The Grey by Daniel Norris
Did You Know…
There was a Spanish language version of Dracula produced the same year as the original one starring Bela Lugosi? In 1930, Paul Kohner, Head of Universal’s Foreign Department, approached Carl Laemmle to discuss options to recreate Universal films into Spanish language versions. Kohner proposed that his productions reuse the same sets as the original domestic releases and filming take place during off-hours in the nighttime. Each foreign production would have an estimated budget of $35,000. Laemmle agreed with Kohner’s proposal and chose a Spanish version of The Cat Creeps as Universal’s first attempt in this new market.
Starring Lupita Tovar in Helen Twelvetrees’ original role as Annabelle West, La Voluntad del Muerto had a triumphant tour in Mexico. The success of this production paved the way for Universal to produce a Spanish version of Dracula with Tovar assigned as the feminine lead role. Directed by veteran director George Melford and starring Carlos Villar as Dracula, the Spanish version began filming on the night of October 23, 1931. The domestic version of Dracula directed by Tod Browning and starring Bela Lugosi began filming on September 29, 1931. By utilizing the same sets, filming timetable, and learning from Browning’s mishaps with his production, the Spanish version of Dracula cost one-tenth of its domestic contemporary and in the view of many critics, it is considered to be the more polished of the two films.
Paul Kohner and Lupita Tovar eventually married and had two grandsons, Paul and Chris Weitz. The Weitz Brothers are known for directing and writing many of Universal’s hit films including: American Pie, About a Boy, and In Good Company.
