House of Dracula (1945)

[Hiss]
What are you doing here?
Who are you?
I am Baron Latos.
I have come to you for help.
It's 5:00 in the morning!
I must apologize
for the intrusion,
but travel for me
is very difficult and
I've come a long way.
I don't understand.
Perhaps you will
after you've led me...
to the basement room
of this castle.
It's a very strange request.
This is my home.
Have no fear, Doctor.
Had conditions permitted,
I would have presented
myself in the usual manner.
Well, it is most unusual.
I'll explain everything
before sunrise.
Dr. Edelmann, do you believe
in the immortality of the soul?
Naturally, being a religious man.
Of the body?
Medical science
refutes such a thing.
Just as it denies
the existence of vampirism.
[Edelmann]
It doesn't deny certain
physical aspects of it.
Cases have been recorded
in which the victims,
driven by some abnormal urge,
actually believe the blood
of other people was necessary
to keep them alive,
became psychopathic killers
in order to obtain it.
These beliefs probably
upset their metabolisms,
induced fixations,
lustful appetites.
The whole thing is of
a highly speculative nature,
particularly
the supernatural aspect.
Do you doubt
the supernatural?
I find it difficult to believe...
that a human being can
change himself into a bat,
or that by feeding upon
the blood of the living
he can obtain eternal life.
But what has this discussion
to do with us, Baron Latos.
Perhaps a great deal,
Doctor.
Shall we proceed?
[Edelmann]
The Dracula crest.
Yes, Doctor,
I am Count Dracula.
But I'm known to the outside
world as Baron Latos.
You see before you a man
who lived for centuries,
kept alive by the blood
of innocent people.
You ask me to believe that?
That's why
I've come to you;
to seek release from a curse
of misery and horror...
against which I am
powerless to fight alone.
According to the legend,
a vampire must return
to his grave before sunup.
If you remain here,
how would that be possible?
Within this coffin,
is a layer of soil taken
from my native country.
That earth makes this my grave...
in which I must lie helpless
during the daylight hours.
Because a single ray of sunlight
falling on the vampire...
would destroy him.
Yes, Doctor.
That door was locked.
How did you get that in?
Since you doubt the supernatural,
let us say you were mistaken.
The outer door was not locked.
You've taken a great deal
for granted, Baron,
proceeding on the assumption
that I would take your case.
Your reputation for helping others
made me certain that you would.
You could effect a cure?
There might be a way,
despite the dangers involved.
It would be a challenge
to medical science.
Accept that challenge, Doctor.
But decide quickly.
The dawn.
Good morning, Nina.
Good morning, Doctor.
Make a blood smear
of this will you, please.
A Baron Latos will
be in this evening.
I'll see him immediately.
Well, how are things coming?
Splendid, Doctor.
Increasing the humidity
was a good idea.
The spores are multiplying
faster than ever.
Yes, we're making
progress all right.
The operation on
Johannes'leg proves that.
If we can produce
the mold in quantity,
think what it will mean
to thousands of people
all over the world.
We'll succeed, Nina.
And when we do,
your devotion to this
experiment will be rewarded.
You'll be the first
to benefit by it.
Nina, make a culture of this
and prepare an antitoxin
as soon as possible.
All right, Doctor.
[Knocking]
I am Baron Latos.
Dr. Edelmann
is expecting me.
Baron Latos.
Miss Morelle,
what a pleasant surprise.
It's good to see
you again, Baron.
You left Schvonheim just as
we were becoming acquainted.
I could hardly refuse
the opportunity to become
Dr. Edelmann's assistant.
Now that chance has
brought us together again,
I hope to see you quite often.
I've taken a chateau close by.
You're not here as a patient.
Unfortunately, the doctor thought it
advisable that I come here for treatment.
Good evening, Baron.
Come in.
Miss Morelle, it will be
necessary for Baron Latos...
to have his appointments
during the evenings.
Yes, Doctor.
Sit down, Baron.
Thank you.
It appears that I may
have to alter my theories.
An examination
of your blood...
reveals the presence
of a peculiar parasite,
a form with which
I'm completely unfamiliar.
It's possible that it may have
something to do with your, ah...
problem.
Proceeding on the
assumption that it has,
I'm having an antitoxin
prepared so that we can see.
Your new theory being...
That a pure culture
of a parasite...
introduced into the
parent bloodstream,
will destroy, not only its own kind,
but themselves as well.
Sounds very promising.
Perhaps. But we
must proceed slowly.
These treatments...
will take some time?
Without doubt.
Meanwhile, your visits here
should be only at intervals...
on the nights and at the hours
which I shall designate.
Is that understood?
Quite clearly.
Then we shall start
treatments tonight.
The transfusion.
How long will
the doctor be busy?
Some little time,
I'm afraid.
I'm must see him at once.
I've come a long way.
If you'll just
give him my name.
Talbot.
Lawrence Talbot.
Maybe he'll understand.
I can't interrupt
the doctor now.
He's giving
a transfusion.
How long will that take?
An hour.
Maybe longer.
I'm sorry, you'll
just have to wait.
I can't wait!
There isn't time.
There isn't time!
Your next appointment will
be Thursday evening, Baron.
At about the same time?
Yes.
Good night, Doctor.
Good night.
[Dracula]
Good night.
Good night.
Oh!
Baron.
Mr. Talbot was here
to see you, Doctor.
He was terribly upset.
Talbot?
Lawrence Talbot. He seemed to
think you'd recognize the name.
Lawrence Talbot... No.
There was something
tragic about him.
He had the look
of a man tormented by fear.
When I told him you were busy,
he rushed out of the house
saying he couldn't wait.
There wasn't time.
Well, perhaps
he'll come back.
[Ringing]
Hello.
Just a moment, please.
It's Inspector Holtz.
Yes, Inspector?
Oh? Very well,
I'll be right down.
You'd better come
along with me, Miliza.
Go to your homes, all of you.
This is no concern of yours.
We don't have to go home.
We know our rights.
That goes for
you too, Steinmuhl.
Whenever there's trouble,
you're always on the front line.
Good evening, Doctor.
Come right in, will you, please.
Go home!
If I find the person...
who started the rumor
we have a crazy man here,
I'll lock him up.
As a matter of fact,
Doctor, we have.
He came in here a little
while ago and demanded
that I put him in a cell,
to keep him from
committing murder, he said.
I did it to humor him.
But when he started raving,
I realized we had something
serious and sent for you.
Decent chap otherwise.
Name ofTalbot.
Talbot?
You remember, Doctor.
The man I told you about.
Come in, Doctor.
He's in here.
Who are these people?
Get them out of here!
I didn't come here to
be put on exhibition.
Come, come now.
Take it easy.
This is Dr. Edelmann.
He's come to help you.
Dr. Edelmann!
Yes.
You wanted to see me?
That's why I came to Visaria.
In the hope that
you could help me.
It's too late now.
What seems to be
your trouble, my boy?
Do you believe that
a man can be transformed
into an animal?
[Edelmann]
I believe anything can
happen in a person's mind.
[Talbot]
This is not in my mind.
Doctor,
have you ever heard
of the pentagram?
Five-pointed star.
The mark of the beast.
When the full moon rises,
I turn into a werewolf...
with only one desire
in my mind... to kill!
Listen to me, Talbot.
There's no such
thing as a werewolf.
It's a belief that exists
only in your mind.
[Growling]
Doctor, isn't there
something you can do?
Not until morning,
when this passes.
Bring him to me then.
Put him in my care,
and I'll do all I can for him.
Oh, I didn't hear you.
The doctor
will see you now.
Do you think he can help me?
He's done
some wonderful things.
Then why has he kept me
waiting here all day?
Doesn't he realize that tonight...
I'm sorry.
I know he'll do
whatever he can for me.
Good afternoon, Doctor.
Sit down, Mr. Talbot.
What have you got to tell me?
In your case, my boy,
diagnosis is extremely difficult.
But the examination you made
this morning, the X-rays.
The examination
discloses one condition,
pressure upon certain
parts of the brain.
This condition coupled
with your belief...
that the moon can bring
about a change...
accomplishes exactly that.
During the period in which
your reasoning processes
give way to self-hypnosis,
the glands which govern your
metabolism get out of control,
like a steam engine
without a balance wheel.
When this happens, the glands
generate an abnormal supply
of certain hormones.
In your case, those which
bring about the physical
transformation you experience.
But explaining it doesn't help.
What can you do
about it, operate?
A surgical operation
to enlarge the cranial cavity
is a long and dangerous one.
Then there's nothing
you can do to help me.
There might be.
Come here, my boy.
Under tropical conditions,
which we have tried
to duplicate here,
this hybrid plant,
clavaria formosa,
produces a mold which
we've been able to distill...
Well, a substance which
possesses the property...
of softening any hard structure
composed of calcium salts.
Bone, for instance.
With this medium,
it might be possible,
without surgery,
to reshape the
cranial cavity and thus
eliminate the pressure.
You can do that now?
Can you?
Unfortunately, it will take
some time to produce mold
in sufficient quantity.
[Talbot]
Tonight the moon
will be full again.
What can you do
to help me now?
Only what you did
for yourself last night.
Confine you.
No, Doctor.
No.
I can't go
through that again.
[Edelmann]
Talbot, listen.
Talbot. Talbot!
Talbot, come back!
[Edelmann]
Seigfried!
Seigfried!
There are many caves
along the coastline
here made by the tides.
There's still a chance
that he can be saved.
We must think of the
danger to Dr. Edelmann.
If Mr. Talbot has been swept
into the cave down there,
he's still under
the spell of the moon.
We must wait 'til it sets.
When it does, if he's still alive,
he'll try to destroy himself again.
That's why the doctor must time
his actions to the very moment.
If he can find him just
as the seizure passes,
and his reason returns...
Perhaps he can persuade
him to want to live.
Here we work half a night
to get this thing rigged up...
and then he says,
"We'll wait a while."
What's going on
around here anyway?
Shh, that's
Dr. Edelmann's business.
Strange business,
if you ask me.
Shh!
All right,
swing me out.
Lower away.
Easy.
All right!
I might've killed you.
Why did you
follow me down here?
To bring you back, my boy.
Back to a life of
misery and despair?
I only wanted to die.
You wanted to die,
but instead you will live...
'cause God
in his divine workings...
has lead you to the very thing
which makes help possible.
Look about you.
The temperature and humidity
down here are ideal...
for growing the
spore-producing plants.
Before the next full moon,
we should have more
than enough to help you.
I wish I could
believe that, Doctor.
You can, my boy.
But you must do your part.
You must want to live.
The Frankenstein monster.
That must be the
skeleton of Dr. Niemann...
who revitalized him years ago.
As the story goes, the villagers
drove them into the swamp...
and they went down
in the quicksand.
After all these years,
the mud has brought them here.
He's still alive.
He's indestructible.
Frankenstein's creation
is man's challenge to the
laws of life and death.
Doctor!
Dr. Edelmann!
Doctor, look here.
There must be a way
out of here into the castle.
[Edelmann]
History mentions
an old torture chamber.
But its entrance
was sealed up years ago.
[Edelmann]
He was made bit by bit,
piece by piece.
The undying monster.
The triumphant climax
of Frankenstein's genius.
The heart that Frankenstein
gave him never died.
The spark of life is still
there waiting to be revived.
Dr. Edelmann, this thing
destroyed Frankenstein.
It's brought death to all
who have tried to follow
in his footsteps.
Is that poor creature
responsible for what he is?
It's a thing of violence
to whom death would be
a merciful release.
Can man sit in judgment
over life and death?
The evil he creates,
he can also destroy.
That would be murder.
Think what
you're doing, Doctor.
To bring him back again
would unleash worse than
murder upon humanity.
That helpless body
is man's responsibility.
Man's responsibility
is to his fellow man.
Perhaps you're right, Nina.
Frankenstein's monster
must never wreak havoc again.
##["Moonlight Sonata"]
##
Baron.
I didn't hear you come in.
Please go on.
##
You like it?
It breathes the
spirit of the night.
They played it the evening
we met at the concert.
I'd forgotten...
until I saw you again.
Perhaps I wanted
you to remember.
##
##[Haunting Music]
I've never heard this music
before, yet I'm playing it.
You're creating it...
for me.
It frightens me.
It's beautiful.
It's the music of the world
from which I come.
It makes me see
strange things.
People who are dead,
yet they're alive.
Mine is a world
without material needs.
It calls to me,
but I'm afraid.
The fear will pass as the music
becomes fixed in your mind.
It will make you
long to be there.
##[Peaceful Music]
##["Moonlight Sonata"]
Why do you stop?
Play the music again.
There's something
Dr. Edelmann...
told me to do.
Roll up your sleeve,
please, Baron.
The music will
come to you again.
My world is waiting for you.
Forsake the cross so that
you can join me there.
Your world is
coming closer to me.
But I'm afraid.
It is a world without fear.
It is like the music.
Beautiful. Beautiful.
Oh, good evening, Baron.
Thank you, Miliza.
That'll be all.
I feel that we're
making progress, Baron.
This photomicrograph of your
blood reveals an odd condition,
one which I can't
account for as yet.
What is it?
A different species
of antibodies has appeared.
Why worry so long
as the treatments are
proving successful?
If a doctor effects
a cure, he wants to
know how he did it...
Which is of little
concern to the patient
so long as he's being cured.
Day after tomorrow?
At the same time.
Then good night, Doctor.
Please go to bed, Miliza.
I'll finish down here.
I think I will.
Miliza!
Miliza!
Are you all right?
The music is bringing
my world closer, closer.
Doctor, Baron Latos...
he left here early this
evening, didn't he?
About half
past eight. Why?
L... l... Miliza
and I were working.
What are you
trying to tell me?
She seemed awfully tired...
like a person in a trance.
In a trance?
She left me without
saying a word.
I followed her. She met
Baron Latos in the hall.
They went into the garden.
And when he walked
in front of the mirror,
I couldn't see his reflection.
I imagined that, didn't I?
Didn't I?
No, Nina. Baron Latos
shows no reflection.
Then he...
He's Count Dracula.
In trying to save him,
I've endangered the lives of all of you.
Then cast away the cross
so that you may join me there.
I must try to stop him
before it's too late.
But how?
Prepare for
a transfusion at once.
You can't give
another one so soon.
Do as I tell you.
If anything should
happen to me tonight,
go to the armor room
in the basement and
burn what you find.
What is it, Doctor?
You'll understand.
You must destroy it by fire.
Go to your room.
When you hear the music,
I will come to you.
I've been looking
for you, Baron.
You remember that I was puzzled
tonight by the new antibodies?
Yes.
I know now where they came from.
They're from my blood.
We may be on the verge
of an important discovery.
So to check my theory, I'm going
to give you another transfusion.
Now?
Lmmediately.
If this is the answer,
we must see.
Doctor.
Dr. Edelmann!
Doctor!
Dr. Edelmann!
He's gone.
Mr. Talbot! Mr. Talbot!
[Footsteps]
Miliza.
She's all right now.
But what about him?
The evil I brought here
will never live again.
[Electricity Crackling]
They tried to kill you,
but they couldn't.
Frankenstein
gave you eternal life,
power which time
cannot destroy,
the secret of immortality
which will soon be mine.
[Electricity Crackling]
[Electricity Stops]
Dr. Edelmann?
Go away.
Leave me alone.
Dr. Edelmann,
I have some
coffee for you.
Go away, I tell you.
Dr. Edelmann, let me in!
Doctor.
Doctor, you're ill.
No.
I'm all right.
That'll make you feel better.
How much of the spore
concentrate have we ready?
Don't worry about that now.
We're making fine progress.
Answer me. Is there
enough for two operations?
No, there won't be
for some time.
But we do have
enough for one?
I think so.
Then I must operate
as soon as possible, on you.
But doctor...
You were right, Nina.
I am ill.
It's impossible to know
what the future holds.
Oh, there, there, Doctor.
You mustn't talk like that.
I'll operate tomorrow, Nina.
Then you must
operate on Mr. Talbot.
The moon will be full in a few days.
We can't let him suffer again.
But you... You've
waited such a long time.
Then I can wait a little longer.
It won't make any difference.
You're worn out.
Why don't you get some rest?
I'm all right.
I know who
you're thinking of.
I'm hoping we'll
be ready in time.
I can't stand the thought of him
having to go through that again.
Don't worry,
we'll have enough.
Why, it's wonderful,
Dr. Edelmann.
What you've done would
ordinarily mean an operation
of the most delicate nature.
This way the dangers of
surgery didn't even exist.
We can expect
some nervous shock.
He must be kept quiet.
Any exertion might undo everything
I hope we've accomplished.
We'll know in a few days, Miliza.
All we can do now is hope.
And pray.
We must think
now only of Nina.
Every minute must be
devoted to producing...
more of the
concentrate for her.
You're a fine nurse, Miliza.
You know perfectly well
Mr. Talbot should be
asleep by now.
Sleep? I'll have a lifetime
in which to sleep,
when I know what lies ahead.
After what Dr. Edelmann
has done for you,
only happiness lies ahead.
I wonder.
Please don't think
that I'm ungrateful.
Time after time people
have tried to help me.
Time after time they've failed.
If this fails...
It won't fail, Larry.
You must believe that it won't.
I've tried to, but when
I face the night...
Try to see the night
as something beautiful.
Until the full moon turns it
into a thing of ugliness and horror.
Soon you'll see it
as everyone else does.
Restful,
tranquil and serene.
Until that time comes,
I'll live a thousand hopes,
die a thousand times.
It will never be ugly
to you again, Larry.
Believe me, I know it.
How do you know that?
My heart tells me.
Hello, Seigfried.
Dr. Edelmann!
Did you hear me call
to you, Seigfried?
Why no, sir. I would have
stopped for you if I had.
I'm certain you would have.
Don't worry about it,
Seigfried.
What's the matter,
Seigfried?
You act as though
you were afraid.
Oh, no, sir.
Why should I be afraid?
Of the night, perhaps.
I'm not afraid of the night.
Your hands are
trembling, Seigfried.
Are they?
Seigfried.
Yes, sir?
I believe I know
what you're afraid of.
Do you?
You're afraid of me.
Of you, sir?
'Cause if you weren't,
you'd look at me, Seigfried.
Ya! Ya!
See, you are afraid of me.
You're driving faster so
that you can get into the
village and tell the police.
Why should I want to
tell the police anything?
Because you're afraid
I'm going to kill you.
Kill me? Doctor!
Yes. You've seen what's
happened to your old friend.
He doesn't want anybody but
himself to know about that.
No, Doctor!
I will never tell!
That's right, Seigfried.
You never will!
Help! Help!
Help!
Help! Help!
There he is!
There he is!
This way!
It's your brother Seigfried.
Is he dead?
There he goes!
[Knocking]
Good evening, Inspector.
Sorry to disturb you, Doctor,
but I'd like to see...
Mr. Talbot and everybody
else in the house at once.
Certainly.
Is something wrong?
You'll know in good time,
Doctor. Now please hurry.
Now, Inspector, what is it?
Your man Seigfried's
been murdered.
Seigfried?
Murdered?
By the person who rode
into the village with him tonight.
His throat was torn open
as though by some enraged animal.
So naturally you suspect me.
I have good reason to.
But he hasn't been out
of the house for days.
Not to your knowledge.
Have you been with him all evening?
Until an hour ago.
But the murder was only
committed 20 minutes ago.
And within
the last 5 minutes,
we pursued the murderer
to these very grounds.
But it's impossible.
Only the full moon
affects Mr. Talbot.
The moon won't be full again
until tomorrow night.
Not only that,
but Mr. Talbot has
undergone an operation...
which makes physical exertion
out of the question.
Running a short distance,
much less from the village,
would cause
serious complications.
A cerebral hemorrhage,
perhaps even his death.
I respect your word,
but a murder has
been committed.
It's imperative that I search
your premises immediately.
He's the man you want.
Are you gonna let
Dr. Edelmann talk
you out of it?
That's enough, Steinmuhl.
That's enough.
I apologize, Doctor,
but the man who
killed his brother is
somewhere around here.
It's my duty to find him.
I shall hold you
responsible for these
people until further notice.
[Knocking]
Yes?
What are you
doing here, my boy?
You shouldn't be up.
Never mind me, Doctor.
It's you I'm worried about.
You were with Seigfried tonight
when he went to the village.
I saw you.
I saw you when
you came back.
Why didn't you tell
Inspector Holtz?
After what
you've done for me?
Why, you tried to help me.
And you want to help me now?
If I possibly can.
Because you suffered the tortures
I'm going through now,
you of all people will understand
what I'm going to say.
In trying to perform
the miracle of medical science,
I failed.
My blood has
been contaminated...
by the blood of Dracula.
My soul and mind have been
seized by some nameless horror,
a lust which changes me into the thing
that killed Seigfried tonight.
If you wish to help me,
there's one way
in which you can.
Say nothing to Inspector Holtz
of what you know.
Not to protect me,
but to give me time.
Time to do for Nina
what I've done for you.
After that, this evil
thing must be destroyed.
You have my word that
it will be, my boy.
But if I am unable,
you must do it for me.
Dr. Franz Edelmann.
Bonn University, cum laude.
What's going on here?
I was just on my way over
to your office, Inspector.
I want you to take
a look at this.
I found it clenched
in Seigfried's left hand.
Dr. Edelmann killed him.
Be quiet, Steinmuhl.
You don't know what this means.
Neither do I.
It's obviously a matter
for the police to handle.
Is that clear?
It's clear Dr. Edelmann
killed my brother.
Last night you
thought it was Talbot.
Tonight you say
it's a man we've known
and respected for years.
You're worse than a gossiping
old woman. Go home!
Go home, all of you.
I'm sick and tired of this.
Come on, break it up.
[Steinmuhl]
Something's going on
at Dr. Edelmann's, I tell you.
What does Holtz
have to say about it?
[As Holtz]
This is a matter for
the police to handle.
It's a matter
for us to handle...
unless we all
want to be murdered.
He's right. I'm for doing
something about it.
Well, I don't know now.
I'm with you.
The next few moments
will give us our answer.
It's the time we've all
been looking forward to.
You must put fear
out of your mind.
Confront it with a belief
that the past is over with,
that a new life lies ahead.
A new life.
Stay here, please.
All of you.
But, Larry...
No!
Not until we can be sure.
Oh, Doctor, it's wonderful.
Dr. Edelmann? Doctor!
[Electricity Crackling]
That's it. That's it.
Now! Now!
That's it. That's it!
I'll make you strong,
stronger than you've ever been.
I'll give you the strength
of a hundred men.
No, Dr. Edelmann.
No! You promised.
What are you doing here?
Why, l...
You were spying on me,
weren't you?
No, I just wanted to find you.
I wanted to tell you that l...
You shouldn't
have done that, Nina.
I want to see
Dr. Edelmann at once.
You shouldn't have come here.
I don't like people who see
what they're not supposed to see.
Aaah!
Doctor!
[Miliza]
He's gone mad.
Hello, Mr. Talbot.
You broke your promise
to me, didn't you?
You told the police.
I don't like people who break
their promises, Mr. Talbot.
Get out!
The Frankenstein monster!