Dracula (1931)

Hey, everyone!  Sorry I missed posting yesterday.  I don't always have wi-fi access down here.  Here's your post for today and I'll try and get extra ones in this week.  This is the original, against which all others are compared.  It is a true icon and horror classic.

A young lawyer named Renfield (Dwight Frye) travels to Transylvania to settle a real estate contract with a reclusive nobleman.  What he doesn't know is that Count Dracula (Bela Lugosi) is actually an immortal vampire, living off the blood of the unwary.  Dracula has purchased a ruined abbey in London and uses Renfield as his enthralled servant to get him there.  Once presented to high society, the Count begins looking for a likely bride, and finds one in Mina Harker (Helen Chandler).  Mina already has a fiance, however, and he is none too thrilled when her entire personality begins to change.  He consults Abraham Van Helsing (Edward Van Sloan) to help him defeat the vampire and save his girlfriend.

Bats on strings aside, it is amazing how well this movie has held up through time.  It's been 80 years and it is still one of the greatest displays of atmosphere and mood to ever grace celluloid.  If you've never seen it, you are doing yourself the greatest of injustices.