Dracula (1931, starring Bela Lugosi as the Count, Dir by Tod Browning, DP: Karl Freund)

Bela Lugosi was born in what is now Romania.  Lugosi began his career in his native country, appearing on stage.  After serving as an infantryman in World War I, Lugosi moved into the movie industry and appeared in silent Hungarian films.  The young Lugosi was an activist, involved in labor issues and trying to unionize the Hungarian film industry.  When a new government came to power in Hungary in 1920, the politically-active Lugosi moved first to Germany and then eventually ended up in the United States.  After a period of working as a merchant seaman, Lugosi returned to acting.

He first played Dracula on stage in New York City.  In 1928, while touring in the role of Dracula, he moved out to California and quickly became a part of the Hollywood community.  When Universal produced a film adaptation of Dracula in 1931, Lugosi was the obvious choice for the lead role.  The film made Lugosi a star and it also typecast him.  Lugosi never stopped acting, though the films varied widely in quality.  By the end of his career, Lugosi was a member of the Ed Wood stock company.  Even appearing in something like Bride of the Monster, Lugosi still made an impression.

In the scene below, from 1931’s Dracula, Lugosi suggests that Edward van Sloan’s Van Helsing should perhaps leave the country.