Martin Landau wins Golden Globe for "Ed Wood" 1995

Martin Landau won the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Performance by an Actor in a Movie for his portrayal of Bela Lugosi in the movie Ed Wood at the 52nd ceremony held January 21, 1995.  I loved his performance and was so happy when he won the Golden Globe and the Oscar for this role.  

It was his third Golden Globe of his career.

"Dracula" released 1931

The original motion picture Dracula, starring Bela Lugosi, opened in theaters February 14, 1931.  How romantic!  Lugosi had appeared in the 1927 stage production on Broadway, which was based on the 1924 version in London.

The plays were based on the 1897 novel Dracula by Bram Stoker.

The 1931 version of the movie was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress.

The American Film Institute has recognized Dracula as:

#85 100 Years...100 Thrills

#33 villain Count Dracula 100 Years...100  Heroes & Villains

#83 100 Years...100 Movie Quotes:  "Listen to them. Children of the night.  What music they make." - Count Dracula.

"Dracula" released 1931

The cult classic Dracula, the first movie adaption of Bram Stoker's iconic horror novel, was released in the U.S. February 14, 1931.  What a Valentine's Day gift!

Bela Lugosi, who played Dracula in the stage production in 1927 played the title role. Dwight Frye appeared as Renfield and Edward Van Sloan as Van Helsing. 

The movie was overall met with positive reviews upon its release and it was one of the biggest hits of 1931.

In 2000, the movie was selected for preservation in the US National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".   It is recognized by the American Film Institute as #85 on 100 Thrills, #33 on 100 Heroes and Villains, #83 on 100 Movie Quotes:  "Listen to them.  Children of the night.  What music they make."

Ed Wood's "Bride of the Monster" released 1955

Certainly not the crown jewel in Ed Wood's tiara of campy movies, but "Bride of the Monster", released May 11, 1955, was Wood's only commercially successful film upon its release.  It was Bela Lugosi's last movie where he had a speaking part and it was hilariously sliced and diced by the crew of the Satellite of Love, "Mystery Science Theatre 3000".

I especially love the scene where the newspaper clerk's pencil keeps appearing and disappearing.

Bela Lugosi born in 1882

It almost seems appropo that less than two weeks from Halloween, Bela Lugosi, who played one of the most fearsome monsters to ever appear on screen, was born this day back in 1882.

His movie, "Night Monster", was released on his birthday in 1942.  Did they throw him a party?

Despite the huge body of work he accomplished, he died penniless due mainly to his drug addiction.  He was awarded his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960, almost 4 years after his death.