I was just talking about the humor with someone today! Many of my favorite modern horror films are comedic horror (Scream, The Babysitter, Ready or Not, etc) so it makes sense I'd love that element of Dracula's Daughter. It sometimes felt a little shoehorned in (the phone sequence comes to mind) but that's where I wonder if someone like James Whale could have pulled it off better.
This is a good follow up to Dracula. The countess is sympathetic and she is really trying to be good. It’s kind of ahead of it time with the countess preferences changing from men to women. I also couldn’t tell if she really was a vampire. It feels like a 1930s version of Martin. Van Helsing was badass in this. He was facing a murder charge and didn’t care, he was gonna solve what was going on in the story. The one complaint I have is the many exposition dumps. The cops were too into explaining everything. This is a pretty good movie that should be talked about more. Happy Halloween 🎃
As far as the reviews go I would imagine that in 1936 the lesbian subtex was overlooked by a lot of America. Also I'm not quite sure if she was killed off because of her sexuality, after all legosi's Dracula was killed as well. In fact almost every Universal monster flick at this point killed it monster at the End of the flick. That may be a different the Hays code where if you commit an evil deed then you must die. You can't rob a bank for instance and kill a guard, and then get away. Regardless this was a really good movie it took me years to find it. I just enjoyed the damn thing.
It was by me and likely many more viewers and now people are trying to rewrite history and turn this film into a lesbian romp. This review and others conveniently leave out the fact Zeleska kidnapped Janet Blake to entice Dr. Garth to be her vampiric companion or lover. so unless Garth was a woman in disguise there goes the lesbian angle. In addition Hedda Hopper being somehow romantically smitten by the Countess is laughable. In highbrow society there's always a race to collect people as a trendy status symbol and a Countess from an exotic locale fits that bill.
When I saw this film for the first time, years ago, I knew of it before, and was excited to see it. At the time, I was trying hard to ignore my own lesbianism, and when I saw this movie I felt like I was seen and being called out for it lol. I wanted to cry at times. After coming out, and looking back, I love this movie, tho I haven't seen it sense, I guess I just fear of crying again lol.
Its also strange how Edward Van Sloan is now called “Von Helsing” not “Van Helsing” & how his dialogue sounded alot more Natural whereas in the Original Dracula 🧛♂️ his dialogue always had a Deliberate Pacing. 🧛♀️
@@AntoniaCarlotta maybe somebody on the crew knew that Count Duckula would be created 50 years from then and they changed the name so Von Goosewing could be created lol
Isn't "van" the same as "von" I regard to Germanic names? "Van" as well as "von" is a type of honorific title, & in German the two are pronounced the same. I think the "van" or "von", when used before the surname as in Van/Von Helsing's name merely indicates that he's from the upper class, that his family was at one time master of an estate. I've had friends from Germany whose names included the "van/von" as part of their surname, which indicated that their family had been owners of a region that included a vast amount of land and the peasants & towns on that land. Traditional in many European lands during the medieval period into the 19th c. They still owned castles which had once been the center of power.
Such a wonderful film. Like you, I would have love to see James Whale, but sometimes what we get is much better than what 'could have been'. During the pandemic I worked my way through all the Universal Horror films of the 20's - 40's. Such a wonderful legacy. Thank you for continuing to share this amazing history with us all.
This is one of those instances in which I like the sequel more than the original. I'm also quite fond of the offbeat indie movie Nadja, which is like a loose, unofficial remake of this film, only because it was made in the '90s, they didn't have to be coy about the lesbian aspect.
wow excellent review i saw this film in the dracula legacy collection but i didnt realize its importance cool movie my other favourites vampire movies are twins of evil, horror of dracula with christopher lee, dracula ad 1972, and the original vampira in plan 9 from outer space
I thought Gloria did a fabulous job as Countess Marya Zaleska Marya wants nothing more than to be free of her fathers curse & the dresses she wears are classy & gorgeous.
10:15 These things go over people's heads. One of the producers of _Planet of the Apes_ was asked after its release about the racial subtext. He had no idea what the reporter was asking about.
While not one of my favorites, this movie has a lot of interesting stuff in it and very atmospheric. Between this and James Whale’s films, there’s plenty for a queer person like me to dig into as far as the Universal monsters go. My favorite female filmic vampire has gotta be Ingrid Pitt, who starred in Countess Dracula (based on Elizabeth Bathory) and the juicy lesbian vampire film The Vampire Lovers for Hammer. Those are definitely worth watching
Neither Carmilla nor Marya are lesbian, they can be allegorically, but that is as flattering as yellow perils to Asians, and you can't say they are "burying homosexuals" since the argument is that they are homicidal predators. The only related character with a clear unconscious bisexual or lesbian side would be Laura. She can be read as attracted to Laura without knowing and without any clear knowledge of lesbianism. Carmilla has the blood in mind, Laura is has feelings around the boundary between sisterhood and sexual attraction.
Another great video, Antonia! While there are plenty of rather dreadful spin-offs and sequels in the Universal Monsters canon, there are definitely some gems, and I think this is one of them. As for female vampires, I've always liked Dracula's Brides (though it's not clear they're actually married to him). They got one movie that wasn't very good, and were featured heavily in VAN HELSING (2004), but I think they deserve their own story. Are they Dracula's equals? Victims? Daughters? Sisters? It's never clear.
There have been several good films based (one way or another) on Le Fanu's CARMILLA including THE VAMPIRE LOVERS and THE CURSE OF STYRIA. DAUGHTERS OF DARKNESS is probably the best film version about Elizabeth Bathori. One of my personal favorite vampire films remains LET ME IN starring Chloe Grace Moretz.
Draculas Daughter always felt kinda mediocre to me but it does have some pretty great scenes and if Universal ever gets their shit together I'd love to see the Countess comeback in her own film with maybe Dracula in a supporting role as I'd love to see their dynamic together and what that might look like. As for my favorite female vampire I'd have to go with Luna from Mark of the Vampire. The film itself ends up being a bad with an even worse twist ending but Carroll Borland steals the show as Luna even surpassing Bela Lugosi who does a fantastic job as well. Her iconic look and mannerisms have influenced so many vampiric performances after hers and she doesn't get enough credit for what she brought.
So the question is Is the scene where she attacked Lili a case of a lesbian looking for sexual gratification or a vampire failing to resist the thirst for blood? In every vampire story their unquenchable thirst for blood (The Blood is The Life ) is paramount.
I just switched to recording in this room a few months ago, and I've noticed the echo a bit. I didn't know if it was an issue for everyone or maybe just me. I just got a new camera this week, so I'm hoping it'll increase the sound quality, but if not, I'll look for other options to record. Thank you for letting me know!
@@AntoniaCarlotta Hahah how nice to receive a reply from you! *blush* umm yeah that's called a "Noisy" room in the sound production industry. Very tasteful and well designed visually, but it's also very reflective so the sound bounces around easily. Broadcasting from a smaller space, something cozy with carpets, curtains and upholstered furniture would make the room quieter, so your voice would be fuller, richer and easier to follow. Of course I'm a 60 year old with weak hearing... so caveat emptor! xD
I really wish this was on Par w the Original Dracula or even better like how Bride of Frankenstein is far superior than the Original Frankenstein, the issue was had Whale directed it, it couldve been.
I wish there was a bit more creepiness and atmosphere in the film (though I talk in the video about why I think it's lacking) but otherwise I think it's pretty great! Maybe I'll be controversial for saying this, but I don't think it's so inferior to Dracula.
This is one of those black sheep horrors at the end of that first cycle, along with Werewolf of London. Both of those movies might have better with stronger talents in front of and/or behind the camera, but the subtext of this film does make it more intriguing than Werewolf.
You're probably right that timing played a big part. I think Gloria Holden was so strong in the role though! And though she wasn't a big name, we've seen other actors (Bela Lugosi included) get their start and carry a film that way. I do wish we could see another director's perspective.
@@AntoniaCarlotta Yes, James Whale could have made this a helluva scandalous picture 😆 By the way, Antonia, your videos are always wonderfully fascinating. Thank you so much for sharing your family history with us out here, and I hope some of the negative comments I've seen out here don't get you down.
Happy Halloween Antonia! 🦇🎃💀🌹 Keep up the good work! 👍👍 Actress Ingrid Pitt is the best female vampire ever! Hammer Horror. 💀 And Actor Christopher Lee would be the best Dracula. I never really liked Bela Lugosi.
The revisionist take trying to turn this film into a blatant lesbian film does this film a great disservice . The one scene with Lili could be thought of that way but Zaleska was a vampire an undead with the unquenchable thirst for blood. Remember " The blood is the life" ? Her attack was not a sexual attack but a vampiric one taking her blood as well as Zaleska' s failure to overcome her vampirism. The suggestion of female society party goers being sexually smitten by her at parties is a huge stretch. Well known is the custom of society name dropping and bragging about knowing this one or that one and they were at certain affairs. The more exotic rhe better and a Countess from the dark unknown region of Eastern Europe would fit the bill. How does rhe pursuit of Garth by the Countess fit the lesbian obsession narrative? That' s the reason she kidnapped Jane to force Garth to be her Vampire companion and lover. So unless Garth was secretly a trans woman that idea goes right out the window.The ending claim because she was a lesbian she has to die? Name some of the Universal films where the vampire werewolf monster isn't destroyed? Yes I know the habit of resurrecting them in future films
As the owner and founder of Sinister Cinema (now in our 40th year) and something of an expert in classic horror films I can tell you that DRACULA’S DAUGHTER was in no way a “lesbian” vampire movie. To say it was is utterly ridiculous. It amazes me how people on the left try to homosexualize film history. Nan Gray is simply one of her victims, as was the first victim, a good-looking guy in a top hat. But the main thing is the fact that Gloria Holden’s main romantic interest (by a country mile) is Otto Kruger, whom she wants by her side essentially forever. If she was truly gay, why not just keep Margueritte Churchill as a new vampire lesbian love slave? After all, she already has escaped to Europe with her. I have nothing against gay people but this entire review is ridiculous. Sorry to be so blunt but it’s true. -Greg Luce Sinister Cinema
