#209: House of Dracula, Movies recommended or seen lately... les films a voir

Genre: Horror/Horreur

Annee/Year: 1945

Format: DVD

House of Dracula. After Son of Dracula, Universal became a bit less lear about the mythos and Erle C. Kenton (140 movies including House of Frankeinstein and Ghost of Frankeinstein) directed this movie which joins the Wolfman, Dracula and Frankeinstein's monster. Lon Chaney Jr again plays an excellent Wolfman, Dracula is played by John Carradine (this actors has played over 300 roles in various films, amazing) but is a poor Dracula. Glen Strange plays the Frankeinstein monster with some success.

The plot revolves around the Dr Edelman (Onslow Steevens) to whom Dracula and the Wolfman turn to get cured from their "disease". After the treatment fails to cure Talbot (human side of wolfman) he jumps off a cliff but fails to kill himself. Instead he stumbles in a cave complex where he finds the Frankeinstein monster. The doctor goes wild reviving him and the all out war then begins betwen all. Interesting concept but poor scritp leaves us wuth a thin movie. Carrdine plays a wek Dracula which does not help either. Another cult classic from Universal but definitely not at the level of the originals (Dracula, Frankeinstein, Wolfman movies)

House of Dracula. Ce film noir et blanc classique de Universal des années 1940 a été réalisé par Erle C. Kenton (140 films qui incluent House of Frankeinstein et Ghost of Frankeinstein). Ce film met en vedette le Loup Garou, Dracula et le monstre de Frankeinstein. Lon Chaney Jr joue un excellent rôle de Talbot/Loup garou, Dracula est joué par John Carradine (plus de 300 rôles dans divers films) mais un pauvre Dracula. Glen Strange joue le rôle du monstre de Frankeinstein avec un assez bon résultat.

L'histoire tourne autour du Dr Edelman (Onslow Steevens) qui a la réputation de pouvoir guérir vampires et loups-garous de leur malheur. Dracula et Talbot se rendent donc chez notre bon docteur pour servir de cobaye à ses techniques d'avant garde. Malheureusement Dracula a un oeil sur la jolie assistante du docteur et Talbot tente de se suicider après que l'intervention du docteur échoue. Mais même se jeter en bas d'un précipice ne tue notre loup-garou et ils se retrouvent dans des catacombes ou il fait la découverte du monstre de Frankeinstein qu'il libère. Notre bon docteur est excite de cette découverte morbide et le film se finit avec une bataille générale qui culmine avec une foule de paysans enrages attaquant le château (encore?). La performance pauvre de Dracula et le script léger et peu croyable nous rendent un film de médiocre qualité bien que le concept sur papier soit intéressant. À voir pour les mordus des classiques Universal seulement.

Great quotes:

[first lines]

Dr. Edelman: What are you doing here? Who are you?

Count Dracula: I am Baron Latos. I have come to you for help.

Dr. Edelman: It's five o'clock in the morning.
Count Dracula: I must apologize for the intrusion. But travel is very difficult for me, and I've come a long way.
Dr. Edelman: I don't understand.
Count Dracula: Perhaps you will, after you've led me to the basement room of this castle.
Dr. Edelman: Eh - a very strange request. This castle is my home!
Count Dracula: Have no fear, doctor. Had conditions permitted, I would have presented myself in the usual manner.
Dr. Edelman: Well, it is most unusual...
Count Dracula: I will explain everything, before sunrise.

...

[last lines]

Lawrence Talbot: Get out! It's the Frankenstein monster!
Mob Bursting Into Lab:
[multiple ad libs] Get out... The Frankenstein monster...
[unintelligible noises and shouts, as they turn and run]

Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0037793/fullcredits#cast

Rating perso: 6.0/10