One of the announced re-boots of the Universal Monsters is Renfield, reportedly a horror/comedy based on Dracula (1931) that focuses on, well Renfield. It is currently filming in Louisiana. I was really excited about the premise, but I have to admit I was thrown when I read that Nicolas Cage had been cast as Dracula. Maybe I am wrong, but I just can’t see him as the Count.
You have to imagine Cage as Dracula & Jessica Biel as Mina in this still from Next
It’s one of those situations where I would think an unknown or relative unknown would be a much better choice. Presumably, the other Nicholas is the lead as he is playing Renfield.
Nicholas Hoult & Teresa Palmer in Warm Bodies
Hoult was in the Horror/Romance/Comedy, Warm Bodies in which he portrayed a zombie in love with Teresa Palmer as his Juliet and John Malkovich as her disapproving dad. The film was successful and his portrayal was funny and very convincing. The rest of the cast includes: Awkwafina as Rebecca Quincy, Shohreh Aghdashloo as Ella, Adrian Martinez as Chris, Ahmed Zakzouk as Dancer, and Bess Rouse as Caitlan who is a member of a support group for people in toxic relationships. Ben Schwartz, recently of Space Force, has also joined the cast.
Awkwafina in Ocean’s Eight
What we know so far THE STORY:
Renfield it seems, is sick of centuries of servitude to the Count and wants his freedom. Awkwafina’s Rebecca Quincy who according to Deadline is a “perennially angry traffic cop” who helps Renfield take on Dracula.
The script by Ryan Ridley is based on an original story by Robert Kirkman. Kirkman is probably best know for his writing on The Walking Dead (based on the comic written by himself and the artist’s Tony Moore and Charlie Adlard) and the animated Invincible. Ryan Ridley Has written for Rick and Morty, Community, and Ghosted. The director is Chris McKay (The Tomorrow War). Expected 2023.
Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens (1922) directed by F.W. Murnau
When most people think of vampires, the name Dracula is what first comes to mind. And to many, Dracula was also the first vampire story; that is not the case. The first vampire story was birthed in the same time and place as Frankenstein; or, the Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley. First credited to Lord Byron (George Gordon), Vampyre was actually written by his physician, Dr. John Polidori based on a story that Byron told on a stormy night in Geneva with poet Percy Shelley, Mary Shelley, and Dr. John Polidori present. The character in the story, Lord Ruthven was actually modeled on the carnally voracious Lord Byron. The irony of both Frankenstein and the first vampire story being birthed in a contest to see who could write the better horror story should not be lost on anyone. Polidori’s Vampyre would influence both Irish writers of the next two vampire tales: Sheridan Le Fanu and Bram Stoker. Le Fanu’s tale of a lesbian vampire, Carmilla was published in 1872 in his collection, In a Glass Darkly. Twenty-five years later, Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1892) was published.
Philip Burne Jones, The Vampire (1897) & Carmilla Illustration in Sheridan Le Fanu’s vampire story in the collection In A Glass Darkly (1872)
The first surviving vampire film is Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens (1922) directed by F.W Murnau. It is an unauthorized adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Murnau may have changed the title and some of the story due to Stoker’s widow refusing to sell the rights to the novel, though it is perplexing because he credits the author in the film. Vampire became Nosferatu and the Count became Count Orlock. Possibly he felt that if he credited the writer the estate would leave him alone, but that was not to be. Stoker’s Estate sued and the court ruled that all copies of the film were to be destroyed. Obviously, some prints survived. There were two other films produced based on the novel, but neither survive: Drakula (1920-Russia), but nothing has survived not even production notes which has lead to the belief that the film did not exist, and Dracula’s Death (1921-Hungary), directed by Karoly Lajhay. An unauthorized Hungarian adaptation that has been lost since its initial release. Film historians know of its existence through photos and ads only.
ABOVE: Paul Askonas (Dracula) Margit Lux (Mary Land) in Dracula’s Death (1921)
Nosferatu, eine Syphonie des Grauens (1922)
W.F. Murnau (1922) Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens
Directed by F.W. Murnau
Screenplay by Henrik Galeen based on the Novel, Dracula by Bram Stoker
CAST: Max Shreck (Graf Orlock), Gustav von Wangenheim (Hutter), Greta Schroder (Ellen – seine Frau), Georg H. Schnell (Harding – ein Reeder), Ruth Landshoff (Ruth – seine Schwester), Gustav Botz (Professor Bulwer – ein Paracelsianer), Alexander Granach (Knock – ein Hausermakler), John Gottowt (Professor Bulwer – ein Paracelsianer), Max Nemetz (Ein Kapitan)
Max Schreck in Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens (1922)
Nosferatu, (A Symphony of Horror) eine Symphonie des Grauens is not only the first surviving vampire film, it is a classic example of German expressionism still heralded as one of world cinema’s greatest achievements. From the opening frames there is a feeling of oncoming dread. The property agent (Knock) is maniacal as he briefs Hutter on the Count that wishes to buy the estate across from Hutter’s home. Hutter is anxious to please his boss and excitedly prepares for the long journey, but his wife, Ellen has a foreboding and Hutter leaves her with friends while he’s away.
Greta Shroder, Gustave Botz & G.H. Schell in Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens (1922)
Although Nosferatu follows the story of Stoker’s book fairly closely, he made changes in the names of the characters. The film still stands up to viewing today and remains a cinema classic.
Facts, Rumors & Hearsay
Dracula’s Death
Contrary to what has been widely assumed, contemporary film reviews along with the still surviving novella adaptation verify that this movie was not based on Stoker’s novel. It tells an original story only loosely related to the Dracula novel, featuring an insane asylum inmate who thinks he is Dracula and then actually becomes Dracula in a dream sequence.
Nosferatu, eine Syphonie des Grauens
All known prints and negatives were destroyed under the terms of settlement of a lawsuit by the Stoker estate, but the film would resurface through copies in other countries.
The movie was banned in Sweden due to excessive horror. The ban was finally lifted in 1972.
Scarlett Johansson & Bill Murray in Lost in Translation (2003)
In 2003 Johansson also appeared in the astonishingly popular Lost in Translation with Bill Murray. An unconsummated Spring/Winter love affair that begins in a hotel bar in Japan is both morose and comforting. Getting the irony of the title leads us to A Love Song for Bobby Long (2004).
Scarlett Johansson, John Travolta & Gabriel Macht in A Love Song for Bobby Long(2004)
Alcohol is not a medicine for melancholy, as is certainly made clear in this strangely gripping romantic tale of a disillusioned writer and one of his past students as they swelter away in a fog of denial. Pursy (Scarlett Johansson) arrives and brings some sort of sanity to a situation that is cloyingly self destructive as the three bond into a nearly functional family unit.
Like Ghost World, A Love Song for Bobby Long is character driven with actors that demand your attention with finely honed performances. Pursy becomes the center of this universe from the moment she enters the film, gliding around Travolta’s and Macht’s characters with a confidence that is unburdened by expectation.
Scarlett Johansson in A Love Song for Bobby Long (2005)
Some narratives burn, some broil, but under Shainee Gabel’s direction the story simmers like a jambalaya. Gabel’s screenplay, based on the novel by Ronald Everett Capps, takes its time and lets the characters move naturally. There is not a scene or a sentence that is out of place. This is another showcase for Johansson’s talent that pits her opposite actors that she not only keeps up with, but surpasses.
LEFT: Scarlett Johansson & John Travolta RIGHT: Gabriel Macht, Scarlett Johansson & John Travolta in A Love Song for Bobby Long (2004)
The Perfect Score (2004) is a misfire with a talented cast. Fortunately, it didn’t hold anyone back. Both Johansson and Chris Evans survived to act another day.
The Perfect Score (2004)
The Island (2005), directed by Michael Bay, stars Johansson as Jordan Two Delta and Ewan McGregor as Lincoln Six Echo in a future that is as sterile as the the script. The leads are the only thing the film has going for it. It is yet another fiery distraction by the director that brought you Bad Boys II.
LEFT: Ewan McGregor & Scarlett Johansson RIGHT: Ewan McGregor, Scarlet Johansson & Steve Buscemi in The Island (2005)
Her next film is the first of three films she would appear in directed by Woody Allen. In Match Point (2005), Johansson is opposite Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Emily Mortimer in what turns out to be a mystery with a strong Dial M for Murder vibe.
LEFT: Emily Mortimer & Jonathan Rhys Meyers RIGHT: Scarlett Johansson &Jonathan Rhys Meyersin Match Point (2005)
In her second film with Allen, she is again drawn into a mystery, but this time Allen stars as a hokey magician who inadvertently gets involved in an investigation instigated by a deceased reporter. The film also features Hugh Jackman. As usual, Allen manages to pull it off with a flourish.
Woody Allen, Scarlett Johansson & Hugh Jackman in Scoop ( 2006)
Scoop (2006) succeeds as light comedy that features Johansson as the one doing the investigating and dragging Allen’s character deeper into the fray. Allen wrote the script with Johansson in mind. It was because while working with her on Match Point, he saw a comedic side to her that he wanted explore.
Scarlett Johansson, Josh Hartnett & Hilary Swank in The Black Dahlia (2006)
Brian De Palma, much like Quentin Tarantino sometimes becomes so focused on what he is emulating that he fails to ever reach the heart of the matter. Their so called homages are just quick copies that retain the luridness and violence but reproduce none of the substance. Such is the case with De Palma’s The Black Dahlia (2006); a disappointing criss cross of a film noir that confuses plotting with shuffling cards. Scarlett Johansson is wasted, and even Hilary Swank’s incredible performance can’t save the film.
Speaking of shuffling cards, Christopher Nolan’s dazzling The Prestige (2006), brings the magic back in a big way with a well written and produced story of competing magicians. Johansson turns in another fine performance along with Michael Caine, Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, Piper Perabo, Rebecca Hall, Andy Serkis, and David Bowie.
LEFT: Michael Caine & Scarlett Johansson RIGHT: Scarlett Johansson & Hugh Jackman in The Prestige (2006)
Facts, Rumors & Hearsay
Match Point
Match Point is Woody Allen’s favorite of his own films.
In a nod to Alfred Hitchcock, a playbill showing Woody Allen’s face in deadpan is briefly seen as Chris Wilton (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) arrives at the Tate museum to meet Nola Rice (Scarlett Johansson).
The painting of a girl with a red balloon on the wall that Chris walks along was done by Banksy, the graffiti artist from Bristol.
Scoop
Sidney Waterman (Allen) foreshadows his own death the evening that he and Sondra Pransky (Johansson) follow Peter Lyman (Jackman), whining that he won’t drive in London because he’s “…afraid he’ll die in a crash.”
The Island
Robert S. Fiveson, director of The Clonus Horror (1979), filed a copyright infringement suit against DreamWorks and Warner Brothers. The lawsuit cited almost one hundred points of similarity between Clonus and this film, and the court ruled that Fiveson made a prima facie case for infringement. DreamWorks settled before the case could go to trial, for an undisclosed seven-figure amount.
The original script was set one hundred years in the future, but they kept bringing it closer to the present for budgetary reasons.
The Prestige
Prestige originally meant a trick, from the Latin praestigium, meaning illusion.
This is one of three 2006 movies to feature magic and magicians as main characters. The other are The Illusionist (2006) and Scoop (2006), which also starred Scarlett Johansson and Hugh Jackman.
