Remember The Wolf Man vs. Dracula?

Posted by Movies Unlimited in Books, Featured Columns, Latest News, Movies, Movies Unlimited on July 5th, 2010

Did you somehow miss this amazing sequel to Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man? Who could ever forget The Wolf Man vs. Dracula, the Technicolor square-off between Bela Lugosi’s villainous vampire and Lon Chaney, Jr.’s, hirsute antihero? You don’t remember it? Of course not, because it never existed. But, it almost did!

Welcome to “An Alternate History for Classic Film Monsters,” a wonderful series of previously unpublished screenplays from the Universal Monsters era. Curated by Philip J. Riley (Count Dracula Society Award winner and inductee into the Universal Horror Hall of Fame), this collection of newly dug up scripts offers any devoted monster fan who’s “seen ‘em all” a special opportunity indeed of seeing some classic chiller movies that might have been.

Published in the same style as Riley’s earlier screenplays of the ‘30s thriller greats put out by MagicImage, these BearManor Media volumes include a James Whale-R.C. Sherriff script for Dracula’s Daughter; the famously unfilmed project Cagliostro, the Karloff-starrer that eventually morphed into The Mummy; and a pre-Lugosi draft for Dracula, when Lon Chaney Sr. was slated to fill the Count’s cloak. Once I discovered these fabulous works of horror movie history were available, I did what any responsible chiller movie collector would do…I got ‘em all!

In time, I’ll enjoy sharing my thoughts about each script, but let’s start with the project that never saw the light of day (or that of the full moon) in any manner:

The Wolf Man vs. Dracula was crafted first as a vehicle that would see Chaney, Jr., playing the (Dual? Triple?) roles of Lawrence Talbot/The Wolf Man and Count Dracula. As Talbot’s face would too much resemble the vampire’s (despite the stylish mustache he donned to play the Son of Dracula), studio suits changed course and pursued the return of Lugosi to his most iconic role. The first draft screenplay assignment was given to Bernard Schubert, who had already penned (with Guy Endore) the London After Midnight remake Mark of the Vampire.

Color makeup tests were reportedly completed for both Chaney and the sixtysomething Lugosi, apparently with only still photographs of Chaney in full wolf gear remaining in existence. Confidence in the project quickly dimmed, however, and the entire film was shelved, with Schubert moving on to write The Mummy’s Ghost.

The curious fan may now be wondering: Does the script for The Wolf Man vs. Dracula contain the material that would have given rise to a classic?

The action of the story begins in Transylvania (which would be constituted, as reported by Schubert, by the Vasaria sets from the film’s intended prequel) as Dr. Ziska (a small role that seems tailor-made for a Karloff cameo) and a collection of reporters and cameramen converge on the spot where lies the corpse of Talbot…miraculously preserved after apparently being dead for years. The body in Talbot’s embrace is written as “the skeleton of a woman, to judge from the few remaining tatters of clothing left on the bones.” A puzzling element, to be sure—since The Wolf Man “died” in FMTWM “embracing” only the Lugosi monster. (Gee, what was Bela wearing under the black suit and elevator boots?) But, since the Uni monster movies never fussed that much about continuity, neither should we!

The answers as to how and why Talbot’s body avoided the usual stages of decomposition come in one of those moments that’ll bring a smile to any fan’s face, in a monologue delivered by a nameless official. The passage glows with the sort of scientific balderdash only possible inside the cosmos of the early Universal Horror classics. Emphasis mine:

OFFICIAL

The photo reveals a very unusual condition. The bullet from the pistol followed this course. In plain unscientific language, the resistance of the tissues through which it passed regarded its action bringing it to a complete stop at the pericardium or membranous sac in which the heart is suspended. It penetrated neither the membrane nor the heart itself, but lodged against it – as you see. It is Doctor Ziska’s theory—mind you, I said theory—that possibly the pressure of the bullet against the heart could have caused it to cease beating—and might thus have induced a condition of suspended animation.

If you’re not grinning a mile wide right now, much of the charm of this era has sadly escaped your notice, and I recommend an immediate marathon viewing of the Karloff-Lugosi-Chaney monster classics and their many sequels, which demanded this kind of laugh-out-loud lunacy to keep the creatures coming back into action time and time again.

Talbot is, of course, revived by Dr. Ziska, only to launch into one of his patented rages of ingratitude, warning all they should have left him good and dead, and how sorry they’ll all be when the next full moon rolls around. Which just happens to be…that night!

Post-rampage, Talbot asks the help of Anatole, a hangman, to put him to death once and for all. By horrific coincidence, Anatole’s daughter Yvonne is being courted by none other than Count Dracula. The reasoning behind Dracula’s return to un-death is never explained here, but clearly he’s decided a more mannerly approach to be in order when it comes to seeking a new vampire bride.

When Talbot and Dracula meet, they’re fast enemies, with Talbot falling just as quickly in love with Yvonne. While Talbot is unable to convince Anatole that his curse is a legitimate affliction, the beautiful young woman takes pity on her handsome new friend, and an inspired scheme is hatched between them to keep Yvonne out of Dracula’s arms.

The rest? Oh no, no spoilers here. You’ll have to read it to find out. I will say that, unfortunately, the film’s climax doesn’t quite deliver on its title—it’d be more accurate (if far less marketable) to call it Lawrence Talbot vs. The Giant Dracula Bat—but the script’s closing line brilliantly brings the Wolf Man saga to another very tentative close.

My own feelings about the script—which is, after all, simply a first draft—are that any film ultimately shot from this story would have safely fallen into that satisfying if less-than-stellar realm of the many sequels to the original Uni greats. With polish and tweaks here and there, I can picture The Wolf Man vs. Dracula fitting very snugly into the cycle of films that included such mid-range eerie entertainments like Ghost of Frankenstein, Son of Dracula, and most closely, the film it was originally designed to follow, Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man. The script contains enough fresh elements to set it apart, while it also shoehorns in enough of the boilerplate scenes fans expect in their classic monster mash-ups. As you read Schubert’s material, you can sense the structure of these stories leaning closer and closer to the crazy-funhouse (if completely unscary) entries like House of Frankenstein and House of Dracula, without quite “getting there.” The script is a terrific missing link of sorts, with much to recommend it and much to take pleasure in interpreting and second-guessing–if you enjoy putting yourself in the mind of a producer.

You can definitely hear Chaney, Jr., in the Talbot role as written—it’s got all of the classic “I just want to die!” lines that both endeared him to viewers only to eventually transform him into perhaps the most charmingly whiny of all the great movie monsters.

The Dracula role, however, presents itself as somewhat more problematic. While the screenplay was written anticipating first Chaney, Jr., playing both parts, and subsequently Bela Lugosi’s return to the role of the Count, the part actually read to me as more suited to the regal and somewhat more cold-blooded John Carradine interpretation. Fun, too, are the effects-shot descriptions that prefigure the animated man-to-bat transformations that enlivened Carradine’s future appearances in the series.

Schubert’s script is mostly workmanlike in describing the onscreen action. While it may lack the poetry of, say, The Bride of Frankenstein script credited to William Hurlbut and John L. Balderston (but also involving the talents of many other uncredited writers such as R.C. Sherriff, Robert Florey, Philip MacDonald, and others), the text is visually descriptive enough that the reader can easily play out the scenes in his or her mind. Because the script was written in an era before the penning of camera instructions became a no-no for screenwriters (eventually seen rightly as more within the domain of the director to decide), the reader will benefit from the wealth of camera moves provided to help guide the mind’s eye.

What makes the script interesting (and unusual for the time) is just how lively the camera is meant to be. I would imagine that in future drafts, and certainly by the time the film reached production, the “shooting through” of the camera all over the place in the vein of a Scorsese picture would likely have been severely tamped down. 

Devotees of the Universal Horror classics should run, not walk, to pick up these literary treasures. At the moment, I can’t decide whether to next pick up the script for Cagliostro or the Whale stab at Dracula’s Daughter. Until somebody, somewhere, somehow discovers an intact print of London After Midnight, fans can’t ask for much better than to possess these unproduced scripts that plant fresh images of your favorite scare stars into your imagination.

Ghouly Irv and MovieFrightFare will be back soon! Our programming took a brief hiatus while renovations went on in and around the Ghouly One’s crypt…

George D. Allen produces the MovieFrightFare videos starring “Ghouly” Irv Slifkin, as well as writing artices for and producing videos for the Movies Unlimited blog MovieFanFare.

Talk about this post and others at the Famous Monsters of Filmland Forum!

Worthington: Prince of Darkness?

Posted by Jesse in Latest News, Movies on January 26th, 2010

Latino Review reported, and The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed, that Sam Worthington is in talks to play Dracula for Universal, in Alex Proyas’ upcoming Dracula: Year Zero.

The fate of Year Zero is in flux right along with every other tentpole the Big U is considering for 2011. According to the Latino Review’s source:

…Universal has been stagnant since they got sold to that Cable company Comcast.  They haven’t been allowed to go to the toilet without a permission slip.  And now they realize they need to make 8 big films for 2011. You see it takes at least a year to make a moving picture- and they don’t have enough for next year.

So there are 14 possible films with 8 needed.  And they need to figure out what the freak they are doing quickly.

Each of the possible 14 are ready to go with scripts and directors.  Some of them you know and some of them you don’t…

As Avatar cruises past Titanic’s box office milestones, Worthington’s casting would bump the project up considerably. Worthington will next be seen in Warner Brothers’ Clash of the Titans, opening March 26.

Michael De Luca on Dracula: Year Zero

Posted by Jesse in Latest News, Movies on January 13th, 2010

Collider spoke with producer Michael De Luca today, and some tidbits emerged on De Luca’s proposed project with director Alex Proyas, entitled Dracula: Year Zero, currently set-up at Universal.

The film, a prequel-style origin story combining the historical Vlad, the Impaler with Bram Stoker’s supernatural Dracula creation, has existed for some time now, and apparently – as per Collider’s interview – the problem at this stage is funding. Listening to De Luca’s take on the picture, it sounds pretty epic, so this is understandable.

One hopes that the proliferation of vampire films/TV/literature only helps this project come to life, rather than impede it.

Head over to Collider for the full interview (Year Zero information to be found in the second half of the interview, after coverage of his upcoming Nicholas Cage starrer Drive Angry)!

Universal Launches Monster Legacy Website

Posted by Jesse in Latest News, Movies on December 4th, 2009

Universal has just launched a new website, appropriately titled – Universal Monster Legacy.

The site features a detailed catalog of the studio’s groundbreaking, defining and immortal horror content from 1923 (with Lon Chaney’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame) through 1956 (with the final Gill-Man film, The Creature Walks Among Us).

The focus is on the Universal (or can we call it Comcast-Uni now?) stable of classic monsters that include Dracula, Frankenstein’s Monster, The Mummy, The Invisible Man, The Wolf Man, the Creature from the Black Lagoon and so on. Largely excluded are the studio’s non-monster horror outings of the same period, but the emphasis on the monster films is not only welcome but explicitly intentional, so it’s hard to call foul.

Each featured film has a page including a synopsis, as well as art, photo and video galleries.

But best of all, the site features several cues of the soundtracks by legendary composers such as Franz Waxman, Herman Stein, Bernard Kaun, Hans J. Salter and more.

The whole site would seem to be part of the marketing push for U’s troubled but promising looking remake of The Wolfman, starring Benicio Del Toro and slated for release on February 12th, 2010.

It’s a fun, respectful and attractively designed treat for monster fans! Visit the site via the link below:

http://www.thewolfmanmovie.com/legacy/

Carla Laemmle To Sign At Monsterpalooza

Posted by Dominic in Latest News on May 28th, 2009

For all you fans attending Monsterpalooza this weekend Famous Monsters has a treat for you. Carla Laemmle and Daniel Kinske will be signing copies of their book Growing Up With Monsters: My Times at Universal Studios in Rhymes on Saturday, May 30^th from 1-3PM. Autographed copies of the book will be selling for $20.

restraint movie download

download while she was out dvd

The book tells Carla’s incredible story about growing up on the Universal Studio lot in verse with illustrations by none other than MAD Magazines Jack Davis and Hermann Mejia. Not to mention the foreward is written by the great Ray Bradbury.

Not only did Carla witness the filming of The Hunchback of Notre Dame the time machine dvd frame of mind download (1923), she danced the role of the Prima Ballerina in another Lon Chaney masterpiece The Phantom of the Opera (1925) and spoke the very first line of dialogue in Dracula (1931), so you can bet she has a plethora of interesting stories to tell.

Carla will also be on hand to introduce Dracula along with Bela Lugosi Jr. at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood on Sunday, May 31^st at 7:30PM.

And if for some reason you can’t make it to Monsterpalooza, Growing Up With Monsters can be found at Amazon.com.

SON OF DRACULA TO APPEAR AT THE EGYPTIAN THEATRE

Posted by Robert Aragon in Events, Interviews, Latest News, Movies, Robert Aragon’s Alley on May 13th, 2009

I heard from my good friend Bela jr yesterday, and Guess what?

He will be joining us at the Egyptian on May 31st for DRACULA night! Bela Lugosi jr and Carla Laemmle will be introducing his Father’s masterpiece of 1931 “DRACULA“. It shall be followed by the last Dracula film in the Universal series “HOUSE OF DRACULA“. That film shall be introduced by none other than Jane Adams, who portrayed the beautiful and sympathetic hunchback, Nina.

Of course, I do not need to inform you of the activities of Saturday May 30th, am I correct? it’s our FRANKENSTEIN night. Strange, but I also heard from Sara Karloff yesterday. In fact I spoke to alot of people yesterday. But, I digress. Sara shall be my first guest in our two day event. She shall introduce the master work of 1939 “SON OF FRANKENSTEIN” and it shall be followed by “THE GHOST OF FRANKENSTEIN“. That film shall be hosted by none other than the monsters little friend, all grown up now, Janet Ann Gallow. This is quickly becoming the monster event I have always dreamt of.

DREAMS DO COME TRUE kiddies.

As always,

hugs and boo!

Robert Aragon

TICKETS FOR THE FAMOUS MONSTERS FILM EVENT

CLASSIC UNIVERSAL MONSTERS ON THE BIG SCREEN

Posted by Robert Aragon in Events, Robert Aragon’s Alley on April 24th, 2009

THE AMERICAN CINEMATHEQUE AT THE EGYPTIAN THEATRE CELEBRATES THE RETURN OF FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND!

All the proper arrangements have been made…I am THRILLED about this event. Thank you to Chris, Margot and Marcela for all your work at the American Cinematheque. This is a dream come true for me.

-Robert Aragon

May 30 & 31 at the Egyptian Theatre

http://www.americancinematheque.com/indexegyptian.html

Classic horror films such as  GHOST OF FRANKENSTEIN, SON OF FRANKENSTEIN, DRACULA and HOUSE OF  DRACULA will be screened along with appearances by special guests Sara  Karloff, Carla Laemmle (DRACULA), Janet Ann Gallow (GHOST OF FRANKENSTEIN), Jane Adams (HOUSE OF DRACULA)

Saturday, May 30 – 7:30 PM
Double Feature:
SON OF FRANKENSTEIN, 1939, Universal, 99 min. Dir.  Rowland V. Lee. The
third atmospheric installment in  Universal’s FRANKENSTEIN franchise finds
Henry Frankenstein’s grown-up son  Wolf (Basil Rathbone) returning to the family estate with his  wife and son (Josephine Hutchinson and Donnie Dunagan) after  many years. The laboratory is in ruins – nevertheless Wolf soon becomes  enmeshed in his family’s nefarious legacy when he finds the dormant monster (Boris Karloff) being looked after by vengeful gallow’s survivor, the  crooknecked Ygor (a very creepy Bela Lugosi). Universal was  firing on all cylinders with their bolt-necked creature when they released  this exceptionally entertaining tall tale. Watch for Lionel Atwill has  the one-armed police chief (he lost his missing appendage to a previous encounter with the monster.) Introduction to film by Sara Karloff. Trailer

GHOST OF FRANKENSTEIN, 1942, Universal, 67 min.  Universal’s horrors were getting much more formulaic and by-the-numbers in the  1940s, but the creative juices were still amply flowing in this fourth time  out with the Frankenstein monster. Director Erle C. Kenton  (ISLAND OF LOST SOULS) helms this fast-moving tale of Wolf Frankenstein’s  other brother Ludwig (Cedric Hardwicke) trying to live down  the ignominy of the family name. Too bad for him that Ygor (Bela  Lugosi) and the monster (now played by Lon Chaney  Jr.) survived somehow at the end of SON OF… Now they’re back knocking  on his door for help in reviving the ailing monster, hoping to restore him to  his former glory. Adding to Ludwig’s headaches are an envious, formerly  illustrious doctor (Lionel Atwill) and Ludwig’s beautiful daughter Elsa (Evelyn Ankers). Introduction to film by Janet Ann Gallow. Trailer

Sunday, May 31 – 7:30 PM
Double Feature:
DRACULA, 1931, Universal,75 min. Director Tod  Browning (FREAKS) and actor Bela Lugosi established the  Transylvanian count as one of the archetypal movie vampires and a monster icon  for Universal Studios’ golden era of classic horror films. This adaptation of  Hamilton Deane’s then popular stage play of Bram Stoker’s novel is quite  different from Murnau’s silent NOSFERATU, the later works coming from Hammer  Studios in the 1950s-1970s and Francis Ford Coppola’s 1990s version. Real  estate agent Renfield (played by everyone’s favorite madman Dwight  Frye) goes insane after visiting Dracula at his Transylvanian castle and  is thereafter confined to a London asylum, though he does the Count’s bidding  as a hypnotized slave when Dracula comes to Britain and moves into the  deserted Carfax Abbey. David Manners is Jonathan Harker and Helen  Chandler is his lady love, who Dracula wants to make his bride. Edward  Van Sloan, a fixture in early Universal horrors, is Professor Van  Helsing. Introduction to film by Carla Laemmle. Trailer

HOUSE OF DRACULA, 1945, Universal, 67 min. Dir.  Erle C. Kenton. To maximize returns and balking at continuing  to grant their monsters a perpetual string of individual sequels, Universal  decided to give their audiences more bang for their buck. Monster rallies  FRANKENSTEIN MEETS THE WOLFMAN and HOUSE OF FRANKENSTEIN had already come and  gone, and by the time of HOUSE OF DRACULA, the only original star to appear  was Lon Chaney Jr., reprising his role yet again as Lawrence  Talbot, the Wolf Man. Both Talbot and Count Dracula (John  Carradine) desire a cure for their afflictions, and secure the help  of renowned scientist Dr. Edelman (Onslow Stevens) and his  hunchbacked nurse (Jane Adams). Complicating matters are the  suspicions of beautiful nurse Martha O’Driscoll and police  inspector Lionel Atwill, and the discovery of the dormant  Frankenstein monster (Glenn Strange) in a sea cave! Extremely entertaining. Introduction to film by Jane Adams. Trailer

For details and ticket information, visit Famous Monsters of Filmland Returns.

_______________________________________________________________________________

HEADLINES

SON OF DRACULA TO APPEAR AT THE EGYPTIAN THEATRE

Forry Ackerman’s Personal Memorabilia Collection Up for Auction

Posted by dominie in Events on February 6th, 2009

Most of you have already heard. When I first received the press release I was hesitant to post the auction news though I imagine it would have circulated worldwide by the end of the fifth hour. Forry Ackerman’s massive horror and sci-fi collection, highlighted by Bela Lugosi’s Dracula ring and the cape he wore in The Raven, and the first edition of Bram Stoker’s Dracula signed by Stoker, Lugosi, and others, will be up for auction at Profiles in History’s 36th auction of Hollywood Memorabilia in the last week of April 2009 (exact date still TBA).

This is truly sad news. Forry’s collection is about the most extensive story in the history of monsters and sci-fi. Forry took pride in opening his home to fans and showing the people what sci-fi is all about. His collection belongs in a museum, but if you’re a fan and you have a hunk of extra cash, here’s your chance to own some authentic one-of-a-kind Forry Ackerman horror memorabilia. Read the press release below for the full details and extensive coverage on items up for auction.

FORRY ACKERMAN ESTATE TO HIGHLIGHT MONSTROUS PROFILES IN HISTORY SPRING AUCTION

Bela Lugosi’s Dracula Ring, Cape, Costume From The Raven; Bram Stoker / Lugosi Signed First Edition Dracula Book; Fritz Lang’s Monocle from Metropolis Among The Most Important Collection Of Horror-Related Items Ever Available For Auction

Calabasas, CA, February 4, 2009 – Forry Ackerman’s massive horror and Sci-Fi collection, highlighted by Bela Lugosi’s Dracula ring and cape, along with Lugosi’s costume from The Raven; a signed, first edition of Brom Stoker’s Dracula signed by Stoker and Lugosi among others, and Fritz Lang’s monocle from Metropolis are among the first confirmed items available at Profiles in History’s 36th auction of Hollywood memorabilia, taking place the last week of April, 2009. This will be the most important sale of horror-related items ever assembled and available for auction. Worldwide bids can be placed either in person, via mail, phone, fax or live on the internet via Live Auctioneers.com

“The Bela Lugosi Dracula ring, the cape he wore from the 30’s stage performances of Dracula and the robe he wore in The Raven are the most significant Universal horror items to ever come to public auction,” said Joe Maddalena, President and CEO of Profiles in History.
Forrest J Ackerman (Please note: There is NO period after the “J”) who recently passed away, was an American collector of science fiction books and movie memorabilia and a science fiction fan. Ackerman, known as “Forry” or “The Ackermonster” or “4e” or “4SJ” or “Forjak” was influential in the formation, organization, and spread of science fiction fandom in its early years, and served as a key figure in the wider cultural perception of science fiction as a literary, art and film genre. Ackerman is also remembered as the editor-writer of the magazine Famous Monsters of Filmland, as well as for being an occasional author, actor, producer (Vampirella), and literary agent.

Ackerman was noted for having amassed an extremely large and complete collection of science fiction, fantasy and horror film memorabilia, which was, until 2002, maintained in a remarkable home/museum known as the 18-room “Ackermansion” in the Los Feliz district of Los Angeles, filled with 300,000 books and pieces of movie memorabilia. He was credited with nurturing and even inspiring the careers of several early contemporaries like Ray Bradbury, Ray Harryhausen, Charles Beaumont, Marion Zimmer Bradley and L. Ron Hubbard. He was Ed Wood’s “illiterary” agent and represented over 200 authors of science fiction and fantasy.

Through his magazine, Famous Monsters of Filmland (1958-1983), Ackerman introduced the history of the science fiction, fantasy and horror film genres to a generation of young readers. At a time when most movie-related publications glorified the stars in front of the camera, “Uncle Forry”, as he was referred to by many of his fans, promoted the behind-the-scenes artists involved in the magic of movies. In this way Ackerman provided inspiration to many who would later become successful artists, including Peter Jackson, Steven Spielberg, Tim Burton, Stephen King, Penn & Teller, Billy Bob Thornton, Gene Simmons (of the band Kiss), Rick Baker, George Lucas, Danny Elfman, Frank Darabont, John Landis and countless other writers, directors, artists and craftsmen.

A life-long fan of science fiction “B-movies”, Ackerman had cameos in over 210 films, including bit parts in many monster movies including The Howling, Innocent Blood, Return of the Living Dead Part II, Amazon Women on the Moon, as well as an appearance in Michael Jackson’s Thriller video.

Details of Highlighted items along with estimated sale prices:

·       Dracula ring worn by Bela Lugosi as Count Dracula.  It’s the single most important Lugosi / Dracula screen worn piece to EVER come to auction. ($20,000-$30,000).
·       Bela Lugosi’s robe from The Raven is the most important 1930’s horror costume to EVER come to auction. ($15,000-$20,000)
·       A cape made for Bela Lugosi in 1932 and used many times for his stage portrayal of Dracula.  Lugosi then wore the costume in Plan 9 from Outer Space. ($15,000-$20,000).
·       A first edition of the book, Dracula signed by Bram Stoker and inscribed by Bela Lugosi to Forry Ackerman (also signed by a host of other Dracula-related personalities).  ($6,000-8,000).
·       Fritz Lang’s monocle, which he wore when he directed Metropolis. This was given to Forry by Lang: ($3,000-$5,000)

Pictures of the highlighted items are provided below courtesy of Profiles in History.

Dynamite Entertainment Presents The Complete Dracula Graphic Novel

Posted by dominie in Comics on January 28th, 2009

According to Dread Central, Dynamite Entertainment will release a the graphic novel titled The Complete Dracula, written by Leah Moore and John Reppion, based on Bram Stoker’s Dracula. The title will be Dynamite’s main attraction for 2009. The Complete Dracula is being described as the graphic novel that is an adaptation of the original work and not the modified version that most of us are familiar with reports the site. It will be “dense, atmospheric, and most faithful to the original of originals.” Ready for the first of five Complete Dracula’s? Read below for the details or click on the link above.

As the Count leaned over me and his hands touched me… a horrible feeling of nausea came over me, which, do what I would, I could not conceal.” — Bram Stoker’s Dracula

This fully painted series features a massive 32 pages of story and art per issue, each page fully-painted in a rich, moody style by Worley, all under covers by modern master John Cassaday! Moore and Reppion also provide bonus material such as script pages, annotations and samplings of the original text by Bram Stoker!

Rating: TEEN+
Covers: John Cassaday
Writer: LEAH MOORE, JOHN REPPION
Penciller/Inker: COLTON WORLEY
Colorist: TBD
Genre: HORROR
Awards: N/A
Publication Date: APRIL, 2009
Format: Comic Book
Rights: WW

Two Monstrous Nights With The American Cinematheque

Posted by Dominic in Events on January 5th, 2009

The lights dimmed over the Egyptian Theatre in Horrorwood, Karloffornia. From the balcony I looked down across the audience and upon the screen; a montage of photographs and old home movie footage played out the life of Sara Karloff in a glowing radiance for the crowd of horror fans like a window into the past. A loving tribute compiled by Robert Aragon and pieced together by Red Dot Film Studios to give the fans of Boris Karloff a glimpse into his personal life. More than that, I was witnessing homage from one friend to another, from Robert to Sara.

This would not be the last montage played out over the two nights of screenings celebrating the return of Famous Monsters of Filmland. Before each film a collection of memories played out for Janet Ann Gallow, Carla Laemmle and Jane Adams. Each montage was followed by a Q and A with each of the lovely ladies conducted by host Tom Tangen (more…)

Literature Review: Bram Stoker’s Notes for Dracula: A Facsimile Edition

Posted by Peter Schwotzer in Books, Latest News, Reviews, Terror Tales with Peter D. Schwotzer on November 12th, 2008

The Authors
Robert Eighteen-Bisang, is most famous for his large private collection of vampire literature, which is the largest in the world and is considered an authority on Dracula and vampire literature. He runs a publishing house called Transylvania Press and has a Masters Degree in Sociology.

Elizabeth Miller is recognized the world over for her expertise on Bram Stoker’s Dracula and is a retired English professor.  She lives in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. She has published dozens of articles and six books on Dracula: Reflections on Dracula, Dracula; The Shade and the Shadow, Dracula; Sense & Nonsense, a volume on Dracula for the Dictionary of Literary Biography and A Dracula Handbook

Michael Barsanti – Foreword

To be honest, I have to tell you first that to me Bram Stoker’s Dracula is the Holy Bible of Horror Fiction. In fact the only book that has been in print longer and sold more copies is the Bible itself. I have read Dracula too many times to remember and I own about twenty versions of it in hardcover, paperback, graphic novel etc. I didn’t think anything could compare to this timeless story until I received my review copy of Bram Stoker’s Notes for Dracula: A Facsimile Edition in the mail.

My hands were literally shaking as I read through the pages and saw the photos of Bram’s handwritten notes. With the novel right beside me I went back and forth between the two books, comparing, researching and just having a hell of a time putting myself in Bram’s shoes so to speak. It was a wondrous experience that I will never ever forget.

The Holy Grail has been found and we all have a chance to drink from it. (more…)

Official Stoker Dracula Sequel Novel and Film Announced

Posted by dominie in Movies on October 4th, 2008

So many Dracula films and books have been redone over the years that I was certain I had developed immunity towards excitement over the matter anymore until now.  Dacre Stoker, the great-grandnephew of Bram Stoker, has teamed with award-winning Dracula documentarian/historian Ian Holt to bring us the first official Dracula sequel since Bram’s classic 1931 tale starring legendary Bela Lugosi, his cape, and the killer fangs. Titled The Un-Dead, the book will be available October 2009 with a motion picture adaptation to follow.  Read on for the details.

LONDON, 1912: Someone is stalking the brave band of heroes who had defeated the vampire Dracula a quarter-century ago.

Bram Stoker’s great-grandnephew and blood descendant, Dacre Stoker, and award-winning Dracula documentarian and historian Ian Holt have sold North American-English publishing rights of the Stoker-family-authorized sequel to Bram’s classic novel for well over mid – seven figures U.S. to an alliance of Dutton U.S. (Brian Tart), Harper U.K. (Jane Johnson), and Penguin-Canada (Laura Shin) brokered by Danny Baror of Baror International and Ken Atchity, of Atchity Entertainment International, the literary manager representing Stoker and Holt. The novel will appear in October 2009.

Laura Shin, senior editor of Penguin-Canada, who signed up for two additional sequels, said, “I was thrilled by this page-turning story and loved spending time with those great characters-Stoker and Holt did a fantastic job melding the old with the new, and I found the work to be a virtually seamless continuation of the original. The story has all the hallmarks of a historical novel, but with a modern sensibility that gives it wide-spread appeal.” Dutton and Harper signed a single novel deal. Although other precedent-setting foreign deals are already closed from preempts, Baror is planning to sign the bulk of world territories at the upcoming Frankfurt Book Fair.

Using Stoker family connections, the writers were able to access Bram Stoker’s hand-written notes for his novel – which, before an editor changed the title, was to  have been called  The Un-Dead.

“Our story,” Stoker said, “includes characters and plot threads that had been excised by the publisher from the original printing over a century ago.” Dracula is one of the most recognized fictitious characters in the world, having spawned dozens of books and movies; the original novel, according to historians’ best estimates, has sold millions of copies-second only to the Bible, available in over fifty languages–and generated hundreds of millions of dollars. The Un-Dead is the first Dracula story to enjoy the full support of the Stoker clan since the original 1931 movie starring Bela Lugosi. Lugosi’s appearance in Hamilton Deane’s and John Balderston’s stage production of the story on Broadway in New York, fifteen years after Bram Stoker’s death in 1927, sparked the original novel’s bestselling popularity. It has never been out of print since. (more…)