title: Hollywood gothic: The tangled web of Dracula from novel to stage to screen
author:  David J Skal 
description: It could be argued that Dracula is a mediocre novel which led to a dismal play, which was revised into an average play, all of which led to a so-so film, followed by many less-than-good sequels and imitations. Obviously the vampire theme connects with something primal in humans, or it would have been forgotten long ago. Horror novelist Skal ( Antibodies , Congdon &amp; Weed, 1988) is primarily interested in Dracula from Stoker to Lugosi, although he touches briefly on earlier and later incarnations of the character, as well as the psychological underpinnings for its popularity. Of particular interest is his description of a superior Spanish-language version of the 1931 film, shot on the same sets but with a different cast and director. Hollywood Gothic is pricey, but well written and attractively designed. For larger film collections.<br /><i>- John Smothers, Monmouth Cty. Lib., Manalapan, N.J.</i><br />Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.
zlib_text: Also by David Huckvale
  
  
  * * *
  
  
  
  
  
  _The Occult Arts of Music: An Esoteric Survey from Pythagoras to Pop Culture_
  (2013)
  
  
  
  
  
  _Ancient Egypt in the Popular Imagination: Building a Fantasy in Film,
  Literature, Music and Art_ (2012)  
  
  
  
  
  
  _Visconti and the German Dream: Romanticism, Wagner and the Nazi Catastrophe
  in Film_ (2012)
  
  
  
  
  
  _Touchstones of Gothic Horror: A Film Genealogy of Eleven Motifs and Images_
  (2010)
  
  
  
  
  
  _Hammer Film Scores and the Musical Avant-Garde_ (2008)  
  
  
  
  
  
  _James Bernard, Composer to Count Dracula: A Critical Biography_ (2006;
  paperback 2012)  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # Hammer Films’ Psychological Thrillers,  
  
  
  1950–1972
  
  
  
  
  
  ## David Huckvale
  
  
  
  
  
    
  
  
  
  
  
    
  
  
  
  
  
    
  
  
  
  
  
  ![logo](../images/00001.gif)  
  
  
  
  
  
  McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers  
  
  
  _Jefferson, North Carolina_
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGUING DATA ARE AVAILABLE
  
  
  
  
  
  BRITISH LIBRARY CATALOGUING DATA ARE AVAILABLE
  
  
  
  
  
  **e-ISBN: 978-1-4766-0421-3**
  
  
  
  
  
  © 2014 David Huckvale. All rights reserved
  
  
  
  
  
  _N