Thoughts on Spanish Dracula (1931)

[marsattacks666]

Carlos Villarias performance as Dracula is eccentric, compared to Bela's performance. Bela's is exceptional, great and classic.

[Doh!]

While I find the Spanish version a better directed piece, the lead is waaaay too hammy for his own good. You basically can't touch Bela, even if the movie is a bit stagy.

Advantage: Bela.

[BigShadow]

I always thought that if you put Lugosi with George Melford's vision, the movie would have been fantastic.  Browning was much more static than the dynamics of Melford.  Although Carlos Villarias did a fine enough job, he could match Lugosi's performance.

[GeekDragon]

A friend of mine first told me about the Spanish Dracula around 1988.  I never got around to watching it, even though I have the Monsters box set from '99 and the blu ray box set.  I really should, because he passed away due to a heart attack last year, so I owe it to him to watch it.  He told me it was better then the Lugosi version and I have heard from many people that it is superior.  But, I have also heard the opposite.

[Majere]

I think it's overrated.  I've watched it several times over the years, and never got into it.  Carlos Villarías played the role almost as if he were acting in a silent film.  He had none of the charisma that Bels Lugosi had.

While the directing might have minimally better, I find little about the film that puts it above the English version.  I had the chance to see Dracula and it's Spanish cousin in a double feature a few years ago at AMC theater.  Me and every one else in the theater got up and left the cinema right after the English version ended.  Literally not one person stayed for the Spanish version.

[Monsters For Sale]

I think it's overrated.  I've watched it several times over the years, and never got into it.  Carlos Villarías played the role almost as if he were acting in a silent film. ... 

The Spanish version featured the typically broader acting styles found in Spanish (especially Mexican) cinema.

I compare the acting in the English (American) and Spanish Draculas the same way I compare the acting in Tora! Tora! Tora!  The English directed and acted portions seem so much more subdued than the Japanese directed and acted segments.  Just a different way of reflecting the world.

And yes, Carlos looked like he was in a silent movie.

[Lunkenstein]

That makes sense. I agree with a lot of what's already been said in this thread. I find it interesting to occasionally give the Spanish version a look again, but I always prefer the Bela film.  One scene I like is when Carlos is coming up from inside the ship with Renfield laughing/screaming hysterically.  Carlos actually looks quite menacing in that shot.

[The Cantankerous Collector]

Overrated

[Lunkenstein]

Two nights ago, I watched the American version. Last night, I watched the Spanish.  Pretty much still feel the same about them.  Bela IS Dracula.  Carlos could never have matched him, but what really hurts him are those over-the-top facial expressions.  Bela had such a macabre charisma in the role.  No wonder he could never escape it. I still say there are some things in the Spanish version that are worthwhile though. You can tell they tried hard to compete with their counterpart. I like some of the differing camera shots of the castle. Lupita Tovar is quite gorgeous and very sexy.  Plus, I think she did some fine acting in her role.  Pablo Álvarez Rubio as Renfield is pretty decent, but Dwight Frye is unforgettable and more tragic.  The American version crushes it in the Van Helsing vs Dracula scene. I do like the Spanush version including a short moment verifying Lucy's release and Van Helsing mentioning he would do the same for Renfield at the end. I can only guess a stake in the heart of his corpse would save his soul, even though he was just under his master's control and not yet a full fledged vampire.

So again, I still like the Bela version best but find I can also appreciate the Spanish take.  I also find I enjoy watching all the bonus material on this beautiful Blu-ray again each time I want to get my Dracula fix.