Dracula: Restored

I watched the non-purist cut of this (blu-ray) which contained elements from both versions of the film, and I honestly couldn't discern which shots didn't belong to the original. The entire thing is masterfully done and vastly superior to the theatrical release. I didn't notice anything awry audio-wise and, apart from some overly quick fades (which others have also noted), visual editing was excellent as well.

The narrative is much improved, although, due to lost footage, it can never be perfect. The story isn't massively well told and I can't imagine it making a great deal of sense to those who aren't familiar with the book. Still, this is probably it at the best it can be, and the pacing is also so much better as a result of the re-ordering of scenes and minor trims.

Does this replace the original for me? Probably. I'm still yet to watch through the Spanish language version and I'd also like to see the theatrical once more so that I can give the alternative soundtrack a proper spin. But off the top my head - yeah... this is it. Really well done, and clearly with a great deal of respect for the source material. Highly recommended.

Great work, Billy Batson! I've never been too crazy for this Dracula, but this is now my definitive version.

Old and creaky, the 1931 Dracula bears more cobwebs than Carfax Abbey. It never really escaped its West End production roots. Lugosi’s riveting count more than compensated, as did terrific photography by Freund, and outstanding set design which set the template, still resonating in Horror films to this day. The second half of the movie is deadly slow, however. To quicken the pace, Billy Batson rearranged scenes slightly and added material from the Mexican version of the film.

Video - This is the nicest, sharpest version of this film I have seen. Superior to my laserdisc and DVD circa 1999. Credit excellent source material and attentive editing. Deft work here, though I noticed a repeated scene (56.25 - 1:07.15) where Mina removes her wolfbane necklace.

Audio - As to be expected, mono mix. Sound level extremely low, and I wish Billy would have amplified this. Not a complaint, not an issue. All dialogue was clear, just had to boost it. No Glass score, by the way, or any other track.

Narrative - No substantial change here. Second half of the film still moves slower than the first, but the pace is no longer glacial. Scene modifications definitely helped.

Enjoyment - I did enjoy this, and I appreciate what Billy Batson did, but this will not bump my DVD off the shelf. Rather, I burned a copy and sleeved it in the keepcase. A great alternative to the classic version.

I'm not a big fan of 1931's 'Dracula', it's terribly dated in a way that other films from the same period and studio aren't. Having said that, this edit does much to improve matters story-wise and must surely be the only way to watch it from now on. Especially as the quality of the encode is superb, rivaling the pinsharp Blu-Ray oiginal.

The transitions/fades between the new re-arranged scenes are sometimes quicker than is ideal but the material doesn't allow for anything else. They are executed in an authetic way for a 30s movie.

I'd have liked a score to be included as the music-free soundtrack is one of the elements that really dates this film to the post-silent era. Also a faneditor could have 'gone to town' on the sparse soundmix, adding much of what is missing, or lacking definition on the foley front. But for a "Restored" project, such revisonism was never going to be one of the goals (A 'Dracula: Special Edition' would be a nice future project).

I'd reccomend this to owners of the original cut, as it's a better way to watch this movie.
A 'Dracula: Special Edition' would be a nice future project.