There are few props and costume items from the classic era of monster movies that have been elevated to the heights of an icon. Bela Lugosi's Dracula cape is one of them. I don't recall reading anywhere who is credited for designing the cape, but IMDB lists the costumers as Ed Ware and Vera West.
Just posted yesterday by THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER is news that the family of the famous Count has donated the cape that he wore as Dracula in the eponymous 1931 Universal film to the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.
Why Bela Lugosi's Family Donated Iconic Dracula Cape to Academy Museum
The late actor's son and granddaughter share the reason they decided to bid farewell to the signature costume.
By Gregg Kilday | 7:00 AM PST 2/15/2020 | The Hollywood Reporter
In 2011, the voluminous black cape that enveloped Bela Lugosi in his most famous role as the elegant Count Dracula was put up for auction with a suggested starting bid of $1.2 million. But when it failed to sell, the late actor's family — his son Bela G. Lugosi and granddaughter Lynne Lugosi Sparks — was actually thankful. "The experience made us realize we didn't want it in some collector's closet for the world never to see," says Lugosi. Adds the late actor's granddaughter, "I think subconsciously the price we put on it was high enough that there wasn't a bid, and we all took a sigh of relief that it was coming back to us and really made us focus in on what our mission was for the cape and for history." So in 2019 (after several years of discussion), they decided to donate it to the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, opening Dec. 14, where it will join such artifacts as the ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz and Elizabeth Taylor's Cleopatra wig.
The Hungary-born Lugosi, who died in 1956, first wore the cape in Universal's classic 1931 Dracula, but held on to it, donning it for stage shows and other appearances. Says Sparks, "Though there has been discussion of his being typecast and how it affected his career, it obviously was a special piece for him. He had a trunk that he carried it in, and my grandmother cared for it to make sure it was always in top condition."
A heavy, floor-length opera cape made of black fulled wool with a taupe-colored silk crepe lining and a stand-up collar, it is currently undergoing restoration. The wool itself is in remarkably good condition, considering its age, says objects conservator Sophie Hunter, but the lining is torn in places since, over time, the wool and silk expanded and shrunk at different rates because of humidity. “Our plan right now is first and foremost to stabilize all of that silk so that nothing is lost and it can be displayed to the public safely,” she says. Beth Szuhay of Chrysalis Art Conservation is handling that task by attaching a new backing to the silk layer and re-patching any missing bits of lining with silk dyed to match the original. it is now undergoing restoration, including repair of the taupe silk crepe lining, which is torn in places.
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| Lugosi and Son [The Hollywood Reporter/Lugosi Estate]. |
“It’s significant on several levels,” Academy Museum exhibitions curator Jessica Niebel says of the cape. “It’s such an iconographic costume, it so much signifies Count Dracula. The character had existed in movies before, but the cape characterizes him as a more classy, elegant, sophisticated person, a noble man — not so much, a monster per se. Also, it had a practical reason. Even though Dracula was made pre-Code, we all know the connotation of his blood thirst was really a sexual one. He covers victims with his cape before he bites them — we never actually see it. He’s essentially a predator, who drinks women’s blood, and in many ways, the cape is significant to the sexual appeal of Dracula.”
It’s the Lugosis’ hope that, the cape, when it goes on display, will carry Bela Lugosi’s legacy forward. “I think he would be amazed that he is remembered as well as he is,” says his son. Adds Lugosi's son, "He was known as the definitive face of the Dracula character, and he's actually achieved immortality."
This is the 2011 press release from Profiles In History, the auction house that put the cape up for bid. Amazingly, it didn't sell.
OCTOBER 27, LOS ANGELES- Profiles in History, run by Joe Maddalena, is proud to present items up for auction from the vampire that inspired it all, Bela Lugosi. It was Hungarian-born Lugosi’s portrayal as “Count Dracula” in the 1931 Universal classic Dracula that became the archetype for the character for generations to follow. Following the tremendous success in Dracula, Bela Lugosi became the quintessential horror actor. Among his horror roles, Bela played “Ygor” in Son of Frankenstein (1939); “Dr. Mirakle” in Murders In the Rue Morgue (1932); “’Murder’ Legendre” in White Zombie (1932); “Sayer of the Law” in Island of Lost Souls (1932) and “Frankenstein Monster” in Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man in 1943. There are seventeen lots in all, consigned by none other than Bela’s son, Bela Lugosi, Jr., and they have never before been available for sale. (©)Universal Studios 1931.
When one hears the name “Dracula,” it is difficult to imagine anyone but Bela Lugosi wearing his signature mode of dress—white tie and tails and a cape—which he wore in the 1931 Universal Pictures classic Dracula. The “Dracula” cape embodies the iconic horror figure and is now up for auction. The cape is screen-used and consigned by his son directly. Prior to his death in 1956, Bela Lugosi gave the cape to his wife of 20 years, Lillian Lugosi, and the mother of Bela Jr., telling her that it was the cape from the film and to keep the cape for his son. Upon Lugosi’s death in 1956, the family decided that he should be buried in his Dracula costume. Given Bela Lugosi’s wish that his son should have the cape, the family dressed the body in a lighter weight version of the cape he used when making personal appearances. Lillian retained the original 1931 cape and left it, along with her other possessions, to Bela Jr. upon her death in 1981. It has remained in his possession continuously. Without question, this is the greatest single horror garment in cinema history. The auction pre-sale estimate is $1,500,000 – $2,000,000.
Other items from Lugosi’s family include, Bela’s own near mint Dracula jumbo lobby card, The Return of the Vampire original U.S. title-card, a U.S. title card from Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, a selection of vintage photographs from the Lugosi family album, amongst others.
These are the pages for the Lugosi Dracula Cape auction catalog from Profiles In History:
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