Dracula

This is the classic 1931 version with Bela Legosi in the title role.  He had the perfect accent and demeanour for Dracula.  His take on the character set the benchmark for so many screen vampires to come.  Those exaggerated claw-like hand movement and swishing cape.  Of course, this version of Dracula has long since ceased to be frightening and is now of mainly historical interest – there is a not a drop of blood or even a nasty set of elongated incisors to be seen in the whole movie.  The sets are fascinating, particularly the interiors of the Transylvanian castle, the massive fireplace reminded me of Citizen Kane.   Dwight Frye is an excellently demented Renfield and Edward van Sloan is good as Van Helsing (I wonder what he would make of the Hugh Jackman’s version in 2004).  There are some classic lines that have slipped into movie folklore: “Children of the night, the music they make”, so lovingly parodied by Robert Kaufman in 1979’s Love at First Bite (a movie I would quite like to see again).