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)
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)
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.
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.
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