 Universal originally did not hold the rights to " Dracula 's Guest " , a chapter excised from Bram Stoker 's original novel and the purported source material for the film . The story includes an encounter between a man ( presumed by some to be Jonathan Harker although the character is not identified as such ) and a female vampire . The story does not establish a filial relationship between the female vampire and Dracula . Metro @-@ Goldwyn @-@ Mayer executive David O. Selznick negotiated a contract in 1933 with Stoker 's widow , Florence , to buy the rights to the chapter for an advance of $ 500 against a purchase price of $ 5 @,@ 000 . MGM 's lawyers and executives were worried about the use of the word " Dracula " in the film 's title , fearing that Universal would take legal action , although <unk> 's contract with Stoker explicitly listed " Dracula 's Daughter " as a possible alternate title . The project was code @-@ named " Tarantula " in correspondence . 
