🧛‍♂️ Universal’s Two Draculas of 1931: A Tale of Shadows and Silence

Hollywood, 
When audiences think of Dracula (1931), most picture Bela Lugosi’s haunting stare, elegant cape, and heavy Eastern European accent. But few know that Universal Pictures actually produced two versions of the iconic vampire film — one in English and another entirely in Spanish — shot simultaneously on the same sets, often through the same nights.

Directed by Tod Browning, the English-language Dracula premiered first, introducing Lugosi’s hypnotic portrayal that would define the character for generations. Yet, as Universal sought to reach international markets during the early sound era, the studio made a bold move: it commissioned a Spanish-language version, directed by George Melford, and filmed during the night after Browning’s crew had finished for the day.

“We would arrive on set just as the Americans were leaving,” one member of the Spanish crew later recalled. “We used their lights, their cameras — even their fog.”

While Lugosi’s version became legendary, many film historians now argue that the Spanish version — starring Carlos Villarías as the Count — is the more visually ambitious of the two. Melford’s camera work, lighting, and pacing were often more dynamic, taking advantage of techniques Browning avoided.

Over the years, both versions have been meticulously restored and are often screened together at film festivals, allowing modern audiences to compare two artistic visions of the same terrifying legend.

“The Spanish Dracula feels more alive — more sensual, more daring,” says film scholar Dr. Emily Warren. “It’s a rare example of Hollywood experimenting with dual-language filmmaking — and both versions remain timeless.”

For Universal, the twin Draculas of 1931 mark not just a cinematic curiosity, but a turning point in film history — where art, commerce, and technology collided to bring a vampire to life twice in one night.