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

Spider Baby or, the Maddest Story Ever Told

 On December 24th, 1967 Spider Baby aka Cannibal Orgy aka the Maddest Story Ever Told aka the Liver Eater aka Attack of the Liver Eaters premiered in Corpus Christi, Texas. 

Spider Baby aka…

Written and directed by Jack Hill and starring Lon Chaney, Jr., Carol Ohmart, Beverly Washburn, Jill Banner and Sid Haig.  

Beverly Washburn, Sid Haig, Jill Banner 
and Lon Chaney, Jr.

Carol Ohmart

Sid Haig and Beverly Washburn would work with Jack Hill again in 1969 in Pit Stop. 

Pit Stop (1969)

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

Son of Dracula

 On November 5th, 1943, Son of Dracula was released in US theaters. Lon Chaney jr. starred as Count Alucard aka Count Dracula. 

The movie is 3rd in the original Universal series following Dracula’s Daughter (1936) starring Gloria Holden and Dracula starring Bela Lugosi (1931). 

Directed by Robert Siodmak. 

Screen story written by Curt Siodmak. 

Also on this date:

Tilda Swinton was born in 1960

Related:

Cat People

The Invisible Man

The Mummy

The Wolf Man

7 (technically 9) Pretty Good Vampire Movies

Salem’s Lot

Max Schreck

Amanda Bearse

Susan Sarandon