The proud star of DRACULA (1931) had high hopes for a revived film career when he stepped in front of the cameras in 1948. Sadly, in spite of his marvelous performance, it was not to be.
Not so sure regarding Lugosi's purported resentment of Chaney Jr. over his drinking or his accepting the role in Son of Dracula. I've got an old Filmfax around here somewhere in which Patsy Chaney is interviewed and says: "Lon liked Bela Lugosi. They were very good friends."
Gary, I’ve read that Patsy interview too. My sources regarding Bela’s animosity include Lennig…the claim came from Don Marlow—and Mank. Maybe Chaney liked Bela, but Bela disliked Chaney and Lon didn’t realize it?
Happy New Year, Bill, and congratulations on an awesome, epic article about Bela. Your prose and scholarly research here is very impressive.
I think we agree that the life trajectory experienced by Lugosi is a cautionary tragedy for the ages. He sometimes undermined himself through pride and an inability to negotiate the Hollywood scene, but Lugosi was undeniably the victim of some very unfair behavior and circumstances.
One aspect I've seen touched on that may help explain why A&CMF didn't stimulate Lugosi's career; in Gary Don Rhodes first book on Lugosi there is an article that speculates on whether Lugosi was a victim of Hollywood's 'blacklist' of suspected communist sympathizers during the HUAC period. The article is credited to someone else (although it appears in Rhodes' book), and I think Rhodes himself tried to debunk the possibility in later works, but I cannot help but wonder if it's a factor -- among several others -- that explain why things didn't go well for Bela post 1948.
FWIW: My Top Five Lugosi Performances:
1. Son of Frankenstein
2. The Black Cat
3. A&CMF
4. Phantom Ship
(aka The Mystery of the Mary Celeste)
5. (A Tie...)
Dracula or White Zombie
Honorable Mention: Ghost of Frankenstein
Of course, whatever our lists, the man was always remarkable. Ciao!
Not so sure regarding Lugosi's purported resentment of Chaney Jr. over his drinking or his accepting the role in Son of Dracula. I've got an old Filmfax around here somewhere in which Patsy Chaney is interviewed and says: "Lon liked Bela Lugosi. They were very good friends."
Gary, I’ve read that Patsy interview too. My sources regarding Bela’s animosity include Lennig…the claim came from Don Marlow—and Mank. Maybe Chaney liked Bela, but Bela disliked Chaney and Lon didn’t realize it?
Happy New Year, Bill, and congratulations on an awesome, epic article about Bela. Your prose and scholarly research here is very impressive.
I think we agree that the life trajectory experienced by Lugosi is a cautionary tragedy for the ages. He sometimes undermined himself through pride and an inability to negotiate the Hollywood scene, but Lugosi was undeniably the victim of some very unfair behavior and circumstances.
One aspect I've seen touched on that may help explain why A&CMF didn't stimulate Lugosi's career; in Gary Don Rhodes first book on Lugosi there is an article that speculates on whether Lugosi was a victim of Hollywood's 'blacklist' of suspected communist sympathizers during the HUAC period. The article is credited to someone else (although it appears in Rhodes' book), and I think Rhodes himself tried to debunk the possibility in later works, but I cannot help but wonder if it's a factor -- among several others -- that explain why things didn't go well for Bela post 1948.
FWIW: My Top Five Lugosi Performances:
1. Son of Frankenstein
2. The Black Cat
3. A&CMF
4. Phantom Ship
(aka The Mystery of the Mary Celeste)
5. (A Tie...)
Dracula or White Zombie
Honorable Mention: Ghost of Frankenstein
Of course, whatever our lists, the man was always remarkable. Ciao!
You have to wonder if that was, indeed, a factor. Thanks for your thoughts and compliments.