Dracula With and Without Score Comparison

[@samrizzardi2213]

The silent version really hammers home the awkwardness Renfield is feeling.

[@friendlyworm420]

Love both. Without music is chilling; with music is fantastical.

[@louisborselio8608]

I'll take chilling over testicles

[@ghostfacedude93]

You feel less safe when there's no soundtrack or sound ques to guide your emotions. Just like renfield, you're in this room with Dracula, and the atmosphere is so thick, you could cut it with a knife. Even in the 92 Dracula, the scenes with renfield and dracula are quiet and brooding. Sound can create terror, there isn't a more terrifying soundscape, than silence.

[@tonysantiago255]

The Philip Glass/Kronos Quartet score reinvents and elevates what is already a brilliant piece of cinema. Personally, I find it ratchets up the tension with that coiled spring aching for release quality that so much of Mr. Glass' work conveys. When this movie was made sound had only been in use for 2-3 years. They were still figuring out how it could enhance the drama specifically. The opening use of 'Swan Lake' was not written with Dracula in mind and had been used in other films of this period. Max Stiener's score for King Kong would be a game changer in another 2 years.

[@SERGIOGUTIERREZ-gr8xr]

Where can I watch that

[@jonny5779]

Both work, its a masterpiece with or without music.

[@gregtestagent]

The scene moves much faster with music than without.

[@derworfnet]

I said it elsewhere, but I like both versions for different reasons. The music-less Original is deathly quiet and very eerie. The Version with Glass' Score is full of nervous energy. Both silence and music add their own kind of tension.

[@Barnabas45]

I actually prefer the silent version! More Eerie!

[@JafuetTheSame]

because the score is bad

[@themobseat]

Without music makes it feel like a documentary, with music makes it more cinematic.

[@normanby100]

Dracula acts so oddly and stiltedly because he is simply unused to interacting with ordinary humans after centuries lurking in his castle. Lugosi is a creepy, unsettling presence throughout whereas with Lee, it's the abrupt contrast between his earlier civilised, normal self and his new ferocity.

[@Taconic66]

I first watched the film with the score 20 years ago which is excellent and creates a melancholy mood cut with moments of frenzy. Now knowing it was added and having watched it silent it is eerie and dreamlike with the pauses between dialogue and quiet establishing shots. Both are great. I think an edit where Glass main title music replaces the ill fitting swan lake cue and then the rest of the film silent could be excellent.

[@Stigmatix666]

Perfect. I know it's a classic and all, seen it several times. But a score was desperately needed

[@jeannehall6546]

I like it without the score- it makes it creepier! Happy Halloween! 🎃 👻

[@shenmuelandlord]

Diggin both the same I think. I kinda prefer it without the music but Glass' score still sounds great and fits well. Should definitely check the full movie out with his score to see how the other scenes stack up

[@russelljackson2818]

I can't get on board. One of the things that made those first few years of Universal horror talkies so special was the fact that, for a brief moment in movie history, you weren't bombarded by a constant soundtrack of uninspired, overdone music. The silence hung thick and tense throughout Dracula and Frankenstein, adding a lot more gravity to the simple, powerful images and minimal dialogue. And I say this as someone who really responds to good scores/soundtracks.

[@RevolutionaryLoser]

I mean, the silent version of the film has no score.

[@dirtyjohnathan5612]

I think the most powerful scene that is influenced by the music is Dracula coming out the coffin. Without the score it’s relatively awkward. The score transcends the movie from film to a work of art. In my opinion

[@SERGIOGUTIERREZ-gr8xr]

Just beautiful with a score

[@LOTLore]

the silent version is so much better, i am disappointed my first time watching it was with the music. Definitely gonna have to go back and give the silent a rewatch

[@jamesjackson4558]

I can see how terrifying this was for my great grand and grandparents.

[@eddiewalpole]

Phillip Glass is amazing as usual.

[@alanrobertandrews6493]

No doubt,Bela will always be the greatest Dracula,Glass works,Bye for now love Alan

[@joshuapray]

There is no doubt that the film without music is almost unbearably creepy. (And I mean that in the best possible way.) But the soundtrack adds a regal air to the vampires that they don't otherwise have. I really enjoy both versions. They are entirely different. That said, I do watch the scored version more often than not.

[@fazilatarezo4324]

Joshua Pray now with music is real one or without music?

[@louisborselio8608]

The one without music was the original version. And the better one.

[@santadestroy98]

Do you know if the scored version generally comes on any DVD release of it?

[@joshuapray]

@@santadestroy98 Yes, the alternate score is listed in the bonus content of new 1931 Dracula blu-ray and DVD releases.

[@santadestroy98]

@@joshuapray Thanks.

[@MaxCovington543]

It's much better with music. It's not like it was an artistic choice to have no music. They just didn't think to put it in. These older movies go at a much slower pace and music helps alleviate the "grind' of the more tedious scenes.

[@DaveLeeDownUnder]

It's not that they didn't "think" to put it in... they didn't have the budget to do so.

[@captainviggo4575]

Neither it was an artistic choice to make the film in black and white, but it doesn't mean it would be better with colours. Often, limitations = creativity. And in this case, as much as I like Philip Glass's modern score, I feel that it also looses the eery atmosphere of the movie.

[@1-JBL]

They had live organists/pianists in the theater to accompany the films. It's not like you saw it without music. I think Glass' score works wonderfully -- just a string quartet, no Wagnerian pomposity.

[@richardwaddy7602]

@@captainviggo4575 My parents and other relatives saw it in the theaters in different cities in 1931. There was no organ accompaniment. No need as all films were sound by then.

[@tonysantiago255]

@Richard Waddy- Thanks for the personal historical perspective. There aren't too many people still around who would have seen it back in 1931.

[@ethanevans2689]

The music makes the entire experience of watching the film 100x better.

[@Stigmatix666]

Spot on!

[@richardwaddy7602]

No. Audiences didn't have to be spoon fed. It is a classic and stood the test of time due to acting and directing.

[@PavelDGromnic]

What a revelation! The music literally makes the blood flow in the body of the movie. Dracula's exaggerated hand movements and the sudden appearance of the three maidens make it seem like a Greek tragedy with the accompaniment of the score. It' s as if Glass completes the film at last, after almost a century. Wow.

[@DuenkelPortraitArt]

MUCH creepier without! The whole move was about creepiness. Let it be.

[@yodaya70]

I think the score works better for the dialogue scenes that aren’t as spooky cause those often feel more awkward without the score compared to the spookier scenes like this

[@lybra175]

The real Dracula is Béla Lugosi.

[@TheStockwell]

I had no idea there were others. 😉

[@darrenwiggins9957]

Lugosi and Frye's performence is so strong the music is distracting .

[@petersmithyy4556]

Better without.

[@Warhammerdude980]

What is the piece that plays when Renfield meets Dracula as he walks down the steps of the castle? I can't find it anywhere and it's my favorite piece from the movie

[@RobertHowe-f5z]

The music gets in the way !

[@leoallan2225]

I think the first scene with the wine is better with no score, and the second is better with it, certain scenes are better without a score.

[@louisborselio8608]

This movie is better without a full blown soundtrack. It's the silence that sets the eerie mood. The Philip Glass score is intrusive, pompous, and annoying. PG scored this as if it was a silent film. It doesn't need a constant bombardment of music. Glass's Dracula score is better suited for Nosferatu 1922.

[@ethanevans2689]

louis borselio I think if the music were mixed a little better it wouldn’t be as intrusive

[@austinteutsch]

I hear what you're saying but the music has to be placed better i.e. in a cresendo fashion when the scene warrants it.

[@Stigmatix666]

I beg to differ. Sure, silence can absolutely be eerie in on itself. And loads of horror movies prove that. But constant silence is a very different matter. Even movies from the silent film era had soundtracks..

[@Stigmatix666]

@@ethanevans2689 Yes, it's way too loud. As if to say *"listen to me, godamnit"* .. It should have been more subtle.

[@louisborselio8608]

Stigma, That was kind of my point that this soundtrack would have fit great with the silent film Nosferatu.

[@King_Colombia_Inc]

The score is the same age as my eye.

[@xomthood]

the music is intrusive and detached from the action

[@richardbartolo2890]

I remember watching the version with the Glass score, First & foremost backround music is not supposed to compete with the actors script. the music score & volume never seemed to let up. So after a short time it grew annoying. A good composer should know a little goes a long way, And the use of dynamics/playing softer & lower & pausing are crucial in music.

[@lamontcranston4436]

Where can I watch the full version with the Glass score please?

[@EdgeOfEntropy17]

No music is far better

[@patrickwheatley2693]

Having seen the original first, the Glass soundtrack detracts from the film in my opinion. The silence in this scene alone heightens the tension whereas the music honestly ruins it.

[@dillundervvood]

I am currently working on an original score for this film and am curious as to how many people prefer without. Mine is more artistic and less traditional as this score.

[@Adrift.]

I'd love to hear it!

[@dillundervvood]

@@Adrift. my Instagram is @dillundervvood if you'd like the updates I make of it.

[@Adrift.]

@@dillundervvood Awesome! Thanks. I'll check it out.

[@JafuetTheSame]

@@Adrift. check out the score from the guy named "tomalakis" ...bits are here on YT

[@SRLovesPandas1]

no score elevates the eerie and Gothic tone imo

[@brunofelipegoncalves8555]

where can I watch it?

[@jahimjauh-hey5653]

I think the score has its merits as does the original with its lack of music. I'm excited to see what people create for this film once it hits the public domain and creators add their own sound effects and scores. I'm sure a bunch of it will be crap but I think there's potential for something interesting and unique.

[@chauxone]

Lugosi, the eternal Dracula.

[@tonysantiago255]

This is never going to enter Public domain. It's too valuable a property and will be renewed ad infinitem. KZbin, however, is a great place for fans to play around with clips in the short form, although there are copyright issues sometimes.

[@jahimjauh-hey5653]

@@tonysantiago255 I hope you are wrong. I'm not saying their won't be an effort to extend it on part of greedy corporations but we are in the internet age where we can educate people about the importance of public domain and if it goes smoothly this film is expected to be available in 2027.

[@tonysantiago255]

It seems you have a better understanding of Public Domain law than I do. Are you aware of the time limitations of copyright? Also, where are you getting the date of 2027 from? I'm sincerely interested. Thanks.

[@jahimjauh-hey5653]

So works of art used to make it to public domain a lot quicker based on the year it was first published and a certain amount of years since that date to allow the creator to profit off of their work. Then big corporations like Disney had lawmakers extend the number of years so companies could still profit off of what they owned for around 90 plus years(way too long IMO) without contributing to the public domain. For a long time no works after 1923 were being added until recently since those 90 something years have expired and we will be getting the 1931 Dracula film as long as their is not another extension which will likely be lobbied for since the Mickey Mouse character is nearly available to use.

[@cossegoji2kofficialchannel60]

Quite honestly, this movie works far better without the score. Philip Glass’s score is overbearing, over the top, and just doesn’t fit.

[@jinsakai409]

I disagree wholeheartedly lol. I remember hearing the soundtrack in Dublin during my time at Trinity. Bram Stoker attended that school for a time as well. Listening felt like I was traveling back in time.

[@raydonahue1978]

I agree completely Cossegoji

[@metasketch4317]

I love new things getting tried with established works like the 31 Dracula - the world of art is big enough for these experiments! As for this particular music, Kronos is amazing as always. However Glass' score reminds me just how repetitive his music is... just over and over quickly with the same notes in the same rhythm, yeesh. It works for some pieces, but seems cheap after a while and I'm sitting thinking doesn't he do anything else? I'm really down for everything here but the Glass part.

[@voivodvlad1]

The music is rather a distraction, taking away the suspense and dread.

[@eddtoro]

Boy that music totally stunk. Would have fit perfectly if I were in a shopping mall or elevator. Not only do you get very dramatic moments with the original silence, but if you were to add music, it has to be at specific moments to enhance the scene, not overwhelm and distract. And the music must have a dark feel. Think Wojciech Kilar.

[@crow1994-bl]

The score is crap.

[@johnnynoirman]

Better Frank Skinner---Glass very weak

[@richardbartolo2890]

Johnny you brought up something that never occured to me, With all of the high quality music scholars of the 1930's in Universal Studios employ, Why wouldn't Universal use one of their old scores instead of hiring this guy ? Those musicians were the real thing. And they had so many movie scores to choose from.

[@RevolutionaryLoser]

I don't think you can overstate how much Bela Lugosi defined the vampire. He is Dracula. Just the way he puts emphasis in all the wrong parts of a sentence commands attention and makes the listener uneasy while he makes the performance so natural and with such confidence you forget you are watching an actor. It is both mesmerizing and disturbing. It's hard to imagine a time before Bela Lugosi's Dracula.