In 2000, the National Film Registry recognized the timeless original “Dracula” starring the one and only Bela Lugosi. This haunting tale, based on the novel by Bram Stoker, has never been far from the screen.
Gary Rhodes said of the un-killable Count:
“Few characters in the history of literature and film have proven as deathless as Count Dracula, the vampire that has haunted nightmares for well over a century. His existence and initial fame depended upon author Bram Stoker, who created him for the 1897 novel. But there is a second reason the character has flourished in popular culture: Tod Browning’s 1931 film ‘Dracula.'”
Read the rest of Rhodes’s “Dracula” (PDF) assessment.
Title: “Dracula”
Year of Release: 1931
Year Added to the National Film Registry: 2000 (See all films added to the Registry in 2000)
Trivia: Filmed concurrently in 1931, on the same sets, but with a different group of actors, was a Spanish-language version of “Dracula” specifically for exporting to cinemas in Mexico. This “other” “Dracula” has also been named to the National Film Registry.
This blog post is the 12th in our “30 Years of the National Film Registry” series which was launched to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Registry. The National Film Registry selects 25 films each year showcasing the range and diversity of American film heritage to increase awareness for its preservation. The 30th National Film Registry selections will be announced on December 12, 2018.