Bela Lugosi Unrealised Projects
During the course of a career, every actor will either see their name linked to proposed projects that fail to materialize or be involved in projects which collapse. Bela Lugosi was no exception. From roles in films, plays and on TV to novels and records, this page offers a tantalising glimpse of what might have been.
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1931
Frankenstein
From “The Big Book,” Universal Picture’s Campaign Book, 1931-1932 season
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New York Times, April 5, 1931
FLASHES FROM STUDIOS
THE air at Universal City is thick with rumors about the contemplated productions of “Frankenstein” and Poe’s “Murders in the Rue Morgue.” The real news, though, is limited to the announcement that Bela Lugosi, who played the title role in “Dracula,” will have the lead in Mary Shelley’s macabre story and probably also in the Poe story.
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Courier-Express, April 5, 1931
Bela Lugosi, the star of the screen version of Dracula, will play the principal role in Frankenstein, another thriller, and perhaps in The Murders in the Rue Morgue.
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The Boston Massachusetts Traveler, April 7, 1931
HORROR STUFF
Having made a success of “Dracula,” Universal is going in strongly for macabre subjects. They recently purchased the rights to “Frankenstein,” a blood-curdler now being played on the London stage, and “The Murders in the Rue Morgue,” Edgar Allan Poe’s horror melodrama. Bela Lugosi, who did so well with the role of Count Dracula, has been assigned the leading role in “Frankenstein.” At present Lugosi is en route to Honolulu where he will join the “Black Camel” company in an important role.
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Variety, April 15, 1931
LUGOSI STAMPED
Hollywood, April 14
Bela Lugosi will be kept in nightmare parts similar to that in “Dracula.” Universal has readers looking for more parts of that type for Lugosi, the readers rummaging through old stories.
Studio already has “Frankenstein” for the actor.
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The Pittsburgh Press, April 19, 1931
Lugosi Signed
The continuous triumphs which have been scored by Bela Lugosi in the title role of “Dracula” have resulted in him signing a long term contract with Universal. This will insure his appearance in “Frankenstein,” the successor to “Dracula” in next year’s Universal lineup.
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Hollywood Reporter, April 20, 1931
Lugosi Signs With “U” On Long-Term Contract
Bela Lugosi has been put under a long-term contract by Universal. He will put on the make-up for Universal’s “Frankenstein,” after which he will do the leading role in Murders in the Rue Morgue,” adapted from Edgar Allen Poe’s short story of the same title.
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Los Angeles Record, April 22, 1931
Bela Lugosi came back to a surprise after three weeks spent in Honolulu with “The Black Camel” company. His manager signed him on an advantageous long term contract with Universal while he was away. He starts immediately on “Frankenstein,” which will be followed by “Murders in the Rue Morgue.” By the time these two are finished the reading department expects to have some more horror tales run down for the man who made “Dracula” a household word.
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Hollywood Filmograph April 25, 1931
…George Melford will direct “Frankenstein”; Bela Lugosi is the star…
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Los Angeles Times, May 17, 1931
LUGOSI COMPLETES ROLE
Bela Lugosi has completed work in “The Black Camel,” and will begin shortly in “Frankenstein.” Lugosi seems to be the logical actor for such mystery roles, after his success in “Dracula.”
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L.A. Record, June 7, 1931
SOMETHING has got to be done for Bela Lugosi. Lugosi has been trying for a week to make a screen test for “Frankenstein.” He has to wear a weird makeup, with two or three different colors, stripes, streaks and striations.
But after a few blasts of hot air, the makeup all fuses together, making him a clown instead of a menace.
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Los Angeles Herald, June 11, 1931
By HARRISON CARROLL
…Due to freak camera work, Bela Lugosi will appear eight feet tall in his forthcoming characterization of “Frankenstein.”
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The New York Times, June 14, 1931
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L.A. Record, June 20, 1931
Bela Lugosi begins work soon on “Frankenstein,” playing the name role at Universal. He is now studying makeup for the part.
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San Diego Union, June 26, 1931
LUGOSI GETTING PADDED UP AS MAD MONSTER
Will Portray Ruthless Giant In Picture Version of Fantastic Tale ‘Frankenstein’
By HUBBARD KEAVY
HOLLYWOOD, June 27 (A.P.) – What probably will be one of the trickiest jobs of makeup since “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” will be seen when the picture “Frankenstein” is released.
Bela Lugosi, in the starring role, will be built up with makeup and padding, to resemble the eight foot superman Mary Goodwin Shelley, wife of poet Percy Shelley, wrote about in 1817.
When Lugosi is made up only his chin and eyes will be visible, grease paint and putty completely hiding the rest of his face. Shoes to which nearly 12 inches have been added will help complete the illusion.
Mrs. Shelley’s fantastic story concerns the creation by a medical student of a man monster.
You can almost imagine what happens when this ruthless giant sets out to have a little fun.
POE PICTURE PLANNED
Another film for fall release should be less disquieting than “Frankenstein” but hair raising nevertheless, is Poe’s “Murders in the Rue Morgue.” It is being changed a great deal from the original in order to bring in a romance.
Its adaptation is being written by the Russian Leo Birinski, who has written “Variety” and “Mati Hari” for the movies.
Birinski believes that motion picture audiences want to see people in idealistic situations, so he is trying to combine his theory with those of Hollywood, the latter consisting of picturing everything as it really is – or almost so.
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Los Angeles Examiner, June 30, 1932
When James Whale finishes “Waterloo Bridge” he will direct “Frankenstein,” famous old thriller which Garrett Fort is adapting for Universal. Whale, who directed the English stage production of “Journey’s End,” was brought to Hollywood for the talkie version of the unforgettable war play. “Frankenstein,” by the way, is one of the weirdest novels in the English language. It was written long before movies were dreamt of, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, wife of the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley. Bela Lugosi, who played the title role in “Dracula,” is in “Frankenstein.”
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Hollywood Herald, June 30, 1931
James Whale Renews at “U”
As a result of his work on “Waterloo Bridge,” Universal has taken up the option clause in James Whale’s contract. His next will be “Frankenstein,” with Bela Lugosi.
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New York Times, August 30, 1931
The Universal production of Mary Shelly’s “Frankenstein” is taking shape under the knowing guidance of James Whale. Boris Karloff and not Bela Lugosi is the final choice to play the monster. Colin Clive has been imported from England to play the role of Frankenstein, the student who builds the semblance of a man out of bits of human wreckage and then, by an extraordinary light ray, endows the creature with life. This was a role which Lon Chaney all his life was anxious to play. Mae Clarke is the tentative choice for the role of Elizabeth. Frederick Kerr will appear as the Baron, Edward Van Sloan as the Professor and Dwight Frye as the Dwarf. John Boles, now recovered from the mishap which kept him out of “Strictly Dishonorable,” has been assigned the role of Victor.
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Western Mail (Perth), September 10, 1931
SCREEN SHORTS.
Lon Chaney’s Place.
There’s been a lot of conjecture in Hollywood about who would take the place of Lon Chaney on the screen. Lionel Barrymore and Wallace Beery have been mentioned.
Universal’s choice is Bela Lugosi who made “Dracula” a real box-office wow. Now in “Frankenstein” he’s playing the part of an “unborn” man-one designed by science, an eight-foot monster without sentiment. And only his chin and his eyebrows are to show on the screen.
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The New York Times, October 11, 1931
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The Hunchback of Notre Dame
The Telegraph, September 14, 1931
Hollywood Sights and Sounds
By Robbin Coons
”The Miracle Man,” made more than a dozen years ago, is the picture which “made” three stars at once – Thomas Meighan, in the role of the smooth racketeer, Betty Compson as his beautiful accomplice, and Chaney.
George Bancroft has been mentioned for the Meighan role in the new talking version.
Another star who falls heir to a Chaney role in the current epidemic of re-makes of popular silent films is Bela Lugosi, who may do a talking “Hunchback of Notre Dame” after his success as the weird “Dracula” and his work in “Murders in the Rue Morgue” and “Frankenstein,” yet to be seen.
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1934
The Suicide Club and The Return of Frankenstein
The West Australian (Perth), June 8, 1934
THE SCREEN’S FIRST ‘HORROR TEAM.’
SO well, are those two eminent screen ‘monsters,’ Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi, working together in ”The Black Cat’ that Universal have decided to turn them into what will be the first ‘horror team’ in screen history. Two stories have already been set aside for the attention of Messrs. Karloff and Lugosi. They are ‘The Suicide Club,’ a version of Robert Louis Stevenson’s celebrated romance, and ‘The Return of Frankenstein.’ While Mr. Karloff is, of course, an Englishman, Mr. Lugosi is an Hungarian who learned English to play Dracula on the stage and on the screen— a part which made him famous.
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1935
Mystery-Horror Novel
International News, Los Angeles Bureau, December 3, 1935
BELA LUGOSI “HORROR ACTOR” TO WRITE MYSTERIES
HOLLYWOOD CALIF.
Mystery stories are what the public wants, Donald Friede (l.), member of the Covici-Friede publishing firm of New York City, tells Bela Lugosi, film star famous for his delineation of horror roles. Friede, on a literary scouting trip to Hollywood, has signed Lugosi for a mystery-horror yarn which is expected to keep readers a-quiver when it appears in the near future. This photo shows them perusing Lugosi’s preliminary manuscript.
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1938
The Secret of Treasure Island serial
Daily Variety, January 20, 1938
Don Terry Gets Top Spot In Columbia Serial
Don Terry is set in hero spot for Columbia’s 15-spool serial, The Secret of Treasure Island, starting Monday under direction of Elmer Clifton. Cliffer deals with adventures of a newspaper reporter. Grant Withers and Bela Lugosi also are prominently in the cast. Femme lead is yet to come.
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1939
Karloff and Lugosi radio series
The Pittsburgh Press, January 13, 1939
Friday The Thirteenth
Two creepy people, Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff, are reported teaming up for a radio horror series. They’re hunting for a scream song.
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1940
A Karloff and Lugosi musical
St. Petersburg Times, August 24, 1940
Univ. is juggling the notion of co-starring Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi in a musical…
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1941
The Monster of Zombor
From Universal Picture’s Campaign Book, 1940-1941 season
Dracula Tour
Reading Eagle, November 24, 1941
Hollywood Shots
By Jimmy Fidler
Bela Lugosi has been inked for a two-year tour of 124 cities in the stage play “Dracula.”
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1944
Appearance on Creeps By Night radio show
The Pittsburgh Press, February 11, 1944
Karloff to Launch Own Radio Spook Series
Lugosi and Lorre To Be ‘Partners In Crime’
By SI STEINHAUSER
Are you among the mourners of “Lights Out?” Have you been crying in the night because there were no bedtime mysteries to keep you awake and give you nightmares? You’ll be sorry. No less a bad man than Boris Karloff is coming to radio with his own show and the title is enough without a program: “Creeps By Night.”
Movieland’s No. 1 horror will narrate and star in a series to be launched next Tuesday night at 10:30 following an otherwise grand evening of swell comedy. To give it as bloodthirsty a beginning as he can think up he has chosen for his first broadcast “The Voice of Death,” the story of the voice of a dead man which guides his widow to the commission of murders by wholesale.
After that Mr. Karloff will summon Bela Lugosi, Peter Lorre, Laird Cregar, Raymond Massey and other “partners in crime” to the mike, to make things as bad as possible, in a spooky sort of way. Mark down as sucker No. 1 for mystery stories this guy, who’d give up his sleep for a Karloff broadcast.
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1946
Mysterioso Record Series
The Billboard, July 20, 1946
Musicraft Eyes Disk Package Propositions
HOLLYWOOD, July 13. – Something new in record albums has been cooked up by radio scripters Merwin Gerard and Seelig Lester, who have written material to be narrated by movie spookster, Bela Lugosi, and tagged Mysterioso. Platter idea is now in negotiation stage with Musicraft Records and will probably be waxed in series of eight 12-inch records.
Script idea calls for a series of “mood” horror tales, each one dealing with another phase of violence, chills or sudden death. Lugosi narration should be backed by theme music in keeping with spine-chilling format. Musicraft also is reported dickering with MCA for a similar package idea under which MCA will supply talent, music and writers for the series.
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1947
Production of Dracula in Hopkinsville, Kentucky
Kentucky New Era, August 7, 1947
1948
London theatre production of Dracula and two Universal Dracula films
The Evening Independent, March 4, 1948
“Horror” Pictures Hit Upswing in Hollywood
By BOB THOMAS
HOLLYWOOD – (AP) - Two of the screen’s ablest boogymen, Bela Lugosi and Lon Chaney, are planning projects to satisfy the most eager of horror fans.
Both are currently scaring the wits out of Abbott and Costello in “A. and C. Meet Frankenstein,! and Lugosi reports that U-I is mulling two subjects based on his “Dracula” portrayal. “There is enough material in the original novel for half a dozen pictures,” the Hungarian actor told me. Meanwhile, he plans to take the famed blood-sucker to London for an eight-week stage run this summer.
Chaney is organizing his own producing company with Curt Siodmak, top writer of gruesome scripts. They plan to create new characters “more horrible than any yet seen on the screen.” I can hardly wait.
Note: Bela would eventually take Dracula to Britain in 1951.
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1949
Strange Deception
The Billboard, April 23, 1949
Ink Hampton White For “Dracula” Lead
HOLLYWOOD, April 16. – Hampton White, former leading man with the Lend an Ear company on the West Coast, has been signed to do the leading role in a road company of Bela Lugosi’s Dracula.
White formerly did leads with Brunk’s Comedians in Texas and for two years appeared with Captain Reynold’s Majestic Showboat on the Ohio River as a leading man.
Following the road tour of Dracula, White will go into Lugosi’s picture, Strange Deception the first feature film to be made in third dimension.
Surprise Theater
The Billboard, July 16, 1949
Spots Talent And Low Cost
HOLLYWOOD, July 9. – Top talented tele shows, developed and packaged by the William Morris Agency, will be made available at bargain rates to local video ops and bankrollers under a kine audition plan currently being set up. Designed to give lively network tele prospects a test run and kine audition, the Morris office will spotlight shows locally at “below cost” rates, seeking in return only guarantees of good production and quality kines. Agency thus hopes to build a library of kined audition films which can be used by sales staff in peddling shows to national bankrollers.
To be called Surprise Theater, stations or bankrollers will be taxed only for the actual cost of sets, costumes and production, plus a probable minimum talent fee. Name talent will waive usual high fees thus enabling the station to carry the series as a prestige sustainer or to peddle to bankrollers as a low-cost packaged deal.
Among shows earmarked for Surprise Theater are packages featuring following Morris office clients: Billie Burke, Sterling Hollaway, Zasu Pitts, Marcy McGuire, El Brendel, Bela Lugosi, Pinky Lee and Actors Lab and Pasadena Playhouse dramatic orgs. All shows will be one-showing deals only and the Morris office retains exclusive rights despite preem test runs.
The Billboard, August 6, 1949
KNBH Set To Air Wm. Morris Pkg.
HOLLYWOOD, July 9. – Deal was set this week for KNBH, National Broadcasting Company (NBC) Coast tele station to beam the William Morris Agency packaged series, Surprise Theater, beginning late in August (The Billboard, July 16). Agency will provide the video outlet with top talent packages at no cost to KNBH, with station assuming only production charges. Morris office will kinescope each show for audition and sales purposes, using KNBH facilities for showcasing proposed commercial segs.
At least 15 different packages will be aired during half-hour weekly slot, including shows featuring such names as Zasu Pitts, Pinky Lee, Bela Lugosi, Billie Burke, Sterling Hollaway, El Brendel and Marcy McGuire. If charged regular commercial kine rates, shows would cost Morris $250 a frame for recording facilities; if kine is provided at cost, nut will be even cheaper.
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1949
Australian Dracula Tour
Variety, Octorber 3, 1951
Bela Lugosi being dickered for Australia and offered year’s work to open at Sydney with “Dracula” sometime in January.
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1954
Ed Wood Projects
Los Angeles Times, August 31, 1954
MORE BELA LUGOSI FILMS ON PROGRAM
Producer Edward Wood Jr., who is also directing “The Vampire’s Tomb,” wirh Bela Lugosi as the male star and Vampira as one of the principal players, has arranged for Lugosi to do six more features, the second to be filmed at Sedona, Ariz. This will be a spooky western, as yet untitled, which Wood has written.
