When Bram Stoker created the charactors for Dracula in 1897 he set charectoristics and traits that would be used in the future for vampires.
For instance Dracula was the tragic hero who fell in love with Mina. Most vampire movies have the basic story of a vampire falling in love with a mortal. There is also, sometimes, the ever faithful servant. In Dracula's case it was R.N. Renfield. Then ther is always the person set out to kill the vampire, in this story it was Dr. Abraham Van Helsing.
Not only did his work provide things that would set up your typical charactoristics but also some of the charactoristcs of vampires themselves. For instance Dracula needed to sleep in a coffin filled with his native soil. He needed an invitation to enter a building. He was also able to turn into bats, smoke, rats, and other things. He also had no reflection in mirrors. He had remarkable night vision and did not cast a shadow.
Bram Stoker also set the image for vampires in the twentyeth century.
Dracula had unusual strenght, fangs, pale, cold skin and and bad breath. However two things were left out hairy palms and sharp fingernails. In the 1970's movie directors began using the "sharp fingernails" agian.
It is suggested by Van Helsing and Dracula that there was a tie between Dracula and Vlad the Impaler. Howerver Vlad Tepes was the prince of Wallachia not Trasylvania.
Dracula mande his way to London aboard the Demeter. He stayed alive by feeding off the sailors at night. When he arrived in London he seduced both Lucy Westenra and Mina Murray. Lucy was eventually killed by the vampire slayers with a stake throught the heart followed by decapitation.
Dracula did not prey upon the ones he loved but the ones that were loved most by others. Contrary to popular belief Dracula was alowed to go out in daylight however his strenth was limited.
His poweres were taken away by garlic, a crucifix, a eucharistic wafer and wild roses (don't remember hearing that but I read it. I don't even understand it so if someone could fill me in it would be greatly appreciated.) The things that could kill him were a stake which did not have to be through the heart, decapitation or a bullet.
After killing Reinfield he began to turn Mina into a vampire but by the end of the story Jonathan Hawker and Quincey P. Morris killed him by decapitation and striking a knife through his heart.
In 1931 Universal Pictures purchased the rights for Dracula from Florence Stokes for $40,000. Even though he was the reason they were able to to get the purchase Bela Legosi was not the first choice. He was only paid $3,500 for seven weeks.
Dracula was filmed starring Bela Legosi, Edward Von Sloon, and Dwight Frye. It was directed by Ted Browning. This version of Dracula was the most influencial vampire movie of all time and was the largest grossing film for Universal that year. However instead of Harker going to Transylvannia it was Reinfield.
The movie inspired the look for the male vampire. He was wealthy, evil and had equisite manners. He also had an unrecognizable accent and dressed in formal wear excentuated with a long cape.
Cast
This movie was made in England and starred Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing. This movie added fangs and they haven't left since. Not that this movie was the first to use fangs but they were mainly silent films. Most movies didn't use them because it was hard to talk with them in.
