The Bela Lugosi Appreciation Thread

[Haunted hearse]

Which reoccuring character do you need? It has the count himself. Sure, they call him Tesla (or whatever) but then again Dracula calls himself Baron Lotus in the monster mash movies, so it would not be the only time the count went by a different name.

Saying Armand Tesla is simply Dracula, is like saying that Lugosi was limited as an actor, because even if his character had a different name, he's obviously only able to play a vampire as Dracula, without even subtle differences between the two.  Typically, even in Dracula  films, there is a moment of discovery where they realize that the vampire (Alucard ect.) who's come into their midst is actually Dracula.  I like to think of Armand Tesla as a different charater created by Lugosi, rather than Lugosi simply rehashing what he's done before. 

[Rich]

Saying Armand Tesla is simply Dracula, is like saying that Lugosi was limited as an actor, because even if his character had a different name, he's obviously only able to play a vampire as Dracula, without even subtle differences between the two.

It is not saying he was a limited actor. It is simply saying he was playing Dracula.  My second favorite role Lugosi had was Ygor, so I know he was not a limited actor. Not to mention the films in Universal's Bela Lugosi DVD Collection.

Typically, even in Dracula  films, there is a moment of discovery where they realize that the vampire (Alucard ect.) who's come into their midst is actually Dracula.  I like to think of Armand Tesla as a different charater created by Lugosi, rather than Lugosi simply rehashing what he's done before.

As a fan, I see him as Dracula.  Tesla is just another one of those names he used when he did not want people to know he was Dracula.

[swabie2424]

My second favorite role Lugosi had was Ygor...

Me too.  He really is amazing as Ygor in Son of.  Just steals the show.

I just re-watched "White Zombie" via Amazon Streaming, and he was terrific in that too as Murder Legendre.  Just the way he moves onscreen is fun to watch.  A very ominous character and they really accent Lugosi's eyes and hands in the films with close-ups. 

[Mord]

Let's not forget "The Black Cat", "The Raven", and "The Bodysnatcher" (among others).

[Haunted hearse]

I don't think anyone has brought up Lugosi as "Sayer of the law", from "Island of Lost Souls"(1932).

[Mord]

Or Dr. Mirakle from Murders in the Rue Morgue.

[I.M.]

I am always filled with sadness when the name Lugosi come to mind. Unfortunately, he never had a real opportunity to demonstrate his full potential. On the other hand, I am overwhelmed by the rich legacy he has left us. His filmography is so fascinating and its place for all of us is absolutely essential.

[Haunted hearse]

I am always filled with sadness when the name Lugosi come to mind. Unfortunately, he never had a real opportunity to demonstrate his full potential. On the other hand, I am overwhelmed by the rich legacy he has left us. His filmography is so fascinating and its place for all of us is absolutely essential.

The fact that to this day, people keep his legacy alive (Count Von Count comes to mind), for what could be generations to come, shows Lugois has achieved a greatness that very few actors will ever experience.  name a single character that Nicolas Cage or Keannu Reeves has brought to the screen, that will be any where near as memorable as the scientist Lugosi played in "Bela LUgosi meets a Brooklyn Gorilaa?", let alone the characters like "Ygor" and "Count Dracula", which Lugosi is deservedly best remebered for.  One of the things I loved about Ed Wood, was how it showed, even at the end of his life, Lugosi had a filmmaker who idolized him, and allowed him to perform the craft he loved.  I'm honestly sorry that Lugosi passed on, before Wood could have made Lugosi's vampire movie.  I know it wouldn't have been a masterpiece, but at least Lugosi would have had a final chance to bring his Count back to the big screen.

[Mord]

Keannu Reeves memorably played Bill (or was it Ted) in the Big Adventure movies. That's all I remember, unless you count those stupid Matrix movies.

[Count_Zirock]

Keanu's Jonathan Harker was memorable...for its atrociousness! And, Cage has one truly memorable performance, in "Raising Arizona."

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[Haunted hearse]

Keanu's Jonathan Harker was memorable...for its atrociousness! And, Cage has one truly memorable performance, in "Raising Arizona."

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Actually, Cage was great in Kick-A**, and I thought turned in a good performance in "The Kroods", playing the father of a neandrathal family.  Reeves?  We'll, I don't think he ever surpassed himself playing the romantic lead in Drew Barimore's "Babes in Toyland", perhaps the most epic made for television Yuletide movie! We'll almost as epic as the Star Wars Christmas special.

[Joe Karlosi]

I have always noticed a difference in how Bela played Armand Tesla. One would instinctively feel he was just playing "Dracula" again in THE RETURN OF THE VAMPIRE, but there do seem to be subtle differences to me.

[Haunted hearse]

I have always noticed a difference in how Bela played Armand Tesla. One would instinctively feel he was just playing "Dracula" again in THE RETURN OF THE VAMPIRE, but there do seem to be subtle differences to me.

Armand Tesla and Dracula were tow entirely different characters.  Vlad Dracul was a fierce warrior, where as Tesla was a scholar, when they were motal.  I think Lugosi would have thought about that when he played both parts.  By the way, to Lugosi's people, Vlad Dracul is a national hero, and the people of that area have been cold, when it comes to trying to exploit the person, like having a Dracula Theme park.

[Caveman]

Early in his career back in Hungary when Lugosi played under the name of Arisztid Olt, I was shocked to learn that the STARFILM company he worked for had a very prophetic logo.

[Scatter]

Keannu Reeves memorably played Bill (or was it Ted) in the Big Adventure movies. That's all I remember, unless you count those stupid Matrix movies.

Matrix.......ugh, what crap.