surprise was being told at check in that there were no subtitles on the print. No big deal, right? I mean, who doesn't know the story of Dracula? I've seen the captioned DVD before (though I barely remembered it), read the book, listened to the audiobook, seen the Bela Lugosi film version approximately a million times, caught a play… you name it. I know my Dracula. So the second surprise was just how boring this movie was, the second time around! (This sucker is definitely one you need only see once.)
Part of the problem I had, no doubt, was the fact that I do not speak Spanish (I know, I know… born and raised in L.A. and I don't even understand the official language of Southern California). Of course, I could easily follow the story, but after awhile — especially during the talky scenes in the drawing room — one tends to go numb. As for the seeing aspect — while the camera work is slightly more lively than its U.S. counterpart, rumors of its acrobatics are greatly exaggerated. (As I noted in my previous review.)
Moving on to look, feel and tone. In case you don't know, George Melford's Dracula en Español is famed for having been shot at exactly the same time and on the same sets as the Browning version. But they used different actors and added more to the script. While I don't (brace yourself for sacrilege) exactly love Bela Lugosi as Dracula, I think he was a much better Count than Carlos Villarias. Sure, it was the silent film acting style overflow of the period (which, in turn was based on 'big' stage acting), but wow… is Villarias ever hammy! He's way more laughable than scary or seductive. When it comes to the supposedly sexier and sheerer nighties on the women in the movie… no dice. I've seen much more revealing horror movies from the early 30s than this.
Eva Seward (Lupita Tovar) and Renfield (Pablo Alvarez Rubio) have a certain magnetism, but the rest of the cast just don't stand the test of time. Unlike, say, a Frankenstein (also 1931), or a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (again, 1931), Dracula en Español as a film is pretty standard fare. Definitely worth seeing once, but not to die for.
Thank goodness, the second feature that night was much more to my liking!
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Reviewed by Staci Layne Wilson