| In last month's HORROR-WOOD, we ran an article about some obscure Bela Lugosi stories sent us by Aneve Thompson. She asked if anyone know the story behind the photos. Well, we received some intriguing answers. Sit back and and decide for yourself if it's now a case of the... |
First, before we begin, let's look once
more at the Bela Lugosi photos in question...
As you can see, boils and ghouls, these are indeed photographs of Bela "Dracula" Lugosi striking decidedly theatrical poses, perhaps for a film or stage production. Now, here's what some Lugosi experts and buffs had to say: The one at the upper left and the lower right are both publicity photos taken for Bela's appearance in Earl Carroll's Murder At The Vanities, in which he played a red-herring with a green-lit face named Siebenkase. The year was 1933. The pic at lower right appears in (Gary Don) Rhodes' book (Lugosi) at page 174. I don't have an ID for the Bela beefcake photo, except that it was taken at the same time as one in which he is holding the sword by the hilt in front of him, with the point resting on the ground. By his appearance, this must have been taken around the time that he made Dracula to perhaps the time of the 1934 The Black Cat. The fourth pic appears to be just a publicity photo of Bela in evening dress. I doubt if it was for a particular production, but I would guess it also dates from the late Twenties or early Thirties. Although I am not positive, I believe the drawing on brown paper is taken from a pic from The Veiled Woman, a Fox silent film from 1928, in which Lugosi played an Englishman! Hope this helps, now do I get one of the pics as I prize?? (I'll take the beefcake photo!!!! - Hubba, hubba!!!!) --Johanne L. Tournier The Lugosi photos submitted by Aneve are
very interesting. Those of Lugosi in the top hat come from 1933; they are publicity shots
for his work in the Broadway play Murder At The Vanities. The other two, him
shirtless and him in tux, are studio portrait shots from the early 30s. The shirtless is a
couple of years after the tux. I have been a Bela Lugosi fan and collector for almost 35 years. I was pointed to the HORROR-WOOD e-zine by a fellow Lugosi fan and I can identify at least two of the photos and the film from which the drawing was done. The two photos of Lugosi wearing a top hat and holding a gun are publicity photos from the stage play Murder At The Vanities. The play was produced by Earl Carroll and Lugosi appeared in the play in New York from September to November 1933. The photo in the tuxedo I believe was taken during the filming of the 1931 Dracula. I have a photo of Lugosi taken at the same time (same carpet and background), but a slightly different pose. On my photo, it is easier to see the monocle hanging from his neck, though in your photo it is barely visible (at least in the small Webpage photo). The pose in your photo matches the scene in the film where Dracula visits Dr. Seward's house. He is speaking with Mina, then turns to address Jon Harker and Dr. van Helsing. While the photo is not a still from the film, it may well have been taken during a rehearsal. The photo sans shirt is a mystery, but if someone does identify it, could you please pass the information onto me? I have a photo taken at the same time, but, again, a slightly different pose. It was one of the very first Lugosi stills I ever purchased and I have always wondered what it was from. The portrait is not from Dracula, but taken from the silent film, The Veiled Woman, released by Fox in 1929 I've attached a scan of the still from which it was taken. It's wonderful that your father retained these treasures and that they will continue to be appreciated and well cared for. --Linda McMenamin
I can help a little. The
two photos (top left and bottom right) of Bela wearing a top hat and wielding a flintlock
pistol are both from the 1933 play Murder At The Vanities, produced by famous
showman Earl Carroll in 1933. Gary Don Rhodes incredible book Lugosi identifies the
photo of Bela pointing the pistol (page 174) as a publicity shot of his character
"Siebenkase" in that play; in the other shot he's wearing the same costume. I
know I've seen the photo of swashbuckling, bare-chested Bela (or one very similar to it) somewhere,
but a quick rummage through the E-Gor archives produced zilch. Couldn't find my copy of
Calvin Beck's great Heroes Of The Horrors--might be in that. Not too many films
that seem likely matches...maybe his very untypical hero from the Chandu serial,
but I don't remember any scenes like that. More likely it's a publicity shot from the
stage, or (less likely) Hollywood beefcake before they totally typecast him. Don't know
about the other (top right) portrait, but it resembles some theatrical Dracula publicity
shots I've seen. |
| Now we have some likely explanations for the photos'
origins. Just like Bela himself, there's remains a little mystery to these photos,
it seems...and rightly so. Thanks to those who wrote in. Cheers! Photos are property of Aneve Thompson and Linda McMenamin. |
