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Sharp observations. The movie script was based on the 1927 Broadway play in which Bela Lugosi also starred as Dracula, not on Bram Stoker's novel. Also, it's reported that director Tod Browning was still distraught over the death of his friend Lon Chaney Sr. (who would have starred in the movie if he hadn't died in August of 1930) during filming and, during drunken bouts, would haphazardly tear pages out of the script that he thought were redundant or unnecessary. And Carl Laemmle Sr. (President of Universal Studios at the time) ordered the movie to be re-edited to remove scenes that "gave him the heebie-jeebies" after viewing Browning's initial version. It's a wonder the movie is as coherent as it is, and these (and other production problems/decisions) very much give the movie the feeling that it is what it is--a filmed version of the stage production with bits and pieces missing. For that, and other reasons, it's probably my least favorite of the Universal "horror legacy" movies.Dracula 1931 with Bela Lugosi. I had not watched this in over 25 years. I noticed that the movie was made up of very distinct scenes mashed together. Seemed like a play in movie form. I enjoyed the movie. I liked how the actual biting of the neck is not shown but left to the viewers imagination.