Bela Lugosi Documentary: The Return of Dracula

[@willmfrank]

Christopher Lee once said, "Every actor has to make terrible movies. The trick is not to be terrible in them." Bela Lugosi was not terrible in a lot of terrible movies.

[@KevinJohnson-hy4oc]

Absolutely true. No matter how good or bad Lugosi's movies were, his performances always drew attention and respect.

[@phylliselizahb1041]

A good motto for living, too.

[@PhantosTheHedgehog]

I always felt so bad for Lugosi... but seeing how much love he's gained over the years warms my heart

[@Nick-ty9us]

Yeah, Bella Lugosi could never got a break from the bad stuff that was happening to him

[@brannonmcclure6970]

F#%! people! A true artist should not need them. There is a remarkable world around.🧑‍🎨♾️🎬🎞️♾️🧟‍♀️🧟‍♂️

[@toniwertman4818]

The studios screwed over everyone

[@jaredmn8580]

Huge respect for Rowland Lee for helping out Bela when he was being underpaid by Universal.

[@karenhummel49]

Bela Lugosi the best Dracula to this day! Tall dark and handsome debonair loaded with charisma! Wish he was alive today to see how loved and respected he still is. Hollywood treated him terrible!

[@linphillips8331]

Thank you for this compassionate profile of Bela Lugosi. Too often, we forget about the human being beneath the caricature.

[@starmnsixty1209]

Very true. Fine actor with too much tragedy in his life.

[@adrianslaughter3329]

God.... Poor Bela. I grew up watching Dracula when I was very young. I had an old VHS copy or it. It wasn't until I was a young teenager that I learned of the tragedy surrounding Lugosi. My heart has always broken for poor Bela.

[@walterfechter8080]

My Romanian grandmother once said that Bela Lugosi IS "Dracula." I concur. Many thanks, Robin, for this informative and touching tribute to Mr. Lugosi.

[@robinthompson8360]

I learn so much from these mini-docs. Bela playing Franky is where the "arms out" stereotype came from. Mystery of the century solved! Love it.

[@ericlewis217]

No matter the quality of the film he was in, Lugosi always entertained. Excellent part 2 overview here.

[@WolfHreda]

Bela Lugosi was a legend, in every facet.

[@naparry4772]

This has been a great documentary and a wonderful tribute to Bela. Thanks!

[@mortdewerewolfe691]

For all the terrible films Lugosi had to take, he never gave a bad performance. And, who's making docs about Ralph Byrd or the Ritz Brothers eighty plus years later?

[@tremorsfan]

While I think Lugosi would have liked to have made more romantic movies, I think he just liked acting. I think he was only unhappy when he wasn't.

[@VintageVera]

@@tremorsfan I agree. He had been very handsome in his youth and still regal looking when older.

[@gspotcyplick]

Hey I genuinely enjoyed some of those "bad" lugosi movies and would argue that some of them are actually brilliant but misunderstood.

[@wugglesx]

Man was an underrated legend.

[@stephen70edwards]

Only now, some 40 years after I first saw him, have I realized that Sesame Street's The Count was entirely an homage to Lugosi's Count of 1931

[@rufust.firefly2474]

Wwow..... what a stunning revelation.

[@jfrsnjhnsn]

Well, yeah...

[@8LiterallyJustTheNumber8]

It took 40 years, but those brain cells finally got to work! I joke of course, all in good fun.

[@stephen70edwards]

@@8LiterallyJustTheNumber8 better late than never

[@amysands2413]

@@rufust.firefly2474 Some how its when there gone there value is appropriate. The old movies I keep going back too. Because they were the best.

[@sallykohorst8803]

I love anything with Bela in it and Dracula was his role for sure

[@baxter5431]

Lugosi, back in Europe, was a consummate actor, playing everything from leading romantic roles, the usual villains to even Jesus. I think the main problem was the he didn't have an agent in Hollywood & thought he could handle all the business end himself. Having a good agent would've saved him, advising him on what roles to go for & how much money to accept.

[@Kitsaplorax]

Lugosi was also a Union activist, something not looked on kindly in Hollywood.

[@baxter5431]

@@Kitsaplorax Yes, that's true but so were other actors such as Cagney, Bette Davis, Hunphrey Bogart eytal. Jack Warner labeled Cagney "The Againster" because he was trying to break from all those gangster roles. I don't know if Lugosi was a member of the Screen Actor's Guild but if he had been, that would have been of great help to him & his career.

[@GoneGone816]

@@baxter5431 he founded the SAG… Of which I’m a member SIMPLY BECAUSE of it’s morals and creator.

[@iwasanangryyoungman]

@@Kitsaplorax must have been the Eastern European in him

[@jayrosen6663]

Baxter 5431, Agreed 100%

[@paulwolf7562]

I would be willing to guess that Lugosi is probably more popular today. He was a consummate professional. Everything he did was always done with the upmost sincerity and professionalism.

[@brettpugh7898]

Brilliant Documentary, he is now and has always been one of my favorite actors. Yes he lived a tragic life, but his legacy will never be forgotten! Thanks so much for all your hard work 💜💙💜

[@speedracer1945]

I enjoyed Abbott and Costello meet Frankenstein , which Frankenstein scared the heck outta me as a kid but it had all the Famous Monsters in it .

[@smcnicoll]

This is just beautiful. My writing partner and I wrote a play about Bela in 2001, for BBC radio 4 called THERE ARE SUCH THINGS. The Dracula society gave it the Hamilton Deane award. After watching this fantastically researched and sensitive piece I can only say I wish we had had you on board back then. Loving your work sir. Thank you! Best wishes from Scotland.

[@robinbailes5236]

Thanks, that's really good hear. Is the play available online?

[@smcnicoll]

@@robinbailes5236 Alas, not to my knowledge no. It was on an obscure streaming site about 8 years ago. Now defunct. The BBC will have copies.

[@robinbailes5236]

@@smcnicoll Before the days of i-player. Shame.

[@prompterbob]

I’ve been inspired to read Dracula for the first time. What an amazing book. I’m halfway through. For a book written in the late 1890s, it reads like a contemporary novel. So well written and SCARY. Thanks Dark Corners for the nudge.

[@joshnocera9064]

Lugosi and Karloff were always terrific on screen together.

[@Bishopfish]

Wow, I’ve been a Lugosi fan for almost my entire life and I never knew the Fantasia thing!! How cool!!

[@venom7558]

Wonderful video tribute! Sadly,I think as much as people remember Bela for his film work,they also remember how his life and career ended so sadly. Universal was clearly so petty ,cheap and never realized the talent they had in Bela Lugosi.

[@kountkuhmeleon2495]

This left me in tears! Long Live Lugosi!

[@lilacapon1128]

Hello, thanks you very much. Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff, Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing , des artistes talentueux inégalés et Inoubliables 👍

[@kenzopoe7050]

The Legend Bela Lugosi. They don't make 'em like that anymore.

[@radiowhitebase3623]

So unappreciated by the studio that gave him the role that put him on the map, but loved by audiences, it’s tragic how wrong Hollywood treated him. It would be a heart wrenching movie, if a biopic were made of him.

[@stevemartin239]

What a wonderful tribute to such an iconic actor, told with so much respect & reverence. Well done you guys ...brilliant!

[@anthonycrnkovich5241]

Has there ever been anyone like Bela Lugosi before or since? He was undoubtedly a unique personage in films, and he always gave 100% no matter the role or budget. Not many actors can lay claim to being the ONLY reason for watching an otherwise mediocre film, and Lugosi does that for me.

[@nilsmuninsheim4279]

I think, Lugosi would have been a brilliant Cardinal Richelieu in a 'Three Musketeers' film. And if not Professor Moriarty himself at least a Sherlock Holmes antagonist of comparable quality. And if they would have made H.P. Lovecraft films in his days, there would have been plenty of roles for him. From 'The Shador Over Innsmouth''s Zadok Allan to Old Man Whateley from 'The Dunwich Horror'.

[@VintageVera]

You know, I've never seen a great rendition of Moriarty and am betting that Lugosi could have done it.

[@DDlambchop43]

@@VintageVera um, have you seen the 80s Grenada Sherlock Holmes series?

[@VintageVera]

@@DDlambchop43 Do you mean the one with Jeremy Brett? BTW, have you seen the Russian Sherlock Holmes movies -- they're great!

[@gilbertramirez6626]

Bela Lugosi is like family to me. Thanks for all you do on the channel.

[@TroyFullwood]

i'd love to have seen Lugosi play The Shadow, it's a shame that character never got a really good screen adaptation in his heyday

[@christopherwall2121]

Knowing the studios' perception of Lugosi's value as an actor, though, I wouldn't be surprised if they'd have all his dialogue looped by Orson Welles.

[@jameswhite4448]

I f Bela would have had fangs in The original Dracula it would have added to. The movie I think.

[@docsavage-8616]

@@jameswhite4448 Too Scary for the 1930's.

[@metaldams78]

I really think Bela would have been fantastic in the title role of the 1943 Phantom of the Opera. He could pull off the pathos, the make up wasn’t too demanding and he physically could have pulled it off in 1943, unlike The Monster. Great documentary as usual, your channel is fantastic.

[@paulgarcia9825]

Bela was a great actor. Anything he did, he was fantastic. Larger than life, real super star. He riveted you to the screen. Compare the actors of today. Lugosi was magic and mystery and amazing. Such a shame he was treated so badly by the studio. Really heartbreaking.

[@catspaw3092]

Bela was the model for the large scary demon in Fantasia? Damn, I didn't know that & even today that demon still scares & creeps me out.

[@michaeltnewyorknights8413]

This was an excellent documentary. It's so nice to see an intelligent and informative piece on Bela and the early years of the genre.

[@anton1990]

A beautiful tribute! Bela has always been one of my heroes!

[@ThreadBomb]

Bela would have made a great Bond villain. On the other hand, he could also have delivered a fun comic turn as Q.

[@Enriqueguiones]

What a tragic story! Such a great actor and such a beautiful human being...

[@junheceta268]

Bela Lugosi never got the financial rewards and accolades during his lifetime that he deserved. I'm happy that, although belated, the years following his death have shown an increasing appreciation for the man and his body of work. Your excellent KZbin channel has done much to contribute to that. Thank you for your splendid videos honoring the great actors, producers, and studios that have produced classic and iconic films of the horror genre. I look forward to seeing and savoring more content in the future. P. S. Perhaps you can do something more extensive on another of my idols, Boris Karloff.

[@DarkCornersReviews]

Very much on the cards. We have Val Lewton in the works, but not sure when that will be out.

[@liladiskens5346]

Merci pour avoir mis en ligne cette pépite cinématographique dédiée aux films d épouvante des années révolues. Feu Béla Lugosi , artiste talentueux inégalé inoubliable. Je vous remercie pour les sous titres en français. Ça m aide beaucoup .👍💜💚💙

[@jamesnetwall1193]

Excellent documentary. The question you pose about the horrible treatment that universal constantly heaped upon him is the one I have always wondered about. It's a shame . But Bela lugosi still remains one of my all-time favorite actors. Thank you. !

[@tonysantiago255]

Excellent examination of the life of this much disrespected by studio executives, yet continually beloved by audiences great actor. He is and always will be the definitive Dracula. In addition to the roles you highlighted, his performances in The Island of Dr. Moreau and as the villain in 1932's Chandu the Magician prove what a charismatic screen presence he was. I've always loved Night on Bald Mountain sequence in Fantasia, but now knowing Bela did the physical performance for the demon Cherabog adds an even more special appreciation for that part of another brilliant piece of cinema. A special thanks for including those cut scenes from Ghost of Frankenstein. I was under the impression they had been lost to time. If only Universal would re-edit those into a re-release. Again, thanks for your excellent work. Bela will live in our hearts forever and how many actors have that as their legacy? Well done.

[@edisonlima4647]

Wow! I was so absorbed by the that scene where Dracula overtakes the pianist's mind and her music noticeably changes under his influence that for a second I almost forgot I wasn't watching the movie. It was such a great scene that it made me curious about the movie. It IS a great scene! The fact that you used that song afterwards in your review was (chef's kiss) delightful.

[@Nosferatu981]

I think Lugosi could have made a good Rasputin.

[@adrianslaughter3329]

He certainly had the eyes for it. Rasputin's eyes were said to be almost luminous with how white the whites of his eyes were and how vibrant the color of his irises were.

[@julietfischer5056]

People mock his acting, but Lugosi came from the stage and was a really a good actor. In one film, he's the villain feigning blindness -- and he researched by studying how the blind do things. When he's had the chance to be something other than a 'Bela Lugosi character' he did a reasonably good job (I had to check the credits on a movie he did with Karloff because he played a gangster and his accent wasn't as thick as usual). His handicaps were lack of facility in English and a system that wouldn't let him do much else than variants on mad science.

[@cartoonistaaronhazouri]

This was fantastic. They used to show stuff like this on tv, years ago. Now it's KZbin - or I should say, people like you - making this great content and telling these stories. Great work!

[@H3len50]

Thank you so much for this, utterly magnificent and what a beautiful tribute to a beautiful man.

[@DarkCornersReviews]

Thank you very much!

[@robertog1821]

I think Bela would have been terrific in the role of Robert Louis Stevenson's Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

[@rufust.firefly2474]

"Der Januscoph"(1920), a version of "dr. Jekyll and mr. Hyde" featured Bela Lugosi in the role of doctor jekyll's valet.

[@jfrsnjhnsn]

oh man, yes

[@DLAbaoaqu]

Ehh, his part’s a little different. He’s like the god that looks down on all the characters and oversees everything.

[@GanonGhidorah]

I have always been fascinated with Dracula as well as Lugosi's performance with it. But so much information given here that I did not know; it's tragic, it's _moving,_ it's heartwarming. And it is somehow grandious to know that the man chose to be buried in Dracula's costume. But it is heartbreaking to know just how _undervalued_ he was at Universal despite the high-demand. But if anything, all of this _has_ given me wonderful new ideas.

[@standardranchstash221]

Excellent summary. Your hard work is much appreciated.

[@jlovebirch]

Another great docu. Lugosi would have been ideal as the Russian count in The Most Dangerous Game.

[@jaqatlantic]

I think so too. That said, Leslie Banks did a splendid job.

[@rufust.firefly2474]

When I first saw the film " the most dangerous game " , and Leslie Banks was introduced as the master of the game oh, I couldn't get over how much he seemed to be impersonating Lugosi in terms of inflection and interpretation. I kept wondering to the whole film why they didn't use Lugosi, since his contract with universal was not exclusive. It's really a great film, a companion piece to "King Kong," and it's very unfortunate that Lugosi did not play this leading role.

[@marcco44]

well done! and Bela will ALWAYS be a HERO and a LEGEND!!!

[@anitarichmond8930]

Aww,Bela lugosi's reputation preceded him, his magnetism made him a Target they labeled him a HAM claims of him not having mastery of the language. But yet his was the performance of a lifetime his brilliance is undeniable with every line delivery and every gesture he was Count Dracula.

[@jkirtleyheacting]

Excellent documentary. Great tribute to a legendary actor.

[@augustragone1159]

Beautifully done - giving due credit to the man and actor. Thank you!

[@rociomiranda5684]

I actually like Return of the Vampire. It's interesting to have a woman scientist as opponent of Armand Tesla, who is Dracula in all but name, and Lugosi has some beautiful dialogue. He was an impressive actor, a mesmerizing screen presence, no matter how poor the film was.

[@robinbailes5236]

Yeah, we didn't have time to mention that the Van Helsing character is a woman, but that was quite something for the time in which it was made.

[@Antichrister71]

A very interesting and entertaining essey about mr. Lugosi and the politics of old Hollywood. I think it´s about time I revisit some of these old dusty, and batinfested, classics once more! Keep up the brilliant work!

[@comicsdude3166]

Love it when you talk about movies and actors like this. Remind me of monster madness by James rolfe.

[@drummerwarrior1]

Another terrific film. Thank you. Eternally.

[@jackgrattan1447]

Robert Siodmak made SON OF DRACULA just before his breakthrough hit PHANTOM LADY, a landmark film noir of 1944. He would then become the King of Film Noir in the '40s, directing many outstanding dark movies like THE KILLERS, THE SPIRAL STAIRCASE, and CRISS CROSS.

[@SamiDC]

This is an amazing tribute to an amazing actor. Honestly, I would have loved to have seen him in more comedic roles. Sadly, we only get a glimpse of it in his career, but he has an amazingly amusing cheekiness to him. I can easily see him delivering epic lines of caustic wit that would prove just as immortal as his iconic Dracula.

[@antoniod]

Universal was probably more interested in pushing Lon Chaney, Jr as their new Horror king than making a good "Dracula" film.

[@speedracer1945]

Chaney jr couldn't hold a candle to his Dad.

[@speedracer1945]

@Randy palla his son tried to follow his fathers footsteps but couldn't and had a alcohol problem and had to play in B- movies though he played a decent bad guy in Springfield rifle.

[@speedracer1945]

@Randy pallaagree, he was great as the Wolf man. My brother had a poster of a big closeup of his wolf face and as a kid it scared the crap outta me . Hey if you have TCM , around Halloween going to show the Phantom of the Opera ( 1929 )

[@joemarty9937]

Excellent video! Lugosi has been my favorite actor since I first saw Dracula back in 1999. I have seen many documentaries on him and this is one of the best.

[@johnbuckleyjnr32]

Universal really screwed bela over again and again. He played many great characters for the studio but never got what he deserved at the time

[@docsavage-8616]

Universal used his image and made a Fortune in Merchandising for Decades, Before his family put a stop to it.

[@edisonlima4647]

Now that cinema would never dare to hire an older actor instead of a hunk or a brooding youn man to play a vampire, it seems a given we are never going to see another actor portraying the same mix of malevolence, world weariness and vulnerability Lugosi was so good at and that comes only with age. For really bad reasons, he will not even have competition.

[@VintageVera]

Well-said

[@Juantzin]

Bela Lugosi was so remembered as Dracula that even legendary comics made an adaptation of Brams Stoker's Dracula comic book with Bela Lugosi drawn in. I hope you get to read it and review it even though it not a movie? The novel pays tribute to one of the most iconic actors who ever played Dracula in a comic, I think it's the closest thing will get to seeing this great of an actor in modern times. I loved this history of Bela Lugosi so I hope you check out the comic book :)

[@spews1973]

I know that this and Part 1 are going to be videos I'm going to return to again and again when I have 70 minutes to kill. I loved them both. Thank you, Dark Corners people. You've nailed it again!

[@LaMaldiciondelConquistador]

What a great documentary you made! thanks so much, Lugosi is my favourite actor :)

[@JoshAddison78]

Man... these long-form presentations are stellar. Well done.

[@sallykohorst8803]

I love Dracula's daughter and watch it often and wonderful music. I loved nan gray in this film and best scenes i love all the Universal movies.

[@kathleenmholland8055]

For me, he is and always will be THE Count Dracula in film. Nobody else had his grace, his presence, his look, his power and his beautiful voice. He was so very singular..his like will never come again! Thank you for this wonderful documentary. You have done Mr Lugosi honor with it.

[@demoniac972]

The best tribute I've seen

[@markoutwithmark]

Buried in his costume? Wow, I wish we had actors with that level of commitment these days.

[@deancox8634]

I personally love 'Son of Dracula'. Robert Paige gives a truly moving, tortured performance and Chaney has an air of physical intimidation which had been missing in other vampire movies. Louise Allbritton is beautiful and the Universal mood music (used again in House of Frankenstein) is top notch. But yes, Bela is Dracula. It delights me to know that 'Return of the Vampire' annoyed Universal.

[@toughbutsweet1]

Excellent video. Very informative at what an amazing talent Bela was. Good thing he lives on through his work. Bela's undead.

[@MightyMezzo]

My grandmother saw Lugosi on stage as Dracula in Pittsburgh in the early 1930s. God love him, he always always stayed completely committed to his performances. Would have like to see more about the cheapie thrillers he made for PRC in the 1940s. He is sometimes quite good in those.

[@gavinmillar816]

That was spectacular. Fantastic work as usual guys. The 35 mins flew in It's not often that I watch anything about classic movies that doesn't simple repeat things I already know. This was funny, touching and informative. And as a bonus I've got a couple of extra Lugosi movies to track down and watch now too! Obviously he was long dead before they even started to be produced but I would have loved to see him as a Bond movie villain.

[@chrisjenkins9978]

Outstanding. You’ve done a great service to the life of a great actor. Bravo. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@gwenking7700]

It is really sad the way Universal just ignored Lugosi. He was a remarkable actor. Anyone who could make Ed Wood look good was a genius in my opinion. Much love Bela ❤ and Happy Halloween

[@prompterbob]

Once again a highly entertaining, scholarly, well produced, extremely well written and performed documentary by Dark Corners. What a wonderful holiday present to all film lovers. Thank you.

[@orinanime]

This 2 part historical retrospective is absolutely outstanding. One of your finest presentations!

[@DLAbaoaqu]

Partially thanks to this two-part video gave me the idea to start a classic horror collection. I’ve compiled a list of 76 movies and RETURN OF THE VAMPIRE was the first film (not counting NOSFERATU) added to it.

[@erocrush]

I’d love to see Lugosi play Captain Nemo...Mason is great but imagine those lines in the voice of Lugosi.

[@haf816r]

Beautiful work!! Bela Lugosi is one of my all time favorites and this is the best doc. I've seen. Thank you for this! Can't wait to see your other work

[@lallancashire2201]

This is really good and one of your best documentaries yet, a perceptive and affectionate appreciation of a horror superstar, well done! 👍

[@Gappasaurus]

12:01 That line still gets me every time 😆

[@GoneGone816]

Béla Lugosi is actually my inspiration (DURR, check my last name 🤦🏻). He was an absolute gem of a gentleman. His son is just like him, minus the opiate addiction and alcoholism. He just couldn’t shake his accent and he got typecast so much. He actually invited fans to his home for tea! Such a terrible loss. He’s also a shining example that it’s never too late to make your dreams a reality. He broke into Hollywood at the age of 44. May he rest in his victorious abbey in the sky. 🖤🦇

[@Huskrrrr]

Lugosi always turned in a fine performance. So sad that he struggled to find worthy films for his talent.

[@benjihollister]

thank you for this! awesome job. Bela seemed like an awesome guy on top of being a horror icon.

[@Bondfan1995]

I think to me, while Lugosi made the part famous, but Christopher Lee made the part more iconic and into pop culture with Universal's first remake and Hammer's production of Dracula (a.k.a., Horror Of Dracula, 1958).

[@Toast960]

A fantastic documentary! I would've loved to have seen Lugosi play the title character in Doctor No. I feel he and Connery would've bounced off each other well. Also, I would have enjoyed seeing him as Jonathan in the film version of Arsenic and Old Lace.

[@buzzawuzza3743]

These videos are so good that I come back to them at various times to see them again.

[@NocturneVid66]

Thanks for giving such a great and underappreciated actor the tribute he deserves. I enjoy your long videos quite a bit.

[@welshsasquatch6093]

Incredibly well researched and presented. As someone who fell in love with horror films, particularly the Universal Monsters, during the Saturday night horror double bills in the UK, I thank you very much for your videos.

[@grandmofftarkin6961]

Only just watched this two part series now... and you made me shed a tear at the end. Congratulations. Though they have been out a while, you still deserve every bit of praise for this look into the original and best Dracula.

[@mgrzx3367]

You blew my mind on this. If you do a vampire comedy breakdown. include " Love at first bite". Which I found hysterical. Thanks for all You work. I either learn a lot or I remember something I may have forgotten.

[@pagano60]

It's a shame that the role of the scientist in "Black Friday" that was tailor-made for him was taken away from Lugosi. On the plus side, the role of the small-time gangster that was given to him as a consolation, tiny as it was, is my favorite Lugosi performance.

[@eliotmccann2589]

This was a magnificent essay- thank you!

[@deansneed3243]

In 1935, Lugosi played a small role in the film Phantom Ship (The Mystery of The Mary Celeste). While not a great movie by any means, Lugosi had a standout segment where he lamented "accidently" killing a fellow crewmember. This scene is worth watching for it shows how truly great an actor he was and how badly his talent was wasted by Universal.

[@robinbailes5236]

Also interesting because it's the first feature release of Hammer Films, long before they started making horror.

[@JeffreyDeCristofaro]

Bela has always served as the first major archetype of a great actor who brought a great character to life, and was trapped in the paradox of being famous for that one role and being unable to escape it, and who would in the long run end up delivering terrific performances in projects not worthy of his talents, something that has also happened to other actors like Jon Voight, and especially the late Dennis Hopper and Raul Julia both. I know he deserved far more than that - the manner in which the Pre-Code-to-Post-WWII studio system of vintage Hollywood undermined his vast potential was not only criminal, but sadly, it still happens to be the case with other film actors today who usually deserve better than what they get following their first indelible breakout performance.

[@rogernetzer1054]

Superb, thank you. Bela was an actor of supreme conviction. Thank you also for informing me of two reassuring facts I did not know. First, unlike his depiction in the otherwise excellent Ed Wood, Bela remained good-humored and charming until the end. Second, I had no idea he made the courageous and humane disclosure about his addiction, including the horrors of withdrawal. You are entirely right that Dracula's Daughter, Son of Dracula, Return of the Vampire, and Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein contain genuine heights, and Bela is superb in the latter two. Gloria Holden's performance in Dracula's Daughter is unique and uncanny. Louise Albritton, although a lesser actress, does very well in Son of Dracula. Both are well written roles and all four movies are good. p.s. In a less original role, which there was no reason to mention in your documentary, Nina Foch made fetching prey in Return of the Vampire. Keep up the good work.