Dracula's Daughter (Universal's Lesbian Vampire Movie from 1936!)

My family started Universal Studios, and I make videos about their work and legacy. Can you believe Universal made a lesbian vampire movie back in 1936?! Dracula's Daughter was produced by my Uncle Carl Laemmle and Junior Laemmle, and directed by Lambert Hillyer. The movie, starring Gloria Holden as the daughter of Dracula (Bela Lugosi) was almost directed by James Whale, but after wrapping on Bride of Frankenstein, he was eager to shift genres and direct Show Boat instead.

Dracula's Daughter follows Countess Marya Zaleska who has inherited her father's thirst for blood, though she doesn't want it. She hears of her father's death and believes her curse may be lifted, but when it's not, she enlists the help of a psychiatrist to cure her.

Marya Zaleska goes after women more often than men in the film, and the movie grapples with some hallmark issues of anyone's coming out story: denial, self-hatred, inner-conflict and assimilation. This movie was direct inspiration for Anne Rice's work, and paved the way for all lesbian vampires who have come since. Dracula's Daughter is also an early example of the plight faced by lesbians in media - a trope that has its roots in the Hays Code.

Head over to my Patreon after this (patreon.com/antoniacarlotta) to listen to my Universally Mini Podcast where I talk about some more trouble Universal ran into during production, the various callbacks and connections to 1931's Dracula, and more about LGBTQ vampires in film!

Listen to my Universally Mini Podcast:   / antoniacarlotta  

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Dracula's Daughter Poster: https://amzn.to/3TN3nu4

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Antonia Carlotta
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