SON OF DRACULA in Universal Horrors Forum

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SON OF DRACULA

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DonM435		#221	[-]
Jan 22 12 7:06 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	WalesGuy wrote: Why were there no Welsh accents in the Llanwelly/Cardiff scenes in THE WOLFMAN/FMTW - even the first policeman in FMTW had a Scots accent Doesn't Chaney ask someone to tell him about the Welsh Rabbits? Or am I thinking of another film?
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todmichel		#222	[-]
Jan 22 12 7:21 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	DonM435 wrote: WalesGuy wrote: Why were there no Welsh accents in the Llanwelly/Cardiff scenes in THE WOLFMAN/FMTW - even the first policeman in FMTW had a Scots accent Dear cousin Guy, for Hollywood brains, all of us Celtic people have the same accent, from Wales to Scotland, from Ireland to Brittany.
telegonus	Verily, Tony...	#223	[-]
Jan 23 12 4:28 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Verily, Tony, accents in horrors was not, I think we can all agree, Universal's strong suit. Not only did the high priests in the Mummy pictures not sound Egyptian, the original 1932 Mummy, Im-Ho-Tep aka Ardath Bey, sounded an awful lot like a British gentleman. Then there's the business of the Frankensteins, grandfather, son, grandsons, also sounding like Brits, as did the the burgomeister, as well as Inspector Krogh, while the deranged lab assistant, whatever his name was,--Fritz, Karl--always had an American accent. For all this, if Uni had actually got it right in their horrors,--Germans sounding like Germans, Egyptians like Egyptians--we probably wouldn't love them so much. It's their alternate universe charm that draws us back to them,--don't you think?--not their authenticity.
Wich2		#224	[-]
Jan 23 12 11:10 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	>for Hollywood brains, all of us Celtic people have the same accent, from Wales to Scotland, from Ireland to Brittany.< TM, I haven't seen a lot of films from French brains featuring Anglo characters - but I assume you're implying that they are all perfectly diverse in the accent department, from London to Texas, and from Brooklyn to Liverpool?
Ray Faiola		#225	[-]
Jan 24 12 9:24 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	WalesGuy wrote: Why were there no Welsh accents in the Llanwelly/Cardiff scenes in THE WOLFMAN/FMTW - even the first policeman in FMTW had a Scots accent They were all over at Fox filming HOW GREEN WAS MY VALLEY! Anyway, they may not have been using the correct accent, but at least - down to the smallest player - they were seasoned character people. Even that cop in FMTWM, Charles Irwin, was veteran of the Abby Players. Today they would give that role to an indifferent under-fiver. Classic Film Scores Restored on CD http://www.chelsearialtostudios.com
skelton knaggs		#226	[-]
Feb 16 12 3:00 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Some fun Chaney stuff. The small photo looks like it's from the 1960's. "You can't smell any reefer, can you"?
strangenstein		#227	[-]
Apr 16 12 1:23 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I hadn't seen SON OF DRACULA in quite some time, so I popped it in late last night. I was struck at how good this movie is! Here are a few thoughts: 1) Chaney as Alucard/Dracula: I watched and re-watched his scenes and found the only real weak spot to be his first lines of dialogue, which come across as a little forced. But then he immediately settles into "under-playing" the role and he's near perfect. Many of his lines simply ooze with menace, e.g. his scene at the top of the cellar stairs with Dr. Brewster. I also paid close attention to the fire scene in the drainage tunnel and found Chaney's dialogue is often mis-quoted. He doesn't say, "Put it out, I tell ya!", he says, "Put it out! Do you hear me, put it out!". Big difference here. What he actually says and how he delivers the lines are completely believable. Would Lugosi or Carradine have been better in the role? Possibly, but Chaney delivers. 2) Atmosphere: Wow, SON OF DRACULA reeks with atmosphere. There are so many arresting scenes. 3) Cinematography: This movie simply looks great. Moving camera shots, closeups, this is one great movie to watch. 4) Cast: Although it always takes me a few minutes to get out of my "Robert Paige sure looks like Jim Nabors" mode, the cast is very strong. (And again, this includes Chaney.) 5) Story: Morbid doesn't begin to describe SoD. The movie spends much of its running time in the twilight area between life and death, and it walks that fine line quite well. It also delivers a double whammy with the two climactic deaths. SON OF DRACULA delivers. There is atmosphere to spare, several frightening scenes, solid acting from the leads and an ending that hits you in the gut. Excellent movie! Strangenstein
skelton knaggs		#228	[-]
Apr 19 12 10:04 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Of Moose and Men.... "You can't smell any reefer, can you"?
Wich2		#229	[-]
Apr 19 12 10:27 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	>He doesn't say, "Put it out, I tell ya!", he says, "Put it out! Do you hear me, put it out!".< Yes, those are the words. But the pronuciation is, "Do ya hear me?", which, with Jr's near-comic hysteria, really kills the moment.
Gadfly		#230	[-]
Apr 20 12 8:53 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Wich2 wrote: >He doesn't say, "Put it out, I tell ya!", he says, "Put it out! Do you hear me, put it out!".< Yes, those are the words. But the pronuciation is, "Do ya hear me?", which, with Jr's near-comic hysteria, really kills the moment. The line is around the 2:10 mark in the following video for those that want to check it out for themselves: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TAZbaMZMx8 Gadfly
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strangenstein		#231	[-]
Apr 22 12 5:30 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Wich2 wrote: >He doesn't say, "Put it out, I tell ya!", he says, "Put it out! Do you hear me, put it out!".< Yes, those are the words. But the pronuciation is, "Do ya hear me?", which, with Jr's near-comic hysteria, really kills the moment. I've watched and listened to it several times and I guess I just don't hear it that way. Chaney's first "Put it out!" is pleading, complete with a reaching hand gesture. The second, "Put it out, do you hear me, put it out!" is born of rage, while the third "Put it out!" is panicked. I think Chaney does very well in these scenes. Your mileage may vary. Strangenstein Last Edited By: strangenstein Apr 23 12 6:00 AM. Edited 1 times.
Robert Laughlin		#232	[-]
May 18 12 1:00 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	All in all, I find Lon Chaney Jr. one of the least convincing cinematic Draculas. As many commentators have noted, Eastern European noblemen simply do not talk in Chaney's Southwestern drawl. Even more objectionable to me, however, is that Chaney is the FATTEST Dracula ever to crowd the edges of the silver screen. How many victims must this particular vampire suck dry every night, in order to maintain that overhanging gut? And when he changes into a bat, how could any amount of furious wing flapping get his fur-covered volleyball of a body off the ground?
Wich2		#233	[-]
May 18 12 9:50 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	>And when he changes into a bat, how could any amount of furious wing flapping get his fur-covered volleyball of a body off the ground?< Pretty funny image, Robert - a little cruel, but pretty dang funny! Yeah, the casting is a bit like Cruise as Lestat, or Keaton as Bruce/Batman - utter disregard for the external character.
Tragg		#234	[-]
May 18 12 10:15 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Ultimately I think the important thing for any screen Dracula is to convey menace and danger lurking behind the dapper outfit. Lugosi had that unique 'otherness', which suggested an undead wisdom (and enjoyment of the situation), but despite his throttling of Renfield, he never seemed a particularly physical danger (metaphysical maybe). Carradine was entirely lacking that supernatural quality that all Drac's need, and seemed like someone who'd lose out in an arm-wrestling competition to Ernest Thesiger. For me he presents no threat, and is only a danger to gals who go peculiar over piano music. Whereas at least Lon Chaney Jr brought a steely, and innate, sense of menace and danger to the part. This is a predatory Dracula who if he had to, would just as likely kick your door in as come under in the form of a mist. So, overall, I thought Lon offered a very different, but interesting, take on the Count (or his son, or whoever the heck he is).
Servant of Legendre		#235	[-]
May 19 12 6:39 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Been years since I've seen this one, but I picked it up cheap on DVD this week. Great film, especially the scenes in the prison cell with the vampire lady - forget her name, damn I'm getting old - appearing and disappearing. Really quite creepy.
bela lugosi		#236	[-]
May 19 12 8:12 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Great discussion folks, really appreciate the fresh insights into this film. I have always been a bit biased against it primarily because of the casting of the lead. I love Lon Jr, but just thought this role was not for him. It's been a long time since I've watched it though so it is high time for a re-visit and a fresh impression. Thanks to the discussion here, I appreciate it.
Rick		#237	[-]
May 19 12 12:51 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	For me this is probably the most schizophrenic of the Universal horrors. I really don't like Chaney in the lead role, but everything else is top of the line. With a better, more appropriate Count this might have been Universal's best of the '40s, and their best since BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN. As it is, it's still very good. But Creighton...oy.
Wich2		#238	[-]
May 19 12 1:02 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Picture this one with Lugosi. Or Ian Keith. Or Victor Jory. Or Conrad Veidt! Or hell - with young Vinnie Price.
blackbiped		#239	[-]
May 19 12 6:09 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Or Mickey Rooney! Legend, oh legend, the third wheel legend...always in the way. Porfle's Secret Blog HK and Cult Film News Andersonvision.com
Elisabeth		#240	[-]
May 19 12 6:37 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I have always enjoyed this film....all the way back to "kid-hood". To be honest, I loved Lon (Creighton) Chaney in it. I was not expecting Laurence Olivier...I WAS expecting good, old fashioned rip-roaring FUN, and SOD delivered Big Time. A fast moving story, two luscious leading ladies, a pleasant leading man AND my two favourite 'characters' in the same film: Frank Craven and Samuel S. Hinds. "Creighton" gave his all, he alway did...and I love him for it. "E" ps. The "Silver Age" of Universal isn't a lesser product. It's just different. (s) Your Signature ... "....I do hope he won't upset Henry..."
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SON OF DRACULA