The Surprising Origin of Dracula's Cape | Behind the Seams

Bram Stoker only describes Count Dracula's unusual face and physicality. His clothes are unremarkable. So why does every movie Dracula wear an iconic, theatrical red-lined cape?
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[@Gelasticjew]

I remember watching a bit of Dark Shadows on tv when I was a kid, but I imprinted on Frank Langella's Dracula in 1979 - the first really sexy Dracula imho. Love at First Bite with George Hamilton was fun too.

[@browndogstouty]

I have a favorite cloak I want to be buried in when I pass. It’s double velvet and completely covers me when I lay down

[@rnezz1310]

I don't have the book with me, but I remember reading in David J. Skal's "Hollywood Gothic" that the iconic popped collar of the cloak originated in the stage adaptation, where they were stiff so that the actor playing Dracula could easily duck his head out of the cloak and go into the trap door, like you said.

[@RoxyWrites]

Nicely done. I had not known where the cape-divergence in Hollywood began after Stoker's very different origin description. I once wrote a critical essay on the way our perception of vampires changed over time, similar to how our perception of archangels or other angelic beings changed over time from something unfathomable to something more accessible, more human. Bela's Dracula was more "other" and more hypnotic and ethereal... where Christopher Lee's Dracula was more sexually hypnotic but more monster-ish than Lugosi's. When we are introduced in 1987 to David in The Lost Boys, the late director, Joel Schumacher, and actor Kiefer Sutherland give us arguably one of the most iconic and relatable vampires we've ever seen and the template upon which the younger, more relatable vampires to come (Spike in Buffy, for example) were based. I would love to see the channel do two things: 1. trace cultural/anthropological view of vampires and immortal beings in general from Bela's time to now from a costuming perspective. 2. a similar post to this one about how Hollywood has enhanced the "villains" evil trope in movies by changing their costumes from the original intent. For example, in the majority of Hollywood remakes of the Three Musketeers from the time Charlton Heston played Comte de Rochefort in the 60s up until now, Rochefort has always worn an eye patch (a perhaps unintended knowing Hollywood mythological reference to "Odin-sight.") However, in Alexandre Dumas's work (and also the Memoirs of Comte de Rochefort written by a Frenchman years before in the 1600s, which Dumas used to build that character) Rochefort does not wear an eyepatch. That is a Hollywood invention to enhance the villainous aspect of the character.

[@tiredtm634]

Lovely to know that! I am writing my final graduation essay on the evolution of the vampire image. I, too, cite Lugosi and Lee's Draculas, and Kiefer's David, among others. I would love to read your essay and even cite you if possible! Do you have a link for a website or download where I could read it? Thanks in advance!

[@RoxyWrites]

@@tiredtm634 This was for a University degree, and I no longer have the material; however, you could use some examples from anything in the psychology or self-help book categories that you can find which talks about angelic beings, archangels etc. and how they have changed in our perception over the years. If an Amazon or Google search does not net a good list of books, a librarian should be able to help you find some sources you can use to contrast and compare and get them for you through interlibrary loan. Good luck with your essay!

[@Bosstoaster]

Great episode, Gavia! I love seeing one of these episodes pop up on Twitter or my subscriptions.

[@paulhunter6742]

Gary Oldham's performance most interesting, in my opinion, as he transformed from Old man looks centuries old into vibrant Middle age man in Victorian dress to fit into that society. Yet, I am curious how he able walk in broad daylight?

[@akaLaBrujaRoja]

In the novel, he’s able to walk around in daylight.

[@wingnutlady]

This is a deep cut, but lately I’ve been revisiting some of my 90’s musical loves, including a particular Backstreet Boys music video where they all dress up like classic movies monsters. When I was young, I was confused that their version didn’t have the typical Lugosi cape look, but now I’m like, “Ohhhhh, this was around the time the Coppola movie came out, that’s why he’s got the cane and top hat.” I think Coppola’s is still the best adaptation, but lately I’ve been enjoying the version from Netflix’s Castlevania series. An 8ft man who just really loves his wife.

[@collaborativedataaccounts3249]

What?

[@jmchez]

The most faithful adaption is actually, 1977's, "Count Dracula" with Louis Jourdan. And, yes, he is completely dressed in black as the book says. However, he doesn't lok like an old Slavic man with a long moustache, he looks like Louis Jourdan, sexy as always. By the way, the recent BBC adapation was awful. That Dracula was trying to be Batman's, "The Joker".

[@attackofthecopyrightbots]

its especially funny when you consider adaptations like castlevania that also have his red cape

[@jasminnemcdonald94A]

Dracula probably uses his cape to give him a bat transformation. Like the cape could be wings in his bat form.

[@precisionbrown6829]

They’ll never be another Dracula like Bela Lugosi portrayed. Creepiest ever

[@BrooksWachtel]

Not a tuxedo - dress tails.

[@zenosAnalytic]

Great ep! Always love hearing you talk about Coppola's Dracula(which is the 8est Dracula, imho uwu)

[@akaLaBrujaRoja]

Gary Oldman is hot as fk as Dracula, I don’t know how you can say he wasn’t “conventionally attractive” in his younger appearance with the long black hair.

[@ivorytower99]

*BAUHAUS*

[@giuliaclaudia5593]

C'è il matrimonio

[@giuliaclaudia5593]

👩🏼👩👩🏻👩🏼👩🏽👩🏾👩🏿

[@giuliaclaudia5593]

Alfa Alfa

[@giuliaclaudia5593]

😄

[@giuliaclaudia5593]

Agahah

[@colinmaclaughlanweir9670]

Capes are COOL No CAPES.!.!.!🤣

[@jasminnemcdonald94A]

Edna from The Incredibles.