There's no stopping my friend, Mel. She keeps surprising me with delightful, lobby-card reproductions of my favorite films. This time it's all old school with the iconic Bela Lugosi (the examples shown here taken from sharp, stock sources for clarity's sake).
Two of the three, Lugosi, 11" x 14" images represent Carl Laemmle Jr/Tod Browning's ultra-classic, "Dracula". The 1931, Universal smash (based on Bram Stoker's classic novel and Hamilton Deane and John Balderston's famous stage show in which Lugosi starred) never grows old, only tastier with age (like fine wine, I suppose, even though the Count would never drink such. Ha, ha).
The initial "Dracula" card spotlighted for this post captures a famous, promotional image, which is why I chose it to top this post: A green-hued Lugosi glowers behind a cobweb, with wee images of his brides spread throughout. Of course, the lovely Helen Chandler is also included as the sweet, succumbing Mina Harker.
The next "Dracula" card is a tad more basic, but no less bewitching. Lugosi and Chandler/Drac and Mina dominate, and through their contrasting (and yet somehow reciprocal) countenances one can feel that destined bite. Ouch! (And I do mean that in a most erotic way.)
The third card isn't from "Dracula" but rather springs from Lew Landers' "Return of the Vampire": a 1944, British production that was at one time intended as a genuine sequel to the Universal entry. Due to licensing complications, Lugosi instead played Armand Tesla (aka Hugo Bruckner), though for all intents and purposes, he's still the Count. One only needs to bend one's mind a smidgen to rationalize the attribution, for Randall Faye and Griffin Jay's script embraces the Universal mode to the max.
This "Return of..." card captivates by emphasizing Lugosi's hungry, hypnotic stare, his fingers cranked in that recognizable, trance-inducing state. (Say, is that a shadow on the left side of Lugosi's face or might this image be a stolen from Browning's "Mark of the Vampire"? Hmmm.)
Ah, sweet, generous Mel, will wonders and marvelous, lobby-card gifts never cease? Heck, I'm not complaining. As a lifelong Lugosi leaguer, these reproductions are precious beyond Bela-belief.
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