Dracula (1931)

 On February 14th, 1931, Dracula was released nationwide in US theaters. 

Directed by Tod Browning. 

Two direct sequels would be produced:

Dracula’s Daughter (1936) directed by Lambert Hillyer and starring Gloria Holden and featuring Edward Van Sloan as the only returning cast member from the original film.

Son of Dracula (1943) directed by Robert Siodmak and starring Lon Chaney, Jr.

Dracula (1931)

Helen Chandler as Mena Seward
and Bela Lugosi as Count Dracula

Dwight Frye as Renfield

Edward Van Sloan as Van Helsing and Bela Lugosi

David Manners as John Harker

Helen Chandler

 Helen Chandler was born on February 1st, 1906 in Charleston, South Carolina. Her decade long career, spanned stage, radio and film. 

Helen Chandler (1906-1965)

Best known for her role as Mina Seward in Dracula (1931). 

With Bela Lugosi, Dwight Frye, 
Edward Van Sloan  and David Manners 
in Dracula (1931)

Married to Bramwell Fletcher (1935-1940)

The Wolf Man

 On December 12th, 1941, The Wolf Man was released in US theaters. 

The Wolf Man Movie Poster

Starring Lon Chaney, Jr., Bela Lugosi, Claude Rains, Warren Williams, Ralph Bellamy, Patric Knowles, Maria Ouspenskaya and Evelyn Ankers. Directed by George Waggner. 

Lon Chaney, Jr. as The Wolf Man

Lon Chaney, Jr. (1906-1973)

Bela Lugosi as Bela the gypsy  

Evelyn Ankers and Lon Chaney, Jr. 

Make-up artist Jack Pierce

The poem recited by villagers in the movie as folklore, 

“Even a man who is pure at heart, and says his prayers by night; may become a wolf when the wolfsbane blooms and the Autumn moon is bright”, 

was actually written by screenwriter Curt Siodmak. The poem was used in many future werewolf productions. 

Related:

Cat People

The Invisible Man

Son of Dracula

The Mummy

An American Werewolf in London

Bela Lugosi

Bela Lugosi was born on October 20th, 1882 in Lugoj, Romania. 

Bela Lugosi (1882-1956)

Bela as Jesus in a 1916 Debrecen,
Hungary theater production. 

Dracula (1931)

With Helen Chandler in Dracula (1931)

Island of Lost Souls (1932)
with Charles Laughton 
and Kathleen Burke

White Zombie (1932)
with Madge Bellamy and Robert Frazer

The Corpse Vanishes (1942) 
with Angelo Rossitto

Plan 9 From Outer Space (1959)
Directed by Ed Wood

Also on this date:

Play Misty For Me (Clint Eastwood’s directorial debut) premiered in 1971

Relative:

7 (technically 9) Pretty Good Vampire Movies

Son of Dracula

Salem’s Lot 

Ed Wood

Boris Karloff 

Max Schreck

Gloria Holden

Amanda Bearse

Susan Sarandon