Restoring Dracula (1931) | Full Documentary | Classic Monsters

Learn how the 1931 classic Dracula film footage was restored to its former glory in this special bonus documentary.
© 1931 Universal Studios. Renewed 1959 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.
Dracula (1931): Transylvanian locals warn solicitor Renfield against going to Count Dracula's castle for business reasons. They dread that a vampire lives there. But Dracula, disguised as a driver, takes him there.
Watch the full movie here: www.uphe.com/movies/dracula-1931
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#Dracula #BelaLugosi #ClassicMonsters #UniversalPictures #CountDracula #BramStoker #Vampire #ClassicMovies #Trailer

[@douglasfreeman3229]

It makes me feel warm inside to know that people are restoring these wondrous vintage films for our enjoyment and appreciation.

[@CameronYoung-fn6xy]

Kudos to all the dedicated artist/technicians who resurrected Dracula for future generations

[@FearTheHomeOfHorror]

Can you believe this film will be 90 years old next year? Dracula's looking good for his age.

[@filthycasual8187]

He usually is unless he's fasting. :P

[@ChrisPeteG]

90 Years Old TODAY!

[@EricVornoff]

where do i buy this

[@scottmoore1614]

Lugosi’s Dracula and Karloff’s Frankenstein are both 90 this year. Two of my all time favorites!

[@anthonycrnkovich5241]

The 1931 DRACULA is my favorite of Universal's classic monster movies. The latest Blu-ray restoration is fantastic, making this 90 year old gem shine as never before.

[@dragon7590]

If you get a chance watch the 4K version. I did last night and its amazing! I believe they scanned the positive in 4k and when the released the blu ray its not even at its full viewing potential.

[@lunaracc914]

Should see the 4K version, same master but now in native 4K

[@lw3646]

The 4k UHD blu ray release looks gorgeous. Great film too.

[@JohnDonovanProductions]

Film restoration is one of my favorite things to do! As they mention in the mini-doc, you feel like you’re rescuing some thing and preserving it for generations to come.

[@stevemuzak8526]

4K version is the best version of this movie. I think that movie looks better now than in 1931.

[@Awaywrdson]

This is my favorite Dracula movie and Lugosi is my favorite Dracula. Black and White movie Classics are the best !! 👍

[@happyfeet4506]

This is just the work of pure genius. I take my hat off to all of you that do this work

[@scottmoore1614]

I’m amazed at the work these people do on film restoration. I’ve got a Chaplin collection of his restored Keystone films and they’re even older than Dracula!

[@andimatrus]

To me is extraordinary to see those movies in all their glory... Some people might think that restoration is artificial, but seeing them at the correct speed and with pristine frames is amazing to me.

[@thomasjorge4734]

The Spanish version may have been better, but Bela killed it dead, I mean Un-Dead.

[@thomasjorge4734]

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

[@scottmoore1614]

Yes, thank you! The people who do film restoration are amazing!

[@xRickeyTiex]

Wow, these guys are heros!

[@sunshinec9950]

You're all are so creative . that's a blessing.the work you do.

[@scottmoore1614]

They truly work magic!

[@jessemacias2]

I didn’t know there was a spanish version of Dracula. Will look forward to watch it someday. But in the meantime i can only say Bela Lugosi was the best Dracula.

[@cleduc5059]

I just bought the Universal Classic Monster Collection. can't wait to watch Dracula.

[@leonardvicari2857]

I love Dracula along with The Wolfman great that these classic films are being restored

[@andrewattenboroughtwothumb4697]

one of my favourite classic horror movies and 90 years old and now in 4K

[@chuckskiles883]

Great movie, we’ll worth restoring.

[@saintcruzin]

That future generations can enjoy Dracula in restored glorious black and white is just a treat for all of us. Although the Spanish version has some very good direction, what is The Count without Bela?? He makes the movie extraordinary..

[@AnnDrogyne]

It's essential all these old films are restored so we can experience them as they were first released but this Dracula, somehow I miss the crackling sound audio, they add to the atmosphere.

[@tripjet999]

"We didn't change a thing - except that we did."

[@Brandosaurus_Rex87]

Here I am, just sitting around watching movies all day, and these people are out there doing Gods work. Thank you all

[@magicvampirelver1321]

Whata classic☆

[@carnage4907]

I find it crazy that people give videos like this a thumbs down 😂😂😂😂

[@kemowasabi551]

Painstaking work ! (Pun intended) Many thanks to the restoration crew!

[@Shiresgammai]

Well done!

[@johnnyskinwalker4095]

I wonder if they put back the things that had been taken out?

[@queefburglar7548]

The only actual missing content that has been restored was Renfield screaming at the end when he dies, and Dracula groaning from offscreen when he dies as well. As far as I know, nothing has been taken out in previous home releases other than that.

[@elijahblechman8633]

@@queefburglar7548 there's a missing scene where van helsing comes out and tells the audience to indeed be afraid of vampires.

[@queefburglar7548]

@@elijahblechman8633 Yeah, but I was just talking about what had been taken out of previous home releases, and what they had actually put back in for this. As far as I know, the vast majority of the Van Helsing epilogue is now lost footage, as anything that was deleted back in the 30s would likely be, so I don’t think it’s gonna be put back in any time soon.

[@robertmac7833]

This is incredible!!!

[@ZulcanPrime]

I don't believe that nobody could replace the late great Bela Lugosi as the best actor even when he starred as Dracula in the Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein movie.

[@blipblub2419]

spanish dracula kinda looks like nic cage

[@thomasjorge4734]

No, like Placido Domingo!

[@bridgetgregory3876]

Yes...I was thinking the same thing...Nic Cage👍

[@clairegibirdi8973]

I like the old version

[@leonardjenkins8968]

That's awesome

[@Barnabas45]

Production values of the Spanish version were superior but Lugosi, Frye and Van Sloan are irreplaceable!

[@scombs6543]

Completely agree. Lugosi, Frye, and Sloan made the movie what it was. The Spanish version may have been made better, but their Dracula looks like a goofy parody compared to Lugosi.

[@Barnabas45]

@@scombs6543 Totally agree!

[@douglasfreeman3229]

Dwight Frye is always a joy to watch. I think he chewed the scenery a bit, but what a presence on the screen. Love 'im!

[@anthonycrnkovich5241]

The Spanish version is not better. People started saying that in the 1990s when it was rediscovered and had a novelty of sorts. But in reality it has some glaring problems, and not just with Carlos Villarias.

[@jaimesilva6637]

Gracias,universal,por,todas,las,películas,de,Drácula,hombre,lobos,Frankenstein,la,momia,film,inolvidables, 🇨🇱🥰🎞️🎥📽️🎬👹👻☠️👾👽

[@leonardvicari2857]

Dracula is great and has great eccentric characters a horror classic

[@christopherd.1200]

Hello- many people have made the comment that the Spanish language version is superior to the English language one and that it was sexier. the only thing sexier in the Spanish language one is Lupita Tovar's low cut neckline of her gown toward the end of the film. that's it. also Carlos Villarias who plays Dracula was wayyyyyyyy to hammy in his performance.

[@seasonstudios]

I appreciate this kind of work so very much so don't get me wrong when I say that sometimes I feel that some scenes are a little too dark. It must be a delicate balance to try and get every scene just right.

[@johnnygunzfilmbuff7821]

In 2019 before covid I went to a rerelease of the movie with a composer adding the music while watching the movie it was awesome.

[@grim_reaper_luckydeath1416]

1931 Dracula is my favorite movie of all time I love Bela lagois playing as Dracula he is the coolest and plus Dracula thought me that is ok to be strange but charming in a new environment

[@EricVornoff]

where do i buy this version?

[@treyjohnson4035]

Has anyone found the THERE ARE SUCH THINGS epilogue,?

[@marcdelente2456]

les siecles pour ces chefs d oeuvres intemporels sont en marche les enfants de nos petits enfants pourront decouvrirs king Kong dracula frankeinstein et tant de joyaux du 7ème arts.

[@kelhard]

The film looks great, but sound still a LOT of hiss, that probably can be removed safely.

[@m.valentina3387]

Se puede ver la película completa por youtube subtitulada?

[@odietamo9376]

Seriously? A colorized version of this film? That would be an atrocity. Get over it. There are plenty of other versions of Dracula that are in color. This one is supposed to be in black and white. It is elegant and effective and atmospheric and creepy just as it is. Asking for this film to be colorized would be like wanting a beautiful pencil or pen and ink drawing to have color added to it. So yes, it would kill me.

[@douglasfreeman3229]

You wouldn't be forced to watch it, and they wouldn't destroy the original version.

[@elijahblechman8633]

Yeah a colorzied version wouldn't hurt, especially with today's technology. It's not like in the ted turner days were he took a pack of crayons to classic cinema. People these days are smart enough to know to watch the balck and white version anyways.

[@hideofreakingkojima5457]

Colorized? When did they talk about that in the video?

[@jOHNNYDEM]

Overall great restoration…I think the audio hiss could’ve been dropped down even more on this one. I also think the visual grain could’ve been smoothed out just a little bit without compromising the clarity.

[@doomslayer-zj8td]

I am Dracula

[@nadcordois]

"I bid you welcome."

[@elijahblechman8633]

"Listen to them. Children of the night, such music they make"

[@SROSELLI]

“This is very old wine”

[@oldgoody1]

At 6:50 a hissy sound track is presented. But instead of presenting the "cleaned up" version right after it, strangely they play a better sounding audio clip - from a completely different scene. We are given no reference, no processed B to compare with the original A. Why? The comparison is meaningless.

[@karanvirkooner1993]

Nitrate film is dangerous

[@odietamo9376]

No, it wouldn’t be cool, it would ruin it. Do you think that beautiful pen and ink drawings should have color added to them?

[@GaryYoung-eq1ph]

Also is the movie 'gone with the wind' restored 2 the original condition before they made it into wide cinemascope??

[@TheJTMcDaniel]

That would be a much easier restoration, since it was made "wide screen" simply by not including the upper and/or lower part of the frame when they made the prints. This is actually the way most windscreen movies are shot today if they're shot on film, since it simplifies adding effects if you don't have to contend with anamorphic distortion. GWtW was shot in Technicolor, which also makes restoration easier since it was shot on B&W film stock and only the prints are in color. Other color processes use dyes in both negative and positive, and those dyes fade, but B&W negative stock is remarkably stable and you can always use new filters in the printer to obtain the original result. No need to restore an old, faded print, you just make a new one.

[@ricardojr.arcenal6373]

what software are they using to composite?

[@rickknutson6540]

I kind of like to see how this film would have done as a silent cue cards and music to a minimum

[@richpatriaco2535]

Talented group of people who restored this, try for a color version

[@thereplication2567]

maybe in 2031 in it's 100th anniversary

[@crissrudd4554]

No

[@christophertomasello1227]

Asapurist I can say that this is really nice to see. But I wonder is the wrong two maybe take advantage of current technology and improve the bat scenes and maybe even show the transformation of Dracula into a bat? I don't want to do heavy changes like George Lucas did in Star Wars just a few tweaks here and there that's all I think it would be great

[@crissrudd4554]

I say leave it as is. Let it represent the filming standards of the time.

[@joebloggs8636]

Great stuff,,,abit over the head for the 7 "thumbs downers"...just saying.

[@douglasfreeman3229]

I wonder what they didn't like about this. Can someone really object to film restoration?

[@hideofreakingkojima5457]

@@douglasfreeman3229 The one person in the comment section I've seen that hated this criticized about them adding "color", but I think they're mistaken with fixing the contrast/black levels of the film.

[@amceagle1]

Not seeing the film restoration, I just hope 'those in charge' DO NOT add ridiculous background "mood" music to the film. One part of the magic of this film is the true realism of each scene just because of NO introduction of music, which was predominant in virtually all later films coming out of Hollywood!

[@ZiggyTheAdventurer]

it wont be long and AI will restore these in 8K and it will look as good as todays digital recordings. it's actually already happening.

[@IronForged]

Maybe it's just me but it almost looks like they made it darker which loses details. I saw some recent videos on KZbin about brand new Artificial Intelligence (AI) film and video clean up. Saw a concert video filmed in the early 80's on NTSC video that looked almost High Def TV with AI edits without losing lighting.

[@salvagemonster3612]

Hey like M J taught us “It don’t matter if your black or white”

[@odietamo9376]

Your’e kidding, right? Or do you also think that beautiful pencil and pen and ink drawings should have color added to them. Embrace the rich black and white!

[@user-lt9ju1fm4q]

Gio Ninja Power 🏀🏀🏀🏈🎮⚾ R5

[@anthonycrnkovich5241]

An oft-repeaed criticism is that DRACULA suffers because it doesn't have a music score -- hogwash! That's what makes this movie so creepy. The optional Philip Glass score is terrible; it's wall to wall music that does nothing but intrude, ruining the film's carefully sustained atmosphere. As far as the Spanish version goes, suffice to say it's at best a curiosity piece. In no way is it better than Tod Browning's masterpiece.

[@salvagemonster3612]

So Spanish Dracula liked em Thick huh

[@Mr.Big-Gunz]

Amazing...it's great,, but would it kill you guys to make another version of the classic Dracula in color...i like the black & white, but a color version would be very interesting...thanx

[@crissrudd4554]

Black and white is fine

[@franciscomatt4559]

Yeah, some color version would be cool

[@jasminnemcdonald94A]

No. It's better in black and white.

[@xcalibur1011]

with today's tech to finally break the racist henry i,m not fonda curse against b&w cinema colorization of films why won't universal studios consider doing their horror classics in color for the fans which has to endure watching them rather than their horrific remakes . it would finally be an enjoyable treat to experience it for a new viewing audience of horror fans. please! fear: the home of horror if you or someone you know who likes horror suggest this idea to universal studios and tell them that it,s about time to make that happen for the fans. thanks! harold stewart usa.

[@NostalgiNorden]

The spanish Dracula is also better filmed and better directed...but you know...let's just focus on the dress-design,,,,

[@AHofer-kl9un]

This Dracula film seems like a satirical film today. The exaggerated gestures, the exaggerated facial expressions and pronunciation. It's laughable, and people used to be scared when watching these films.

[@odietamo9376]

You have a lot to learn.

[@douglasfreeman3229]

Well, I agree, to a certain extent. They do tend to chew the scenery somewhat, but for me that is part of the charm. I enjoy the stagey, almost theatrical presentation of these vintage movies. But, look at the beautiful direction, the lighting, the camera work. It's not just about the acting. I suppose one gets it or one doesn't. I am lucky because I do get it, so I have a large palette of entertainment, covering over a century, to keep me happy.

[@elijahblechman8633]

Dracula is awesome. I don't know what you're talking about. You went to go see a 90 year old film and expected to horroryied instead of fascinated.

[@christy140]

Definitely the best LINE In Any MOVIE. Listen to THEM CHILDREN Of Night What MUSIC they MAKE...