A stage actor in Broadway with a limited cinema experience, Bela Lugosi finds in 1927 the role that suits his atypical personality matching his origin in current day western Romania : Dracula. He displays a terrifying performance with his hypnotizing gaze, his extended arms and his long fingers that are easy to make crooked. He does not even need a make up.
His success on stage helps him to obtain in 1931 the title role of the Dracula film presented by Carl Laemmle for Universal Pictures. Sound movie is still in an early phase. Lugosi's loud voice with a terrible Eastern European accent was undoubtedly important for the attribution of the role to him.
Posters had then a growing place in movie marketing. Four single-sheet types identified retroactively as Styles A, B, C, and F are printed for Dracula's first release. The images are very different from each other. A poster of the Style F terror scene was sold for $ 310K including premium by Heritage in March 2009. This type is known in three copies.
Style A is a close-up portrait of Lugosi. All the fascination is in the eyes. This beautiful image 68 x 104 cm without fantastic element might not have all the features to appeal the public. It is known in only two copies. One of them recently discovered is estimated $ 150K by Heritage in Dallas on November 18, lot 86267. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
Universal's horror films were highly successful in 1931. A three-leaf poster for their Frankenstein was sold for $ 360K including premium by Heritage on March 28, 2015.
SOLD for $ 525K including premium
His success on stage helps him to obtain in 1931 the title role of the Dracula film presented by Carl Laemmle for Universal Pictures. Sound movie is still in an early phase. Lugosi's loud voice with a terrible Eastern European accent was undoubtedly important for the attribution of the role to him.
Posters had then a growing place in movie marketing. Four single-sheet types identified retroactively as Styles A, B, C, and F are printed for Dracula's first release. The images are very different from each other. A poster of the Style F terror scene was sold for $ 310K including premium by Heritage in March 2009. This type is known in three copies.
Style A is a close-up portrait of Lugosi. All the fascination is in the eyes. This beautiful image 68 x 104 cm without fantastic element might not have all the features to appeal the public. It is known in only two copies. One of them recently discovered is estimated $ 150K by Heritage in Dallas on November 18, lot 86267. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
Universal's horror films were highly successful in 1931. A three-leaf poster for their Frankenstein was sold for $ 360K including premium by Heritage on March 28, 2015.
SOLD for $ 525K including premium
Classics #Dracula, #Casablanca Headline Heritage Auctions’ #MoviePosters Auctionhttps://t.co/gpbaLxIgT0 pic.twitter.com/HYE8XYZbym
— Heritage Auctions (@HeritageAuction) November 2, 2017
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