Dracula (1931) - The Count Eyes a Meal!

You know there was something I never noticed before until watching “Dracula” (1931) tonight when Renfield is at the table preparing Dracula’s papers for the manifest and Carfax Abbey, a rundown castle and estate in London not far from the Steward premises and institution for the insane…after he cuts his finger accidentally and Dracula eyeballs the blood, drawing near like a lion for a vulnerable animal, and the crucifix conveniently drops to send him back, watch Lugosi in the scene while pouring the wind. Renfield has something he wants…and it isn’t wine. Notice how Lugosi barely takes his eyes off of him unless he’s looking at the papers or pouring the wine…it’s intense and I don’t even think he blinks. Always in his mind, I think you can see the vampire just biding his time, waiting, until he finally sinks his teeth in Renfield’s neck. Despite later when it does seem Director Browning isn’t as inspired, in the early going that lighting on Lugosi’s face and eyes is impeccable. We as viewers are led to understand that Dracula yearns as a predator always for the next meal. Renfield arrives without much concern for his safety. This is a business trip, and everything is supposed to be arranging for a client to have the documents available to lease Carfax Abbey…never was this supposed to be Renfield rendered a helpless weakling, a cursed foil for Dracula, trying to help keep Mina safe later but powerless to save himself. The Brides hope to help themselves to this fresh meat but Dracula isn’t about to let that happen…with a wave of his hand, they back off. And what a scene it is. You don’t see the bite itself. You see the fog behind Dracula, the large window open, the gowns of the Brides open and dragging on the floor. It is quite a sight indeed. God, I hate that we leave Transylvania, although I know that the film must move to London…

On the Scandinavian ship, the Vesta, you see that Renfield is no longer in control of his faculties or free, as Dracula is now his master. Deranged in eyes and giggle, Renfield craves and devours "creeping, crawling things", sent off to Seward's Sanitarium. And his master in one of the boxes filled with his home soil, protected by Renfield until it is safe to bleed that ship dry. The haunting image of the captain tied to the wheel, his bent back corpse shadow silhouetted to describe how grisly that ship was left by Dracula. And later Dracula in top hat, cape, and suit, all the gentleman of London, not long off the ship, taking a snack from a flower girl. Enough fog and dark concealing them while he approaches her with only evil intentions...