Dracula (1931)

“I bid you welcome.” – Count Dracula (“Dracula” – 1931)

Bela Lugosi set the precedent for all other vampires when he played the title role in the 1931 classic horror film “Dracula”.  In the movie, Count Dracula travels to England where he meets Mina Seward (Helen Chandler), her father Dr. Seward (Herbert Bunston) and the infamous Professor Van Helsing (Edward Van Sloan).  While you’re entranced by this scary movie, keep an eye out for these goofs!

What’s That In Your Hand? 

At the beginning of the film Renfield (Dwight Frye) arrives at a small town via a stagecoach.  When the innkeeper asks if Renfield can wait until sunrise to continue the journey, he (the innkeeper) has a pipe and a dark towel/handkerchief in his left hand.  After Renfield tells everyone where he is going, a woman makes the sign of the cross and the towel/handkerchief in the innkeeper’s hand is now white.

Strange Things Happen At Night 

After meeting Dracula at the theater that evening, Lucy (Frances Dade) is in her bedroom, picks up a book from her nightstand and begins to read in bed.  Keep your eye on two things during this scene.  If you watch the clock on the stand you’ll see that it reads 11:30 and the time never changes.  Also, we see Lucy reading the book.  There is a quick shot of the balcony and then another view of Lucy who is now asleep.  But the book is gone and is nowhere in sight!

Where Did The Handkerchief Go? 

Mina is explaining the dream she had the night before.  Van Helsing approaches and we see his handkerchief is halfway out of his left coat pocket.  He examines the bite marks on her neck.  If you look closely, the back shot of Van Helsing when he says “Do not excite her”, shows that the handkerchief is not in his pocket.  But the handkerchief is back in place after Dracula arrives.

Who’s In The Coffin? 

Van Helsing and John Harker (David Manners) track down Dracula and Mina.  They happen upon two coffins on the floor.  Van Helsing opens both coffins and tells John to “get a stone or something we can use to put a stake through their hearts”.  When John returns, Van Helsing opens the coffin to the right of the screen a second time and says that Mina is not there.  If Mina was originally in the coffin, how did she get out unnoticed while Van Helsing was standing there?

See Also:  Wolfman, Dracula (1992) and The Haunting (1999)

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