Boris or Bela?

[Rev. Powell]

I like both Boris and Bel. If I tend to be be more favorably inclined to the Great Karloff it's as much as matter of his living longer than Lugosi, being in better health longer, and having English as his first language. Every little bit helps. Bela was cursed by a huge ego, poor career choices, a more flamboyant style,--when running on all cycliners--in other words, he was the more theatrical of the two. Karloff really mastered the art  of acting for the csmera. Sad to say, Lugosi never did. He was a fine actor, though, but a totallly different type from the more versatile and physical Karloff.

Well put. I say Lugosi is a great PRESENCE, but Karloff is a great ACTOR.

[RCMerchant]

In my opinion even in their films together-Bela dominates-the one exception of course being the BODY SNATCHERS (1945)
.The BLACK CAT (1934)-Boris just broods threw this Bela has the more complex role.
,The RAVEN (1935) the scene where Bela unveils the room of mirrors Karloff starts shooting them-but turns into a classic Frankenstein growl at the end of the scene,
.The INVISIBLE RAY (1938) Bela is the good guy-dont have much to do-score one for Boris
,BLACK FRIDAY (1940)-totally miscast-Bela shoulda been the doctor-Boris the Jekyll/Hyde-Stanley Ridges the gangster-what a wasted oppurtunity.
I'll not mention the GIFT OF GAB or the Kay Kyser claptrap.
.the SON OF FRANKENSTEIN (1939)-Ygor steals the show-Atwill is fantastic and Rathbone is on the verge of shrieking hammy! But Karloff doesn't have much to do.
All that being said-Bela couldnt pull off the Monster (see FRANKENSTEIN MEETS THE WOLFMAN ) and Boris isnt sexy enough to be Dracula.