A British estate agent travels to Transylvania to meet the mysterious Count Dracula, who is interested in leasing a London castle. After Dracula enslaves the agent and drives him to insanity, the pair return to London together, where Dracula, a secret bloodsucker, begins preying on socialites.
Cinematography
Spanish crew had freedom to move camera—dollies Lugosi version lacked.
Acting
Tovar's Eva is more active, sensual victim than her English counterpart.
Production
Same sets, same script translated—yet somehow more visually dynamic.
Director
George Melford
Carlos Villarías
Count Drácula
Lupita Tovar
Eva
Barry Norton
Juan Harker
Pablo Álvarez Rubio
Renfield
Eduardo Arozamena
Van Helsing
Carmen Guerrero
Lucía
Manuel Arbó
Martín
John George
Scientist (uncredited)
Geraldine Dvorak
Bride of Dracula (in catacombs) (archive footage) (uncredited)
Dwight Frye
Renfield (archive footage) (uncredited)
Bela Lugosi
Count Dracula (archive footage) (uncredited)
Cornelia Thaw
Bride of Dracula (in catacombs) (archive footage) (uncredited)
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Villarías and Lugosi used to lunch together comparing vampire techniques during overlapping productions.
Rediscovered in 1970s; film historians now argue Melford's version deserves canonical status over Browning's.
US
