THE REAL DRACULA (Full Documentary) - Bela Lugosi 

He seems like he was.very kind person. His son clearly loved him very much.

As someone who worked on this documentary I am so glad to finally see it here... even happier to see my name in the credits. Now if only I could contact the filmmakers and see if they still have behind the scenes photos. The experience was a dream for a real horror geek like me.

I thank everyone who put this together. Bela Lugosi had a presence and a power, the likes of which I honestly doubt the world will see again. I mean this with my heart. Never before...never again!

Bela Lugosi is the best Dracula ever

Forgotten by whom? The only people who could possibly forget Bela Lugosi are those who have never heard of him. And yes, I know that doesn't make sense. That's my point.

Never saw this documentary before and I have seen many. The pictures of him with his son when he was a teenager are priceless. He was a real actor. 🙋

I discovered Bela Lugosi in 1990, when Spanish TV screened a series of his Universal classics, in late night sessions. The first, of course, was Dracula. For a long time I thought he had been big in the 30s, then began losing steam through the 40s , and died, a pauper and long forgotten, in 1956. But it was not so. This documentary has taught me a lot more about Lugosi: that he was still very popular in the 40s and working continuously -even when the films were bad-, he kept doing stage work and even got some success in England, he also did TV, and although most of his films are easily forgotten, he worked till the very end, after having successfully beaten his drug addiction. But the damage to his system was already done. Also, this documentary gave me a deeper insight into the legend of the man. He was a very nice chap in real life, very educated, very quiet, very homely, who preferred his domestic life to the parties in Hollywood, studied his scripts seriously, no matter how weak the movie might be. There is the myth that Lugosi was never able to speak English properly and had to learn all his lines phonetically. After having seen him here speaking English to reporters who interviewed him throughout his career, fluently and at ease, without making grammatical errors, I see that much of what was written about him was rubbish. Also, that he died totally penniless and raving mad. Rubbish. Lugosi definitely marked an era in the history of cinema. And although he did not succeed in the way Boris Karloff did, he did quite well, considering the circumstances around his drug addiction. He persevered and kept finding work, good or bad, but always working. He is more famous now than he was in his lifetime. There are fan clubs all over the world. His legacy perdures. He would be surprised and then delighted. He must be having a good laugh out there. R.I.P. Bela. You will never be forgotten.

I JUST BROUGHT THIS DVD A GREAT DOCUMENTARY ON MR.LUGOSI WHO WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN.

I hope that Bela was loved around the world while he was still alive. There are millions of us around the world that still do!

I Love Bela Lugosi movies as a kid and as an adult! Super cool!

Bela lugosi....will never be forgetten........period....the best dracula ever .....even better than Christopher Lee....period.....the accent....the beaviour......the dramactical acting....the best....no doubt.....

In the late 50's I still remember seeing re-runs of Dracula with Mr. Lugosi on TV. What an Icon‼🤗⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

That was GREAT! I love Bela Lugosi! 👍🏻👍🏻🥂

Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff are the kings of the horror movies like Elvis and the Beattles are the greatest in rock'n'roll. And Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris are the greatest in the martial arts.

So happy to find this! I'm grateful to all those who contributed to bring it together, to the wonderful Uncle Forry Ackerman for taking part in it, and to Mr Lugosi...for his great talent and presence. His like will never, ever come again. But, then, how could it? He was the great Bela Lugosi. What else need be said?

I cannot imagine anyone else playing Dracula! He is perfect and was born for the part!

I am Grateful for this Documentary... I am Learning English and also am a Huge Fan of Bella's Work.... He was such a Gifted Actor.... And will be a Legend Forever in out Hearts

First time I've seen the full version. Thanks

A shame the "Ed Wood" movie did not follow the real facts of Ed Wood's life, and most importantly that of Bela Lugosi. That's Hollywood!

As a little boy the classic horror monstersl have been a part of my life! Mr Lugosi has always been one of them, thank you for this excellent documentary it brings back memories❤❤

Thanks for running this biography of Lugosi. I have long thought that he was a great and underestimated actor. A look at the long list of films he did should prove this beyond a doubt--even the bad ones. It's interesting that Forrest J. Ackerman hosted this tribute to Lugosi. Many of my generation learned about the great horror films and their great actors from Ackerman's FAMOUS MOSTERS OF FILMLAND. Ackerman was a very good choice for host.

Growing up in the 50s Bela Lugosi and Lon Chaney were every kids Idol. Any of you remember the monster models? Remember the monster bubble gum cards? Happy Halloween everybody

I think The Black Cat is a very underrated film. Lugosi was brilliant.

He lead a colorful life.

Bela Lugosi is my copilot

I could never forget you Mr Lugosi I absolutely adore u as I'm sure many others do too gone but never forgotten always forever in our hearts ❤😢😭🤧😿💔

I really enjoyed this well done documentary of a great actor, i as a young child in the 60s remember be scared to death watching these movies, you just dont forget Bela Lugosi!🌟

We didn’t know that Dracula was a true story Albeit cleaned up a great deal.

Great comment re Ed Wood. "He had the drive and passion... the only things he lacked were taste and talent."

John Garfield was a great actor!

I enjoyed this documentary, but I can't believe it made no mention of *Return of the Vampire* (1943), which is one of Lugosi's best films. I was also dismayed to see that some of the clips were presented in the wrong aspect ratio.

This was very well made !!!!

Excellent! Thanks for the upload.

Bela's story from movie star to working for Ed Wood is sad he deserved better

The Phantom Creeps episode from Mystery Science Theater 3000 is Hilarious 😄

What a classy man pure will always be the best and only dracula. Too bad the cemetary is just a simple stone in the ground but i hope to be able to pay my respects. Soo much respect for him wish i could have met him what an honor that would be

Lugosi oozed elegance.

Looks like someone took Lugosi, The Forgotten King (1985 46 min.) and professionally added almost as much. Nice job.

Best Halloween post so far!!

I’m grateful the relation between Lugosi and Wood has been cleaned of the known prejudices in this documentary.

At the funeral of Bela Lugosi, it was alleged that actor Peter Lorre whispered to Vincent Price -- "Do you think we should run a stake through his heart...just to be sure."

Christopher Lee in The Horror of Dracula was the first one I saw... Crockett, Texas

Never forgotten, the title of this doc (which is great on the rest) is totally misleading. BELA LUGOSI has never been forgotten by movie goers and he was and forever will be one of the BIGGEST stars in Hollywood. No matter how many other actors play Dracula, there is only one REAL Dracula, and that is BELA LUGOSI.

Bela Lugosi passed only 25 days before I was born. Was a big fan of Famous Monsters of Filmland magazine in the 1960/70's. My Mom threw out ALL my saved magazines when I went into the Navy................they're collector items these days...........who knew.

He was strikingly handsome and stately.

Bela Lugosi was a King of Character acting on a par with Lon Chaney. Even though I am always regretfully curious about how Lon would have played Dracula in the early sound era,I can't think of a better replacement than Bela as the Count at that time.

86 year old man in the business still unnerved to walk down his own long lived halls, after watching White Zombie again. I guess I'll go check that out.

Bela Lugosi est un monument du 7ème arts Il était aussi a l'aise sur les planches quand qu' acteur de cinéma fantastique mais il pouvait tout interprété. Certains disent qu' il aurait dû travailler l anglais mais moi je dit qu' il était excellent avec ce timbre de voi et cette accent hongrois. Bela lugosi est éternel et intemporel pour des siecles. Merci infiniment pour ce documentaire fascinant sur le roi des acteurs de l épouvante.

Dolores now pretending to care about Ed Wood makes me sick

I would have liked to have seen Karloff's daughter Sarah meet Bela Lugosi Jr. ( Daughter of Frankenstein meets Son of Dracula)

Forgotten?? Not likely. He IS Dracula.

Would love to know more about what looks like cat auditions or publicity for The Black Cat at 24:21.

😃Thank you 👍Oct . 21 , 2023

Dude! He's a vampire for real.

38:30. THEE Manly Hall?? Of course. Weirder and weirder.

No matter what role he played he will always be Dracula to me. I remember watching Chiller Theater as a kid and he scared the daylights out of me

BAY-la......!

Gene Simmons from KISS designed his Makeup based on vampires. Huge fan mlm

Bela was the greatest Dracula

If Bela Lugosi is The Forgotten King of Horror , Then Boris Karloff is The Unforgotten King of Horror .

The younger Bela Lugosi (with the American accent) is Bela Lugosi, Jr. (the Jr. was left out on the screen).

In my opinion, there were only three other actors who did true justice to the portrayal of Dracula: John Carradine, Christopher Lee, and Frank Langella. Although they all brought certain great qualities to their unique interpretations, Lee had a certain annoying corniness to his portrayal, Carradine played the Count like too much of a gentleman, and Langella was more romantic than scary. Lugosi, however, brought ALL the great qualities of those other actors to the roll, plus his inimitable sheer ghoulish appeal. Interestingly, this documentary was originally released back in the late 80's in a shorter version (about an hour long) on a VHS tape. This is the first time I ever saw this longer version, and it's definitely better, but I wonder why they never released it on home video, too?

Coup de grace, not "gras" - really doesn't mean quite the same thing....

I feel like type casting has lessened a bit in more recent years. Anyone else have either specific thoughts or a feeling on the matter?

Sucks that Bela Lugosi was typecast the majority of his career. Really wished the studios gave him a chance to portray more serious acting roles.

I wish I could turn back time, to make him a delicious gulyás / pörkölt... Isten nyugasztaljon Lugosi úr 🙏

Karloff?.........Sidekick?!? FAH QUE!!!

Why would they, have comedians walk around on the set, of 'Abbott And Costello Meet Frankenstein' to make the atmosphere, upbeat??? You'd figure they wanted to keep it the opposite, since it was, a 'dark' comedy.

Ayeeee

🌟🌟🌟🌟🎥

15:30 // myop Bela might not want have Played Mike Myers (Halloween, Kills,and, Ends)/aka the Shape, for that character has NO Lines. and never shows Its face. thanks for the upload. stay safe during these Post Halloween times. God Bless

He is far from forgotten so I don’t get this title

Forgotten ?

👽

Karloff was king Lugosi spent the left of his life trying to relive Dracula finally hitting rock bottom.with Ed Wood 😮

... 7:59... Let me show rmy Etching's... 7:59

There's got to be. I mean, somebody keeps on voting for Trudeau😂

Lugosi was the second best dracula, Christopher Lee was better. Ygor was Lugosi's second best role, especially in Son of Frankenstein, the makeup was intense but toned down a bit in Ghost of Frankenstein. Invisible Ghost was a low budget movie, but something about it and Lugosi's character makes this movie attractive and memorable.

Bela lugosi is my favorite actor You can’t have Dracula without Lugosi!

Bela Lugosi was a beautiful man and had unbelievable talent. Just absolutely the best! His presence was incredible onscreen!

Bela will NEVER be forgotten!!!

Bela Lugosi was a gift given to us all for generations, and the greatest talent that the world will never see again.

It's a matter of record that Bela Lugosi detested Hollywood's film industry. Not for the parts it gave him or for the insulting salary they paid him, but for the system itself that chewed up actors and then spat them out.

Wonderful documentary and well deserved. Some incredibly rare interviews included. Thank you for this x

There are so many that have passed that can't be replaced Bela Lugosi is one of them!

Rest in peace Bela we miss and will always remember you!!

One of the important things about Dracula is that it was the first American film to feature the outright supernatural, without blowing it off as something more commonplace.

I was watching TV the night of August 15, 1956, when the news announcer said Mr. Lugosi had died. This was accompanied by a photo of him showing him terribly ravaged. I was 15 years old and knew him well from Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein.

As a child I had a plan, wrap my pillow around my neck , if Dracula bit me I could shout for my father and he could come and beat him up, it helped me sleep after my father let me watch the films , love him for that , miss you dad , 🇬🇧🤝

yes the man was ROYALTY, no question

You are definitely the best of the best My most favorite May you be in favor with Osiris

Fine documentary on the life and career of one of my favorite actors, and ultimately one of the most misused. One error, however: In BLACK FRIDAY Boris and Bela were not rival gangsters. Originally, Bela was to play Dr. Sovac and Boris the professor-turned-gangster. Some casting switches placed Karloff as Sovac, Stanley Ridges as Kingsley/Red Cannon and Lugosi was given the smaller role as the gangster Eric Marnay.

Shame! Transilvania never was part of Hungary but part of Habsburgic Empire. It was an independent Principate with a Parliament (Dieta) at Cluj, the capital of Transylvania. In 1918 population of Transylvania (70% Romanians) voted union with Kindom of Romania. So, Lugoj Town never was part of Hungary!!! Lugoj Town îs located in Transylvania.

In the annals of all of those very talented actors who have played the part of the Undead Count of Transylvania, To me there is Only "One actor" who can be known as Count Dracula, not only because of his birth nationality, His dedication to the character of Bram Stokers Dracula, his charisma, his physical appearance, his hypnotic stare, and yes his Hungarian accent scared the heck out of me when i was a child. His screen name was Bela Lugosi, Count Dracula. And equally as impressive was his part playing IGOR, in a Frankenstein movie. May he rest in peace

enjoyed this extended edition i have the original vhs

Me too as i love that actor today. I love his older movies and if i find one i will watch it. Great actor. Thanks for sharing his story

My fucking idol

It's so wonderful to see and hear Uncle Forry, especially in his element here being so very much himself. Forrest J Ackerman shall not die!

Tap tap tapping on your window pane very late at night, when your resting in your bedroom ,on the second floor of your home ,might just cause you a fright ,don't give in to your curiosity,don't look out,of the window to see whose there ,you just might find your blood being tapped by a blood sucking vampyre...😮😅

Really good! Thank you!