DRACULA

[tonyw]

I've used this broadcast twice for my current 100 level FANTASY IN LITERATURE AND FILM class listening with students in class. The next related films screened were THE HORROR OF DRACULA and THE UNWANTED. After the broadcast, I acclaimed Agnes Moorehead's acting as Mina especially how she lapses into a European accent the more she falls under the Count's spell. However, one major difference exists from other versions. It is Mina who strikes the fatal blow against the Count, not Van Helsing or the male entourage. Is this an early example of Welles proto-feminism? Many students in the class compared the change to Bret Wood's 2014 version of "Carmilla."

[Wich2]

True, Tony.

I think that choice works in the Welles, because of the arc of Mina's character, and the strength of Aggie's performance.

But in our Quicksilver version, I returned that right to Stoker's choice - Jonathan. He has earned it!

And though Harker is often neutered in adaptations, in the original, his strong thirst for revenge builds throughout, even to including a scene where he's bloodthirstily sharpening his long knife in preparation.

- Craig

[tonyw]

Please supply details over your Quicksilver version. Do you use the original voices or others? In the 1938 verson, Orson definitely puts one over on George Coulouris for the first time!

[Wich2]

Please supply details over your Quicksilver version. Do you use the original voices or others?

Tony -

???

Explain, please?

By "original voices," do you mean, "did I cut-and-paste recorded dialogue from the Mercury version"? Of course not.

Or, do you mean, "did you try to achieve the voices suggested by Stoker's text?" The answer there would be, "yes."

In the 1938 verson, Orson definitely puts one over on George Coulouris for the first time!

I have to ask again:

How do you mean, "put one over on?" Do you mean, "surprised Coulouris with his choice of voice"? Since they rehearsed together, that would be odd.

Or do you mean, "Orson's voice work was better than Coulouris' here"? I'd disagree; both men as excellent, as are most of the cast - especially, Ray Collins, who steals the show here, as he soon would in WOTW.

As to Quicksilver Radio Theater, this is us, for nearly 25 years now:

https://exchange.prx.org/search/pieces? ... an&x=0&y=0

Inquiringly,
- Craig

[tonyw]

I'll be more specific. As Count Dracula in the Mercury Radio Theatre production's scene at Castle Dracula, Orson "puts one over" (UK slang) George C. for the first time by frustrating him in the same way young Kane does to Mr. Thatcher - "I think it would be fun to run a newspaper."

[Wich2]

Ah - gotcha.

Well, I was thrown by a major distinction:

I wouldn't describe that as Welles hoodwinking Coulouris - but as Dracula hoodwinking Harker.

- Craig

[Wellesnet]

Nice sounding Mercury Drac, courtesy of Ted Davenport:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/gct4h9i61vn3j ... jQnlg5b_04

[Terry]

That's fabulous, an air check of the first episode, something I've never come across in decades of general searching for Welles' radio work. As Craig stated elsewhere, there's a lot of compression on it versus the master recording Lilly has. A treasure for we few radiophiles. Thank you for posting it.

[Wich2]

Ted is one of the Old Heads, and a good source.

I checked this out when he posted it. It does appear to be a solid aircheck, without the broken disc skips that plagued the opening of many old circulating copies.

But it is evidently off-pitch.

The well-known voices seem a bit slow; and the show would never have actually run 61:31.

- Craig

[tonyw]

I'd like to thank this site yet again for making these valuable audio-recordings available especially the DRACULA remix. Using the 1938 broadcast in a 100 level freshman composition class they allow me to teach (for the moment?) in a very creative manner, I've directed students as to how to find the links and they have written so many good passages on the audio-cinematic and Herrmann soundtrack techniques used in this production.

Welles' version is a good substitute for reading the original novel which would overwhelm most students so the different narrative tracks ideally complement the diary entries in the actual srouce.

Who knows? They may start reading Stoker as Welles hoped his Shakespeare adaptations would attract his audiences to the texts themselves.

[Wich2]

It's a great one!

(If only he'd gotten to do his film version...)

And if I ever get it post-finished, I'll share my Quicksilver production.

- Craig