Béla Lugosi appreciation thread

[bob]

because he was the man! 

[indianasmith]

A fine actor, a determined and sometimes tormented individual. 
But he never quit trying to face down his personal demons and
continue his career.  There is a lesson in that.

[The Burgomaster]

Last weekend I watched THE INVISIBLE GHOST from Mill Creek's Horror Classics 50 Movie Pack.  I love those crusty old low-budget Lugosi flicks.

[Flick James]

The greatest compliment that can ever be paid to Bela, and one which I'm sure everybody will agree with, is that no matter what the vehicle, no matter how good or bad the movie, the man always had presence. It was inescapable. No matter how horrible everything around was going, you couldn't not remember his involvement.

[RCMerchant]

YEAH!
Now heres a topic I can sink my fangs into!!!!

As anyone on this forum may have noticed,I'm a fan.

Though he died over 50 years ago-the cult of Bela is going strong-
Little known Lugosi trivia-
.In March of 1954,Ed Wood contacted a number of comic book companies (Quailty Comic,DC Comics-then known as National-Fiction House,Liv GleasonCmics,Ace,Dell) and tried to intrest them in a Bela Lugosi comic. To no avail  
Ironically-and happily-the new Bela Lugosi's Tales from the Grave is a hit!



. Did Bela appear in a bit part in the Lon Chaney Sr. classic HE WHO GETS SLAPPED?


Thats Lon in the middle.On the left-Lugosi?

Back in the early fifties, Richard Sheffield,a fan and close friend of Bela,was looking through  Lugosi's scrap books...and found a photo of Lon Chaney Sr...and Lugosi as a clown!

Bela and Richard Sheffield


But no real documented proof exists. But it is an intriging possibility!

...I'll post some more Lugosinia later...cuz I want to give others a chance-or I'll turn this into a loooong scrolling post! And who wants to read long posts? I'll break it up...and spare you the eye strain.  

[RCMerchant]

OK-it's later! 

Heres some nice Lugosi home movie footage-that's his wife Lillian with Bela Jr. on her lap...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyN0mPfTnzQ

...and Bela with Betty Boop!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WM7rB_ecU4E

Bela on TV!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DubOTxOW8vU

[bob]

When Béla played the lead role in the great Ed Wood's famous films, while the films themselves may not be considered to be classics to some, Lugosi clearly had a stage presence in all of them. That speaks to him as an actor.

[venomx]

I appreciate Bela Lugosi and all of his movies.


~ Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein.

[RCMerchant]

You've created a monster,Bob...! I'm gonna drag this thread out FOREVER!!!! 

More Lugosi trivia!!!!!

He was to star in a detective series-kinda like Karloff's Mr.Wong series-or Lorre's Mr.Motto series..as a French Abbot...a wardrobe test photo exists-but thats all.



Oh-I found this cool pic on ebay-I woulda bought it-I had no cash-It's a Las Vegas sign for the Bela Lugosi Revue that Wood and Bela did in the 50's-a live stage act-it was  hit! But Bela was ill...the show closed.

Being it was for sale  with other slides of Las Vegas on ebay -I caught the Lugosi Review sign by luck!-and I have NEVER seen this pic anywhere else-I'ts an exclusive to Bad Movies!



Yeah-I guess it aint that exciting to most folks-but being a lugosi freak-I think its a cool piece of history.

[venomx]

My Mom wants to know how many and maybe a list of his movies as 'Dracula only'?
IDK maybe someone can help? Please and thanks.

[RCMerchant]

My Mom wants to know how many and maybe a list of his movies as 'Dracula only'?
IDK maybe someone can help? Please and thanks.

Bela played Dracula in only 2 films...DRACULA (1931) and in ABBOT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN (1948)
He played a Dracula type in MARK OF THE VAMPIRE (1935) and RETURN of the VAMPIRE(1942).
He played the charecter on stage hundreds of times untill his death.

Though both John Carradine and Christopher Lee essayed the role (very well,I will add) Lugosi is the definitive Count.
Ask anybody to imatate Dracula-do they do Lee? Or Carradine? No. They do the unique Lugosi voice-

"Dracula never ends."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPOA1dS9YmU

[venomx]

"That's impossible!"

JK... thanks RC, wow I was thinking he played a Vampire in at least 6 or 7 movies...
I'll let her know though... she wanted to order some Bela Dracula movies from eBay.

or maybe I'll tell her to order that 'Bela dvd pack' that Bob had in his sig.

[RCMerchant]

"That's impossible!"

JK... thanks RC, wow I was thinking he played a Vampire in at least 6 or 7 movies...
I'll let her know though... she wanted to order some Bela Dracula movies from eBay.

or maybe I'll tell her to order that 'Bela dvd pack' that Bob had in his sig.

NO! That only shows his public domin films-for great Lugosi films-
DRACULA
WHITE ZOMBIE
MURDERS in the RUE MOEGUE
The BLACK CAT
The RAVEN (one of Belas BEST performances!)
SON OF FRANKENSTIEN
ABBOT and COSTELLO meet FRANKENSTIEN
BRIDE of the MONSTER
The HUMAN MONSTER
The PHANTOM SHIP (Mysery of the Marie Celeste)
Not saying his public domain films aint fun-but you NEED to see some of his classic roles.


Trust me-Im a doctor.

[bob]

"That's impossible!"

JK... thanks RC, wow I was thinking he played a Vampire in at least 6 or 7 movies...
I'll let her know though... she wanted to order some Bela Dracula movies from eBay.

or maybe I'll tell her to order that 'Bela dvd pack' that Bob had in his sig.

Whle I haven't finished the Bela pack yet thus far I have come across no vampire films.

[venomx]

Oh ok. Thanks guys. I'll get her Mark of the Vampire and Return of the Vampire then.

BTW that comic book looks AWESOME!