Bela Lugosi

I'm going to start this off by talking about my all time favourite horror actor and icon, Bela Lugosi.
Lugosi was a Hungarian actor who had his first notable roles on stage in the National Theater of Hungary, in Budapest. Later he appeared in Hungarian and German films before moving to America in 1920 and became an official U.S. citizen in 1931.

Bela made his name and legacy as Count Dracula in 1931, directed by Tod Browning. Previously, Lugosi had starred in a Broadway production of Dracula with much success, despite this he wasn't the first choice for Brownings film. Carl Laemmle, Jr was the head of production at Universal and had bought the rights to Dracula. Laemmle, Jr set his heart on Lon Chaney playing the role of Dracula, although this never came to be. Laemmle was not interested in Lugosi at all and spoke with several other actors in consideration of the role. Eventually Lugosi got the part.

Many, including myself, consider Bela as the definitive Dracula. His black hair and hypnotic eyes brought a sinister feel to the role. Lugosi did not look like a monster, instead he appeared suave and seductive, a gentleman that would lure beautiful women to their death.

Lugosi would go on to appear in many great horror films such as White Zombie, Mark of the Vampire and The Black Cat. White Zombie is personal favorite of mine.

In my mind, Bela Lugosi is the ultimate horror icon. He carries everything that embodies classic horror. The look, the voice and the presence. His films were a part of the horror eruption and to this day inspire and influence horror films and tales.

Sadly, Lugosi's career didn't end on a high and he appeared in many flop films towards the end of his life, most famous of which is Plan 9 From Outer Space. Plan 9 is a film by Ed Wood in which aliens come to earth to warn humans about the creation of doomsday weapon. To get the attention of the human race, the aliens resurrect the dead. It's as silly as it sounds. Ed Wood left a legacy of being one of the worst directors ever. Lugosi died during the making of Plan 9. Ed Wood, in his great wisdom used the little footage he had shot of Bela, including using day light footage of Lugosi in a night time scene.
As enjoyable as Plan 9 is for fans of camp cult movies, it is sad that Bela Lugosi's last film was such an awful one.

Bela Lugosi will forever be to me, the epitome of horror, darkness and the night. Every time i think of horror, i think of Bela and every time i think of Bela, i smile.

Bela Lugosi died on August 16, 1956. He was buried in full Dracula costume.

"There are far worse things awaiting man than death"