Son of Dracula
sSon of Dracula – 1943 - It being Halloween, I said ‘why not watch a horror film?’ Yes, a Universal Horror film. Even the “Bride of” and “Son of” follow-up films from this studio had some great feel to them. Thus, I alight on “Son of Dracula” directed by Robert Siodmak and starring Lon Chaney Jr.
Son of Dracula – 1943 - It being Halloween, I said ‘why not watch a horror film?’ Yes, a Universal Horror film. Even the “Bride of” and “Son of” follow-up films from this studio had some great feel to them. Thus, I alight on “Son of Dracula” directed by Robert Siodmak and starring Lon Chaney Jr.
Twice I got chills up my spine – both times it was Lon on the lurk.
A fellow on IMDB says: “Chaney excelled at characters who were out of control and childlike, but his Dracula is supremely in control, and seething with menace.” I agree!
Why does Dracula up and take himself from the Carpathian Mountains of Transylvania? Well, times are hard – tho his family’s sowing of evil is largely to blame. He is looking for a young virile country to permeate with his sick mind meld – this is briefly stated but it does seem to have some connective correlation to the dark time: 1943.
He can use some of the blood that is coursing through the American South of that time.
He comes to The South [one where negroes are decidedly servant class in film’s early development * ] actually because he has been invited by fetching Katherine Caldwell (Louise Allbritton).
She had met him in his guise as a Count previously, while visiting Budapest. She is heir to a Southern Manse. Has no money for home maintenance or improvement, but this is okay cause she wants the place to get dour and haunted.
Katherine has black hair and bangs. Dresses in white. I know there is something on her mind. She’s been in love and now is engaged to The Male Ingénue, that is played by Robert Paige. But she’s been studying the Black Arts. She can’t really share love for sure without the certainty of immortality. And seedy.
The crux of the film is that Katherine deliberately brings Dracula to her home in The South in order to become a Vampirella, and join the world of Undead.
The local doctor, who is really your guidepost throughout this film, explains that her problem is that she is Morbid. Not too many steps away from a Sanitarium trip.
Explainer Doctor Harry Brewster is a family friend and Frank Craven provides a great performance, as he tries to figure out what is really going on, and, maybe, save the day. Well the day is saved by another character in a dramatic ending.
That other character is Robert Paige’s Frank Stanley. He and our Katherine have been chums since the sandbox days, and he can tell she is slipping into darkness. Bold, hopeful and handsome at the outset, he will look into the abyss and experience alarm unbearable before this is over. That’s what Dracula can do.
The Universal Horror film is a genre unto itself. ‘Son of Dracula’ is usually unique, although it is "cut from the Universal Horror cloth" – especially in cinematographic lighting [an incredible spectrum of black & white]. J. Edward Bromberg plays Professor Lazlo, who any devotee would quickly gauge as the Van Helsing in this Dracula film. It's a ensemble cast, and, as in a Southern short story, every line and every character has meaningful role.
Within the frames of the Universal films: the making of dread is at work.
How many rainy afternoons or Late Late Saturday nights have films like this consumed, I ask. I liked “Son of Dracula.” I endorse this film. It was a Halloween I will remember if I ever re-read this Facebook post.
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* Etta McDaniel is the only such cast member who gets billing.
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