Turner Classic Movies (TCM) in association with Fathom Events will occasionally offer the opportunity for fans to see classic films in select theaters around the country. For this Halloween season, the movie being presented was the 1931 Universal Studios masterpiece DRACULA, directed by Tod Browning and starring Bela Lugosi in the seminal, definitive portrayal of the vampire Count. The chance to see THE Dracula movie, the greatest of them all, would have been sufficient to get me running to get my tickets, but they sweetened the deal. They presented the alternate Spanish language version of the film in a double-feature, two for one. Over three hours of vintage vampire entertainment. How did you spend YOUR Sunday afternoon?
As a money-saving venture, Universal filmed a Spanish language version of the film at the same time as the original. When Browning’s version was finished shooting for the day, the OTHER cast and crew would move in and start filming overnight, making use of the same sets and using the same shooting script. Browning didn’t much like this arrangement, as he felt the alternate film had an advantage over his project. They would be able to see what he had filmed during the day and then potentially improve on it, having the chance to more or less do a “second draft.” Were his concerns legitimate? Which is the better film? Keep reading.