Sunday, February 20, 2022

Dracula's Daughter

Dracula's Daughter is a 1936 Universal horror movie. It is a direct sequel to the Bela Lugosi Dracula film, beginning with the scene where Renfield lies dead at the foot of the stairs and Van Helsing has staked the Count. There's some interesting background at that linked Wikipedia article, including information on how it came to be a Universal project. It also notes, "Horror author Anne Rice has named Dracula's Daughter as a direct inspiration for her own homoerotic vampire fiction." It was well-reviewed in its day, and if you like old monster movies you'll like this. It's just over an hour long, so it won't take long to check it out.



Horror Homeroom has an article titled "Coded Queerness in Dracula's Daughter" which says, "As noted by film historians, Dracula’s Daughter contains a number of scenes in which a lesbian subtext is evident..." Classic Monsters calls it "A sharp, moody piece filled with a palpable sense of grief, Dracula’s Daughter makes the most of its fine cast" and says the film "stands up today as well as any other film of its era, sustaining a brooding melancholy throughout which is delightfully affecting." DVD Talk says, "This is one of the top Universal monster classics. In mood and theme it has a creepy, death-affirming attitude that only the original The Mummy can top; although it's short on action, it is long on suggestion and class." TCM has an overview.

22 comments:

  1. ...even one that I recognize.

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    1. I'm surprised more folks don't know it.

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  2. Sounds good! Valerie

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    1. I watched it, really good!

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    2. I'm glad! I liked how it continued seamlessly from the last scene in the other movie.

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  3. This one passed me by.

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  4. I'll give this a pass but it does sound interesting and certainly has historic value.

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    1. It was an interesting continuation of the story.

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  5. Based on the works of Bram Stoker, it must be good. I will watch this tonight.

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    1. I hope you like it. It was particularly fun to see how it begins.

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  6. A good oldie :)

    All the best Jan

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  7. I watched this last fall. These classic films can be really good and atmospheric.

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    1. The atmosphere, yes. I wonder if it was a black and white thing that made atmosphere easier to come by in those movies...

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  8. Will watch it tomorrow, thank you!

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  9. Now that was a subdued love story indeed--LOL! :)

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