1931 horror films: a. Which actor starred in the title role of the original 1931 film, Dracula? b. Who starred as Dr. Frankenstein's monster in the 1931 original of Frankenstein?

The year 1931 marked a pivotal moment in horror cinema with the release of two iconic films that would define the genre for decades. Bela Lugosi, a Hungarian-American actor, etched his name into cinematic history with his definitive portrayal of Count Dracula in the original 1931 film adaptation of Bram Stoker's novel. Lugosi had already established the character on Broadway, bringing his distinctive accent, piercing gaze, and elegant, yet sinister, mannerisms to the screen. His performance was so powerful that he became inextricably linked with the character, often typecast in horror roles throughout his career. Interestingly, Lugosi initially earned a modest $500 a week for his groundbreaking role, a testament to his eagerness to reprise the part he had perfected on stage.

In the same year, another horror legend was born with James Whale's *Frankenstein*. The towering and sympathetic creature brought to life by Dr. Frankenstein was famously portrayed by Boris Karloff. Born William Henry Pratt, Karloff's eighty-second film role established him as a horror icon. His portrayal of the Monster was a physically demanding one, requiring hours in the makeup chair each day with artist Jack Pierce to achieve the iconic flat head, bolts, and overall unsettling appearance. Karloff's ability to convey both menace and a tragic vulnerability made the Monster a deeply memorable figure, despite the character having no dialogue in the original film.

These two films, *Dracula* and *Frankenstein*, were instrumental in establishing Universal Pictures as the leading studio for horror films and profoundly influenced the development of the genre. Both Lugosi and Karloff delivered performances that set a high standard for horror acting and created archetypal monsters that continue to be recognized and celebrated in popular culture today. Their work not only thrilled audiences during the Great Depression but also laid the groundwork for the Universal Monsters cinematic universe that followed.