DRACULA WILL GET YOU IF YOU DON'T WATCH OUT!

One of the things that I like to do here at WOM is show our favorite vintage monsters movies in their original context. These clippings show ads from the industry 'zine, FILM DAILY heralding the coming of Universal's release of DRACULA. These examples are from the November 9th, 10th and 12th of November, 1930, a few months before it was revealed on the screen. Note the provocative, pre-code image on the cover!

WHEN FAY WRAY HAD "ONE OF THE BEST FIGURES IN HOLLYWOOD"

Fay Wray had just finished filming the thriller, THE MOST DANGEROUS GAME, when this photo appeared in MODERN SCREENs October 1932 issue. and announces that her next film will be "Kong". In just a few sentences it lists her celebrity vitals, including the statements that she has "one of the best figures in Hollywood", "likes sunbathing", and "has great physical courage". She'd need it to make it through the filming of KING KONG. The photo is by Ernest A. Bachrach, RKOs staff photographer.

BONUS! A page from FILM DAILY Wednesday, December 28 1932 shows a full-page ad for THE VAMPIRE BAT, a film Fay Wray made with Lionel Atwill, Melvyn Douglas and Dwight Frye that would be released the following January 21 1933.

 

 

DRACULA WILL GET YOU IF YOU DON'T WATCH OUT!

This triptych gatefold advertisement for Universal's DRACULA appeared in the 8 DECEMBER 1930 issue of FILM DAILY. Since Lugosi was heralded as the lead in the role, his image as the vampire Count did not need to be withheld before the February 1931 release of the film, which was sometimes done to add an air of mystery and anticipation for theatergoers.

THEY MADE 'LONDON AFTER MIDNIGHT'

Along with cameramen Merritt B. Gerstad and Wallace Chewning, Tod Browning as co-producer and director and Waldemar Young as "scenarist", or scriptwriter, created the still-lost LONDON AFTER MIDNIGHT (MGM 1927). Irving Thalberg also was producer and through his influence was also responsible for this thriller/mystery that appears to be lost to the ages.

In the 1928 edition of the FILM DAILY YEARBOOK, Browning and Young shared promo spots. Noted studio photographers Jack Freulich took the shot of Browning and Clarence Sinclair Bull shot Young.