Dracula ('31) with vintage music score?

[charlieray1]

I was dial flipping last night and came across Svengoolie -- the throw-back monster movie host on ME TV. He was showing Bela Lugosi in Dracula so I watched a few minutes . . . and I got a real shock. There were music cues scattered throughout whenever there was a supernatural scene. It REALLY helped.
I'm not a fan of the Philip Glass score -- it never stops, and it doesn't sound period - but these were obviously period music cues, presumably from the Universal library. Typical "monster movie" cues, not subtle, but I was amazed how they brought those sections of the film to life.
Does anyone know about this version, and if it's available? I've bought that movie waaaay too many times, but if was released on blu with those cues I'd be first in line to lay my money down (again!)

[BluBlazes]

According to the Svengoolie site, that particular musical soundtrack was from the French DVD of Dracula and, as you had said, was pulled together from the Universal library.

[oddbox83]

One for the Dracula legacy set to give more reason to double dip on the first? I bet it doesn't happen though.

[charlieray1]

Originally Posted by oddbox83

One for the Dracula legacy set to give more reason to double dip on the first? I bet it doesn't happen though.

I wish it would though. While the music wasn't exactly art, just your basic 40's b-horror movie cues, it added greatly to the mood of the film. Remember the short scene (just a shot, really) of Lucy, "the lady in white" walking? It's easy to miss that entirely in the original film, but with the short music cue under it, it draws your attention and say "something important is happening."

Also, unlike the Philip Glass score it left most of the film untouched, only adding mood to the supernatural moments. It doesn't alter the whole film, or remove Swan Lake from the beginning.

I'm not real big on re-working movies from the past, but Dracula really cries out for a music score, and with the period music cues it feels so much more "right" than with the Glass score. I'd LOVE to have it.

[charlieray1]

I can't check it at the moment, but I just read that the music score I'm talking about is on the blu-ray on the French audio track, but with the dialogue in French. What Svengoolie showed was that music, but with the English dialogue.

[LuckyDragon]

Off-topic but related, the version of Nosferatu on Mill Creek's 50 Horror Classics DVD set has the most perfect organ score. Sounds like Bach but I haven't been able to identify it. I've pulled up numerous versions on YouTube and even used Shazam on my iPad to see if it could recognize the music, but no luck. I watched my Blu-ray once but I suspect that'll probably be it; the next time I feel like watching the film, it's going to be the battered old public domain print from that cheapo DVD set.

[klauswhereareyou]

I caught a few snippets of this Sunday night also flipping channels, and I noticed definite non-Glass score there.

[klauswhereareyou]

I popped in my Universal Dracula blu-ray (the european release) and turned on the french track and sure enough it has the library score. I think sometime I'll watch it just with the French track on.

[charlieray1]

Originally Posted by klauswhereareyou

I popped in my Universal Dracula blu-ray (the european release) and turned on the french track and sure enough it has the library score. I think sometime I'll watch it just with the French track on.

I wonder where the Svengoolie show got an English version with that score? It's never been released anywhere. It's nothing special, just library cues, but it sure helps the movie. I would be thrilled if that version had been an option on the upcoming set.

[Jar Jar Stinks]

Originally Posted by charlieray1

I wonder where the Svengoolie show got an English version with that score? It's never been released anywhere. It's nothing special, just library cues, but it sure helps the movie. I would be thrilled if that version had been an option on the upcoming set.

Allegedly from the French DVD.

[charlieray1]

Originally Posted by Jar Jar Stinks

Allegedly from the French DVD.

I wish it was an option on the blu-ray, in English. I thought it helped the film quite a bit, unlike the Glass score. I wouldn't want it in place of the original, but it would be an extremely welcome extra.