The Flaw in Universal’s Classic DRACULA

Watching Bela Lugosi’s magnificent performance in the 1931 Universal classic DRACULA, along with the simultaneously-filmed (and overall superior Spanish-language version, except that it lacks Bela’s grounding, galvanizing presence) on the big screen this past week really got me thinking. As much as I adore this film/these films, there’s a big and kinda obvious flaw. It’s not artistic; rather a flaw in logic. What we need to understand is that both movies were essentially just filmed versions of the stage play, and any play has certain limitations inherent. You simply can’t do on a stage what you can do in a standard movie. No lack of love whatsoever to Hamilton Deane and John Balderston’s script. Their DRACULA play introduced us to Bela Lugosi and is still the go-to stage version. But there’s a flaw.

Why, after learning that Van Helsing and the others are on to him, does the Count not move his boxes of earth? He is vulnerable during the day, and it’s a given that his enemies would search for the crate of dirt, in which he lies sleeping during the day, at Carfax Abbey. In the novel, he moves them. It is only plausible that he would. But in the play, and the 1931 films (and many subsequent films) he doesn’t. It’s because the play didn’t allow for it. But I argue that he WOULD have. Unless . . . Maybe Drac knows that the ol’ stake through the heart won’t be able to kill him, so he allows Van Helsing to stake him, so that Van Helsing and the others will THINK he is dead, while he continues to operate. THAT is something Dracula would do. He’s a military genius, after all.

Does my explanation for this plausibility faux pas help you to enjoy the movie? You are velcome.

By TheCheezman

WAYNE MILLER is the owner and creative director of EVIL CHEEZ PRODUCTIONS, specializing in theatrical performances and haunted attractions. He has written, produced, and directed (and occasionally acted in) over two dozen plays, most of them in the Horror and True Crime genres. He obtained a doctorate in Occult Studies from Miskatonic University and is an active paranormal investigator. Is frequently told he resembles Anton Lavey. And Ming the Merciless. Denn die totden reiten schnell!

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