Week 3 - Double Feature. Dracula (1931)

3 ¼ STARS - GOOD SHOW!

“Somehow it made me stick to the couch.”--Syd

The Film:  The classic Bram Stoker story, in it’s first film version (not counting the 1922 “Nosferatu,” a German version that violated copyright laws.)  A Transylvanian count requiring fresh feeding ground moves to England.  Bela Lugosi forever set the standard for creepiness in the title role, and Dwight Frye, as Renfield, his crazed, once-bitten assistant, helps amp up the creepiness factor even more.

The Society:  The New York Times’ list for 1930 gave us only six choices, mostly crime dramas or horror films.  We selected these two because they seemed like they would be most interesting to the girls.  Unable to choose between the two classics, we went for a horror double header!  Yikes!  Just perfect for Saturday night.  Luckily we didn’t have to walk home in the dark!  But we lost Syd on Frankenstein, nonetheless, due to the fear factor.

The Family Vote: 

Syd - 3 Stars - I liked it, but it didn’t seem to interest me much but I did get scared but I didn’t leave it.  Somehow it made me stick to the couch.

Kayla - 3.25 Stars - It was a little scarier than Frankenstein, but not much.

Kenz - 4 Stars

Stacy - 3 Stars - Liked it!!  I couldn’t help but imagine how scary this probably was to people for whom moviemaking and watching was still a novelty.  For example--when a coffin lid would slam right before Dracula would suddenly appear each time.

Ladd - 3 Stars - I enjoyed the creepy sets, the dramatic lighting, the way it used stillness and quiet to build tension, and of course, Bela Lugosi’s lilting accent.  It’s where we get the rhythm to “I vant to drink your blood,” that we’ve been saying all our lives.

Thanks for Dinner, Mom!

Theme - A dinner of body parts.

Spaghetti = veins

Sauce = blood

Fried sausage = human flesh

Bread sticks = bones

Jell0 (from a brain-shaped Jello mold--yes, they have such a thing!)

Olives = eyeballs

Carrot sticks = fingers

Apple juice with dry ice = witches’ brew

For dessert…blood pudding (vanilla pudding with seedless jam)