Dracula (1931) Epilogue available to watch on Vimeo

[YoungestMonsterKid]

So back in February I saw a post on Reddit about how the long lost epilogue to the 1931 Dracula was found, in tact. Just with some audio issues. Well some fans are apparently in the process of working on it. But so far they've uploaded their progress so far. It's so nice to finally see this, after 90 years.

https://vimeo.com/1179329000?fbclid=IwZnRzaARWRz9leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEea80M1xsoj1F8-jT2Yf9KmII3eF5jTfoYdzf8EVia4uO1tu5CrTU1aGaAnOw_aem_Nxoao_R1gXXPCi1BNsDBag

[Mike Scott]

Cool! I suppose they'll add it to a new BD, so we have to buy it again. 

[YoungestMonsterKid]

Cool! I suppose they'll add it to a new BD, so we have to buy it again. 

So far this is just a fan project, to my understanding. I do wonder though if Universal will take notice and add it to future releases.

[crissrudd4554]

They'd better do it fast considering the film enters public domain in a little over 8 months.

[Darkknightkjm]

Not quite a "fan" project.  Ray Faiola of Chelsea Rialto Studios is behind it.  Apparently a 16mm silent Show-At-Home copy of the film was found.  It was offered to Universal and their reply...well, I's say "crickets" but crickets make some noise.  So the print is going to be sold (likely to Ray Faiola) and then...hopefully released to all us monster kids, or, perhaps when the film enters the public domain, he can add it to a print a release it himself.  The audio needs to be perfected (the audio in the clip as made up of audio from the film, audio from the previously partially found badly damaged fragment, and AI generated voice. 

IF Ray does release a complete version of the film himself, I would LOVE several versions of the film.  The original 1931 release with the curtain speech, the 1938 re-release sans curtain speech, AND a special version with a recreation of the original title car that was quickly removed and replaced (now with the misspelling of the word President as Presient.  That original title card has the title Dracula in a totally different font.  It could be seen for 1 frame of the film on the original DVD releases, before the recent restoration for bluray and 4k. 

[Mike Scott]

Welcome to the UMA, Darkknightkjm! 

Thanks for the Draco info!

[YoungestMonsterKid]

The audio needs to be perfected (the audio in the clip as made up of audio from the film, audio from the previously partially found badly damaged fragment, and AI generated voice. 

I suspected some AI was used for the audio. I'm generally strongly against that sort of thing, usually. But I don't mind in this case. At least I don't have to look at any ugly AI images. Plus, they're using as much of the original audio as possible.
Like, there's a difference between using AI to actually help restore something and then just making the abomination that is the "remake" of London After Midnight in AI.

[CountWolkoff]

Didn't Christopher Lee at some point say Van Sloan's address, word-of-word?

[Mike Scott]

Didn't Christopher Lee at some point say Van Sloan's address, word-of-word?

Search me?

[Monster Mafia]

Yes, Edward Van Sloan (who played Van Helsing) delivered a famous "curtain speech" epilogue at the end of the original 1931 Dracula film.
 
Key Details About the Speech:
Purpose: It was designed to reassure viewers, similar to the prologue in Frankenstein (1931), which also featured Van Sloan.

Removal: The scene was removed around 1936 to comply with production codes (Hays Code) after religious groups complained it promoted belief in the supernatural.
Current Status: Long considered lost, this footage was discovered, with some clips available, such as on Vimeo and mentioned in the Road to Dracula documentary, though often in poor condition.

Content: Van Sloan told the audience, "...when you get home tonight, and the lights have been turned out, and you are afraid to look behind the curtains—and you dread to see a face appear at the window—why, just pull yourself together and remember that, after all, THERE ARE SUCH THINGS AS VAMPIRES!!!".

[Darkknightkjm]

Actually, Van Sloan says:

"Just a moment ladies and gentlemen." (the Universal globe appears during that part of the speech, then it cuts to Van Sloan in front of a movie screen). "We hope that Dracula won't give you bad dreams.  And so just a word of assurance.  When you get home tonight, and the lights have been turned out, and you are afraid to look behind the curtains or you dread to see a face at the window.   Why, just pull yourself together and remember that, after all...there are such things!"  Then the Universal globe pops back on screen.

Since Universal apparently has no plans to add this back into Dracula, it sounds like Ray Faiola might just do it himself when Dracula enters the public domain.