Costume / Character Analysis: Dracula's Brides - Stoker's Novel vs the 1931 and 1992 Films

[earthspirits]

The above photos are scenes from the 1931 Dracula film starring Bela Lugosi.

The Brides as depicted here are rather demure little vampires. They're nameless, with no dialogue. With their 1930's hairstyles and their almost identical flowing costumes (designed by Vera West), they're glamorous and rather unearthly, but don't appear particularly threatening. Certainly they don't exude sexual allure or a feeling of impending danger. If anything, they seem quite passive, especially in their interactions with the count. In the English language version of the film, they don't actively attack anyone, essentially just silent prop devices to demonstrate Dracula's power and to add to the spooky atmosphere. They're more assertive in the Spanish language version, attempting to attack Renfield, but when commanded, still acquiesce to the count.

"The Vampire" by Phillip Burne Jones (1897).

Although not an illustration for Bram Stoker's novel of the same year, this artwork perfectly embodies Stoker's depiction of the original three Brides, who are classic fin-de-siècle examples of John Keat's La Belle Dame Sans Merci (the beautiful lady without pity). The vampire here is clad in a simple white nightgown (or perhaps it's a shroud?) but she's openly wanton and aggressive, happily perched atop her male victim, who has either swooned from blood loss (or erotic pleasure?).

While the Brides in Stoker's novel are also nameless, the author has given each a distinct persona and lush physical description. They're beautiful, sensuous, and completely amoral. They have agency and at one point, the head Bride even argues with Dracula. Not only do they actively attack Jonathan Harker and feast on his blood, they also seduce him. The subtext is quite explicit for a Victorian novel. Doubtless the readers of the era loved the titillation.

The Brides and Jonathan Harker, as depicted in Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992).

As in the novel and the 1931 film, they're again nameless. But this trio of vampire women truly capture the decadent spirit of the original characters in Stoker's book.

Each vampire possess her own intriguing persona and attire. The costumes, as designed by Eiko Ishioka, are eerily beautiful. Each woman is clad in what appears to be some sort of ancient bridal gown, evoking a feeling of long-lost kingdoms, as well as being quite provocative. One of the Brides even has live serpents entwined in her hair.

Like their book counterparts, these Brides have agency. They're evil, aggressive, and demanding. In a later attack scene in the film, the Brides employ physical violence as well as psychic manipulation.

Here, subtext has become main text. The Brides are openly lascivious in their sexuality, flashing their fangs and nude bodies as they eagerly attack and seduce Jonathan Harker.

They're also given dialogue, alternately cajoling and accusatory in their interactions with Dracula. Though shown to ultimately fear him, they still make the attempt to assert their own agendas.

Comments

[earthspirits]

The Brides scared me too when I was a child, but they also fascinated me, much more so than Lugosi as Dracula. I remember being disappointed that their appearances in the film were so brief. I wanted to know more about them!

[smokingboot]

Agree completely. Sometimes less is more. There was something about their silence that was so mysterious and malevolent, whereas Bela isn't scary at all.