5/19/2007

“Dracula MAY-hem” continues tonight on Svengoolie! Yes, our full month of all Drac flicks has an unusual one for you this time- it’s “Son of Dracula!” (Well, we had “Dracula’s Daughter” last week- we have to give the male side of the family equal time!) This 1943 entry in the Dracula series features Lon Chaney Jr. as the son of the famous count. A lot of people seem to think he was a strange choice to play the Drac role, but, after his success as the Wolf Man (watch for that flick soon on Sven!) Universal was thinking that he could become another name star synonymous with horror and monsters, as Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi had been-and , as his father, the great Lon Chaney Sr. had been from the silent era. This is another film where the black and white atmosphere really helps sell the creepy feel of the movie.

We get Drac Jr. making his appearance using an alias- “Count Alucard” (anyone with dyslexia has already figured that one out) – having been invited to visit America by a lovely young woman from a wealthy family who encountered the count while visiting Budapest. The mysterious “Alucard” proceeds to infiltrate the family by putting the bite on the already-engaged daughter who invited him, taking control of her, and –marrying her!!! The Count feels his old country has been drained dry- and that this “new world” will be one big banquet for his vampiric cravings!

Since this story supposedly takes place years and years, not to mention miles and miles from the original Dracula story’s events- by this time, the world in general seems to think that the Dracula legend was just that- a legend and made-up folklore. Soon, however, Drac Jr. make believers out of the skeptical townsfolk.

This film is famous for some unusual effects, including the way that vampires can transform not only into huge freaking bats- but also into an eerie mist that travels along and then solidifies into human form. Though it’s a part of the Dracula series, there is really no mention or connection to his supposed sister who appeared in “Dracula’s Daughter.” There are some familiar actors that we’ll mention on the show tonight- and at least one glaring mistake that we’ll bring up! On the Sven shtick side- you van find out about some of the lesser-known “Sons” of famous movie monsters!

So, join me tonight for more “Dracula MAY-hem”- with “Son of Dracula!” ...it’s got the “Son of Svengoolie” seal of approval (or, should that be the “Count Eiloognevs” seal- in view of “Alucard”?!)