Monster Month concludes with Mercury Theatre on the Air’s adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula! Orson Welles was only 23 years old when his version of this classic tale was broadcast, featuring himself in the title role. A mysterious Transylvanian noble comes to England, and everywhere he goes, death follows. Can those victims transformed into undead things be saved? Will this adaptation’s adherence to the original novel elevate it above other versions of Dracula? Will we once again forget to discuss the remarkable musical direction of Bernard Hermann? Listen for yourself and find out! Then vote and let us know what you think:
“Bukovina, couch for Bukovina” is about where I fall asleep every time I listen to this in bed. One of my all time favorite shows. I’ve listened to this at least a dozen times (and fallen asleep to it dozens more) and I thoroughly enjoy it every time.
This radio version of Dracula is just as good as the Gary Oldman movie version, which speaks to Orson Welles’ brilliance and forward thinking. Bela Lugosi remains a true favorite, but the 1931 film is incredibly slow and takes such a long time to get anywhere. Or at least, it feels like it. One thing I want to correct is that Bela Lugosi had already learned English by the time he starred in Dracula. He’d had to learn his lines phonetically for a role in a Broadway play a few years prior, but he’d gained enough English (and had already… Read more »
One of the great episodes you’ve covered.
Iam on my second listen through from the beginning and the conversations just keep getting better and better.