Happy Birthday,Bela Lugosi!

RCMerchant · October 22, 2008, 12:48:38 PM

Oct. 20, 1882

The picture above is Bela in wardrobe for the never made film the MYSTERIOUS ABBE.Bela was to be a French clergyman crime solver.

Lugosi had-and still has- a charisma about him. He only played the role of Dracula twice onscreen....in DRACULA(1931) and ABBOTT and COSTELLO meet FRANKENSTEIN. But ask any kid to imitate Dracula....and they imitate Lugosi. Christopher Lee played the Count 8 times (this includes the Franco version and the French DRACULA-FATHER and SON). John Carradine played him 4 or 5 times....I believe. Mr. Carradine said:
""The English critics said I was the best Dracula,which was nice considering that I had been preceeded by Bela Lugosi,who did a hell of a job.He was a charming man and a hell of an actor. He used to come to the set with a bottle of claret,which he supped at a little bit all day long.He never got drunk,never lost a line,never lost his tempo or his accent,which was native to him."

Lugosi and Karloff in the comedy the GIFT of GAB! (Bela's in the closet!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AY6oOgc12zU

Here's a pic of Bela with band leader Paul Whitman

Rev. Powell · October 22, 2008, 12:51:13 PM

Wow, RC... didn't realize you were that big of a fan.

Happy belated b-day Bela!

ER · October 22, 2008, 01:24:37 PM

126 happy birthday swats his way

Psycho Circus · October 22, 2008, 03:21:13 PM

Happy Bela-ted Birthday!

Allhallowsday · October 22, 2008, 05:38:41 PM

Nice tribute, Ron.

JJ80 · October 22, 2008, 06:13:32 PM

A worthy summation of a fine star!

indianasmith · October 22, 2008, 07:22:37 PM

May his cape never wrinkle!!

Allhallowsday · October 22, 2008, 08:49:09 PM

Quote from: indianasmith on October 22, 2008, 07:22:37 PM
May his cape never wrinkle!!

You do know BELA LUGOSI was buried in his cape... I can't resist an interesting footnote to this comment. I lent a theatrical quality cape I've had for nearly 30 years to a friend, who kept it for a year (I only got it back when I asked for it.) He returned it... all wrinkled. It's ruined.