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Dracula's Daughter

Play trailer Poster for Dracula's Daughter 1936,  1h 12m,  Horror Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 64% 25 Reviews Tomatometer 43% 2,500+ Ratings Popcornmeter
64% Tomatometer 25 Reviews 43% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
Although Count Dracula was destroyed by Van Helsing (Edward Van Sloan), who is now being tried for his murder, Dracula's daughter, the Countess Marya Zaleska (Gloria Holden), is still alive -- and her father's death has brought her no closer to eradicating her vampiric thirst for blood. When attempts to free herself of the disease fail, she turns to psychiatrist Dr. Garth (Otto Kruger) for assistance, but soon finds herself struggling with the desire to make him one of the undead as well.
Dracula's Daughter

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Dracula's Daughter extends the Universal horror myth in an interesting direction, but the talky script and mild atmosphere undermine its ambition.

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Critics Reviews

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J. R. Jones Chicago Reader Dec 28, 2018
This 1936 release suffers from the absence of Bela Lugosi and the graceless hand of silent-western director Lambert Hillyer. Go to Full Review
David Thompson Time Out Jun 24, 2006
Apart from its haunting, low-key mood, the film is also notable for its subtle suggestion (hardly expected from a former director of B Westerns) of the lesbian nature of the female vampire. Go to Full Review
Frank S. Nugent New York Times Mar 25, 2006
A cute little horror picture. Be sure and bring the kiddies. Go to Full Review
Sara Clements them. Oct 26, 2022
One of the more fascinating entries. While many of the lesbian vampire films of old used the predatory lesbian and “bury your gays” tropes, this 1936 horror film is an introspective piece that leans into the experience of internalized homophobia. Go to Full Review
Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand Oct 15, 2022
Universal’s cut rate sequel to Dracula sans Bela Lugosi turns out to be an unexpectedly sleek and stylish movie. Go to Full Review
Trace Thurman Horror Queers Podcast Oct 5, 2021
3/5
More fascinating than effective, Dracula's Daughter nevertheless gave us a queer icon for the ages. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Hermione L Jan 31, 2019 Unusual but satisfying sequel to the Tod Browning/Bela Lugosi classic
Theodore W Mar 22, 2018 This first sequel to Universal's Dracula (1931) starts off pretty great as Professor Van Helsing is arrested for the murder of Dracula after being caught at the scene of the crime (and Dracula with a stake in his heart and all). There is some funny business with two daffy cops charged with looking after the body (and that of Renfield). Of course, no one believes Van Helsing's story about vampires, except his former protégé and now eminent psychiatrist Jeffrey Garth (played by Otto Kruger). He wants to clear his mentor's name but has no clues until Dracula's body is stolen by a mysterious woman who later turns up at Garth's office seeking psychiatric help (foreshadowing Abel Ferrara's The Addiction, 1995, I guess). This film is famous because Dracula's daughter (played by Gloria Holden) seems very likely to be same-sex attracted (and there is a seduction scene of sorts where she hypnotises a young homeless girl...and then apparently sucks her blood, but this isn't shown onscreen). Unfortunately, most of the proceedings here are not exactly riveting and there is more talk than action, taking place in undistinguished parlours rather than spooky castles or other gothic settings. A few scenes stand out but, as far as Universal's sequels go, the no holds barred absurdity of later entries (Son of Dracula, 1943, or House of Frankenstein, 1944) makes them more fun. See more
Anakin R Feb 16, 2018 The cast was under used, they could have gone so far, but it didn't
Anakin S Jan 19, 2017 This turned out to be a far more intriguing movie than anticipated. How Universal managed to make a self-loathing Vampire as a metaphor for a lesbian in 1936 is an amazing feet. In a post Anne Rice world, it's no shock. But in the mid 1930s, it was a very bold move. At first I was put off by Holden not being enough like Bela Lugosi. After it quickly dawned on me what the film was doing, it became possible to watch it in a different light. In addition to the surprising theme, it's an elegantly shot film and a worthy member of the Universal monster movie pantheon. See more
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Dracula's Daughter

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Dracula's Daughter

Dracula's Daughter: Official Clip - Stealing Dracula's Body Dracula's Daughter: Official Clip - Stealing Dracula's Body 2:10 Now Playing Dracula's Daughter: Official Clip - The Music of Darkness Dracula's Daughter: Official Clip - The Music of Darkness 2:14 Now Playing Dracula's Daughter: Official Clip - Can Vampires Go to Therapy? Dracula's Daughter: Official Clip - Can Vampires Go to Therapy? 2:43 Now Playing Dracula's Daughter: Official Clip - She Was Beautiful When She Died... A Hundred Years Ago Dracula's Daughter: Official Clip - She Was Beautiful When She Died... A Hundred Years Ago 3:16 Now Playing Dracula's Daughter: Official Clip - Death by Vampire Bites Dracula's Daughter: Official Clip - Death by Vampire Bites 3:00 Now Playing Dracula's Daughter: Official Clip - Van Helsing's Warning Dracula's Daughter: Official Clip - Van Helsing's Warning 2:06 Now Playing Dracula's Daughter: Official Clip - Attacking Dracula's Castle Dracula's Daughter: Official Clip - Attacking Dracula's Castle 2:35 Now Playing Dracula's Daughter: Official Clip - Marya Seduces Lili Dracula's Daughter: Official Clip - Marya Seduces Lili 3:11 Now Playing Dracula's Daughter: Official Clip - Burning Dracula's Body Dracula's Daughter: Official Clip - Burning Dracula's Body 1:55 Now Playing Dracula's Daughter: Official Clip - I Never Drink... Wine Dracula's Daughter: Official Clip - I Never Drink... Wine 2:13 Now Playing View more videos
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Movie Info

Synopsis Although Count Dracula was destroyed by Van Helsing (Edward Van Sloan), who is now being tried for his murder, Dracula's daughter, the Countess Marya Zaleska (Gloria Holden), is still alive -- and her father's death has brought her no closer to eradicating her vampiric thirst for blood. When attempts to free herself of the disease fail, she turns to psychiatrist Dr. Garth (Otto Kruger) for assistance, but soon finds herself struggling with the desire to make him one of the undead as well.
Director
Lambert Hillyer
Producer
E.M. Asher
Screenwriter
John L. Balderston, Garrett Fort, David O. Selznick, Bram Stoker
Distributor
Universal Pictures
Production Co
Universal Pictures
Genre
Horror
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 1, 1936, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
May 16, 2017
Runtime
1h 12m
Sound Mix
Mono
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.37:1)
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