Lugosi: The Rise and Fall of Hollywood's Dracula

Graphic novel biographies > traditional biographies

I’ve now had the pleasure of reading a number of these non-traditional format biographies, and I find the approach to be exceptionally satisfying. It’s a great way to get the history of a famous figure in a more concise and entertaining method than standard biographical nonfiction.

Bela Lugosi is a fascinating if not particularly likable icon of old Hollywood’s monster movie craze. His Dracula is one of the most iconic of all time, and a role that meant the world to the man who played him.

Lugosi isn’t exactly what you would call a likable guy. He was a nasty addict and a misogynist womanizer who was likely a diagnosable narcissist forever desperate for attention.

Thus he isn’t exactly the hero of his own story, but his story is an interesting one anyway and it is well rendered here. The art is also excellent, accurate but with a bent that is a nod to the subject’s life’s work and also—I think—just how Bela himself would have liked to be illustrated.

This is a fun graphic novel about the life of Bela Lugosi that hits a lot of the high and low points in his life from childhood to death. It starts with Lugosi checking himself into the hospital to detox from his morphine and alcohol addiction where he has flashbacks to a lifetime of choices that are haunting him. From his childhood in Hungary to Hollywood, Lugosi confronts himself. At the beginning of the book, the author says that this is a book for anyone who wants to know more about the man who first brought the iconic character of Dracula to life on the screen in 1931. I would argue that having some knowledge of the man and the things going on at the time would be pretty helpful for even the casual reader. For example, the affair that Lugosi allegedly had with Clara Bow is included in this 160 page book and if I didn't already know a lot about Bow, I would think of her as a strange floozy who just showed up in the story to party with Lugosi for a few months and then disappear. The painting that Lugosi commissioned in her likeness and hung over his bead for the rest of his life after wasn't even mentioned. There are several other figures that show up like this who I was grateful to already have background knowledge on (such as Ed Wood Jr., Carl Laemmle, and Tod Browning), but that is more of a nitpick since the focus should remain on Lugosi and not the side characters in his life. This is a fun and quick read with above average art.

Lugosi: The Rise and Fall of Hollywood's Dracula is a biographical graphic novel telling the life of actor Bela Lugosi. It was so well written. I loved the use of flashbacks. It made a very straightforward story much more dynamic. The artwork was wonderful. It was simple but very effective.

I am pretty new to the graphic novel world, but I love non-fiction so I knew I had to request this one. I really loved the artwork and the overall style of this novel. I didn't really know Bela's story so it was all new information for me. I would for sure recommend this for just about anyone.

Lugosi is the engrossing graphic novel depiction of the life of polarizing Hollywood legend Bela Lugosi, most well known for his portrayal of Count Dracula in the Universal monster movies. Spanning his entire life and career and framed by his intake into a rehab facility for his addiction to morphine and methadone, Lugosi shows the ups and downs of a roller coaster career marked by hubris and poor decision making. While Bela is not always a likeable figure, he is often sympathetic and tragic. At times destitute, lonely, and drug dependent, Lugosi was typecast after Dracula into portraying mad scientists and monstrous roles in increasingly low budget movies culminating in his infamous allegiance with "worst director of all time:" Ed Wood. The graphic novel medium is a good one for this tale, utilizing black and white imagery for a gothic tone befitting the subject. Highly recommended for those interested in the life of a true Hollywood legend.

**I was given a copy of this book by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to Netgalley and Humanoids Inc**

There’s the likeness and the icon itself. The myth and the man behind it. We owe our modern conception of Dracula to Bela Lugosi, who donned the cape of the infamous bloodthirsty count in Tod Browning’s production of Dracula, which premiered in 1931, before the pearl-clutchers would focus their prudish crosshairs on the film industry in the form of the Hays Code, which forced studios to either veil or completely eliminate references to anything the aforementioned pearl-clutchers would consider morally reprehensible. Horror films were a natural target of the Code, so it is to the benefit of the culture at-large and the horror industry in particular that Dracula was released in the pre-Code era.

Bela Lugosi was a Hungarian émigré who first cut his teeth on the stage in the National Theatre of Hungary. After facing political persecution, he made his move to the promising shores of America. First starring in (as well as producing and directing) shoestring-budget theater productions with other Hungarian émigrés, young Bela soon found himself disheartened, feeling as if he was destined to die a penniless pauper.

His first big break came when he met Henry Barton, a theatrical manager who had been impressed with Lugosi’s performance in one of his Hungarian-language productions. The American impresario hadn’t understood a word of the dialogue, but had been captivated by Lugosi’s command of the stage. He told him he would be perfect in a new play he was producing called The Red Poppy if only his English were better. Never one to give up, Lugosi told Barton he was a quick learner and would be willing to have an English tutor hired with the tutor’s wages deducted from his own.

The Red Poppy’s run was short-lived, a commercial failure. Lugosi, however, was praised for his performance and afterwards he had consistent work in small-budget English-language theater and silent film productions. Once he secured the role of the titular character in Hamilton Deane and John L. Balderston’s Broadway production of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, his fate was sealed. The rest, as they say, is history.

Koren Shadmi does an excellent job bringing Bela Lugosi to life. Penning a pictorial biography of one of the world’s most iconic actors is a daunting task, certainly not for the faint of heart, but Shadmi deftly illuminates the man behind the myth, waking him from his coffin for a whole new generation.

Shadmi’s book is just as perfect for the longtime Lugosi acolyte as it is for those who only know him through his image as Dracula. It is evocative and daring and sobering. I honestly can’t recommend it highly enough.

A good graphic novel on the life and times of one of the legendary founders of Horror Cinema. The art style was beautiful, and I would love to own a framed copy of some of the sketches in the back, they are so evocative.
While the information contained within this book is somewhat widely known by Lugosi fans, the juxtaposition with the lovely art makes it a worthwhile purchase.

Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read this! Wow, this was an amazing biographical pictorial! I was only a little familiar with Bela Lugosi's story, but I feel this graphic novel gave a great overview of not only his career, but also his motivations, his dreams, and his fears. Bela is a one-of-a-kind character, and he most certainly achieved what he set out to do-which is be immortal! I think most people write off those actors who get mixed up in addiction as junkies, but rarely do we get to hear their story, especially someone of Bela's time period, and his immigrant background. While it's clear he definitely struggled with extreme narcissism and manic episodes, he still remained a dedicated artist, always proud of his most famous role, and I really respect that. Many people don't consider the horror genre to be anything more than crude and flat-out dismiss it, so it's wonderful to read that Bela, even until the end, cherished Dracula and his other characters. Also, the Ed Wood parts were great, Bela clearly fits in with the "weirdos" of the world! I believe this book really pays great homage to the great Bela Lugosi and I look forward to recommending this to all horror fans in my circle.

I knew Bela Lugosi from, like many others, movies like Dracula. I learned so much, and I really enjoyed this graphic biography. Will recommend to horror fans, movie fans, history fans, and anyone looking for a good biography.

I still remember the first time I saw Bela Lugosi's image on the black and white screen, I have been hooked on Dracula ever since, for me he enclapulates the prince of darkness. Since being a teenager I have recognised his name and image but ever really known much about the man off screen, so when I saw this book advertised I knew I had to get my hands on a copy.

I find with some biographies I get bogged down with two much details, however this graphic novel was so refreshing and seems very in keeping with his character and life style. This book gives us an insight in to his career high and lows, how by becoming the such a memorable version of Dracula, he would be typecast for years to come, falling out with various producers his career plummeted. The old saying 'be careful what you wish for" comes to mind, His various unsuccessful marriages all of which lead to a life of alcohol and drug abuse. I wouldn't say he was a nice man or easy to like, but his story makes for good reading and is very interesting.

I also thought the graphics and art in the book were wonderful, the information flowed off the page. A really enjoyable experience for me as I am new to graphic novels.

Thank you to Netgalley and Humanoids Inc. for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own

Bella Lugosi is Dracula. In 2021, we all know that. Every Dracula adaptation since 1931 has been a riff on his iconic portrayal. But Lugosi was also a flesh and blood man who wasn't actually a Transylvanian count who wanted to suck blood. Koren Shadmi's biography works to capture the man behind the cape, detailing his life from a young Hungarian actor turned union crusader to pawn of the studio system. It doesn't shy away from his many previous relationships (including the first time Dracula met Betty Boop), low moments, and struggles with drug abuse.

Shadmi doesn't linger too long on any one part of Lugosi's life, save his framing device rehab trips, but in doing so he provides a quality biography for a man whose life is remembered less for who he was and more and more for his cape and eyes. But as the end implies - Dracula does not die, and therefore neither does Lugosi.

This is a very good biographical graphic novel. Reading it felt like I was watching a black-and-white biopic about one of the most interesting "character" actors of all time. Bela Lugosi's life had many ups and downs and the book captures them really well; it follows Lugosi through his childhood, the historical events that shaped him, his rivalry with Boris Karloff, and his "artistic" partnership with infamous director Ed Wood. The book never tries to paint him as a nice person when he does questionable things, but still makes you sympathise with him; shadmi leaves it open for us readers to infer whether Lugosi's fall from grace was due to Hollywood's prejudice (he couldn't speak English fluently) or his bad decisions. I read this book in one sitting.

A nice follow up to their last book that delved into the origins and backstory of Rod Serling, this new book explores the darkness and history of the famous Bela Lugosi.

Shadmi does an excellent job of capturing each section of his life with a poignant snippet and weaving them together in a timeline connected to his drug-induced madness in a state hospital. I like the comparisons to Karloff here as well. Their works were often compared, but this drew further comparison on their public lives. Fans of Universal's monsters know that Karloff the Uncanny (not as relatively unknown as stated here) had a much happier and fuller life with his family, especially when compared with Bela Lugosi.

There is some tragedy present and a connection to the immigrant story so often seen in the Eastern block. What I like about this book is that it does not romanticize a moderately villainous guy just because he was popular and famous. He was notably selfish and pretty terrible father/husband. Still, there is this feeling at the start of the movie that he was this hopeful young actor who wanted to make something of himself in the Hungarian circles. I like that image of Bela as a proud man of his long gone country. It adds depth to his speech, mannerisms, and eventual coping mechanisms that make him feel like a fuller character --rather than the washed up actor we see in the Ed Wood 1994 film. Speaking of that film, those last pages and the back matter leave it off, but it would have been nice to include why Wood was taking those generic, quick shoots of Lugosi.

Was so happy to read this! I've been a fan of classic monsters & cinema for a long time, this book is wonderfully illustrated look into Lugosi's life. I would definitely recommend for fans of classic Hollywood cinema and graphic novels.

As a monster lover in general, and Dracula lover in particular, this book was a fascinating, if sad, glimpse behind the cape. Beautifully illustrated, this graphic novel will intrigue monster and Hollywood fans alike.

A Life in Pictures… A graphic novel tells the true story of the Hungarian-American actor who played Dracula, Bela Lugosi.

In his book, Lugosi: The Rise and Fall of Hollywood’s Dracula, author and artist Koren Shadmi remembers Bela Lugosi in an original way. Lugosi’s life is told in a biographical graphic novel. It is a visual treat, with cartoon drawings and text outlining Lugosi’s life from 1893 to just before his death. Bela Lugosi’s defining role was Dracula and he played this role both on stage and in the acclaimed 1931 film.

Shadmi’s book starts with a foreword from prolific author, Joe R Lonsdale. Lonsdale gives a short introduction to this actor and gives a hearty endorsement for this book. Following Shadmi’s detailed biography, Shadmi adds some of his initial sketches for this book. The book then concludes with references and a detailed bibliography with lists of Lugosi’s films, documentaries and interviews used in writing this book.

Lonsdale adds that Shadmi tells about Lugosi life in a “whole biographical banquet” as it covers

“the triumphs, the misfortunes, the oddities as well as the wonders and high points of Lugosi’s life”.

Shadmi begins Lugosi’s biography in 1955 and he depicts this time in sepia colour themed pictures. As he recounts Lugosi’s life before this date, drawings are then coloured in black and white. However, as I write about his biography – as recounted by Shadmi – I will write it in a linear way to prevent confusion.

This biography starts in 1893, in Lugos, Hungary. It tells of Lugosi’s childhood dream at 10 years old and tells that he was then obsessed with becoming an actor. His family were unsupportive and uncaring, and he ran away after he was blamed for his father’s death. In 1917, he was an active and passionate leader of the actors union in Budapest. After the Hungarian Soviet Republic was dissolved, he was expelled from the Hungarian National Theatre and blacklisted. He fled for his life with his first wife Ilona Szmick for Vienna, where this marriage soon ended.

After he immigrated to New York, he worked with his Hungarian speaking theatre company. He then won a number of English speaking roles in film and on stage. Lugosi performed in the play in the titular role of Dracula in the West End, Broadway and beyond. During this time, Lugosi was married and divorced twice and it’s reported that he had a fling with the actress, Clara Bow.

After he was dismissed from the lead film role as Frankenstein, he was replaced by Boris Karloff. In 1932, his career was “upended”, and Lugosi declared bankruptcy and lost everything he owned. He starred with Karloff in their first of eight film collaborations and in many minor roles. After MGM took over the Dracula franchise, Lugosi reprised his Dracula role.

1935 was seen as his most prolific acting year, and then his career went into a sharp decline. By 1937, Lugosi was in dire financial straits and he declared bankruptcy. His then fourth wife Lillian was expecting a baby. After Dracula and Frankenstein were re-released, Lugosi made a comeback and this led to more supporting roles. During this time he was diagnosed with sciatica and took morphine for the pain and he gets addicted to this drug.

He collapsed on a movie set in 1942, and then his run ended at Universal Pictures. He took on less memorable roles. He worried about Lillian having an affair with the actor, Brian Donlevy after she started an assistant job with this actor. In 1952, Lugosi is offered a role in a film with Ed Wood. After he and Lillian divorce, he started to retake the addictive drug. After Lillian leaves, he felt alone and forgotten and became suicidal. He asked Wood to join him, and tells him that he is missing his wife, Wood convinces him to live.

The sepia pictures tell of events in 1955 and 1956. This story starts as 73 years old Lugosi admitted himself voluntarily to the Motion Picture and Country House Hospital. He was in severe pain but keen to be treated for his then drug dependency. After he was given an injection to stop his pain he was seen to have a high fever and hallucinations.

The visual and auditory hallucinations are of Dracula and his nemesis Karloff and they taunt the actor about his accent and that he is a forgotten Hollywood actor. Later Lugosi is devastated when the Screen Actors Guild refused to pay for his stay in hospital and that he will have to leave.

After a court appearance, he is committed to the Metropolitan State Hospital for 3 months and given treatment for two years. During this time, he was visited by Ed Wood, who offered him a role in his new film. After he was discharged after three months, Lugosi felt like a new man and was about to take a new role with Wood. He also had an ardent admirer, in Hope Louise Lininger, who wrote to him while he was in the hospital.

In the epilogue, Shadmi tells that Lugosi married Lininger and he then filmed a number of improvised scenes for a new film with Wood. It ends with Lugosi being appreciative of Wood allowing him to act once more.

This book brings this actor to life in a wonderfully unique way. Shadmi easily met the challenge of telling of a life in words and pictures. In 160 pages, I got a full picture of this actor from his life as an actor in Hungary through to his friendship and film collaborations with Ed Wood. Where the film, Ed Wood (1994) had at times diverged from the truth, Shadmi made no mentions of these particular topics and this made it a respectful biography for both his fans and family.

I loved how Lugosi’s present-day of 1955 and his past were differentiated by colour. This gave an old Hollywood film feel to the telling of Lugosi’s life. This touch made his story easy to follow and it showed how Lugosi’s past concerns shaped his fears in his later life.

Accurate and detailed pictures both illustrated and conveyed the relevant historical times and key places during this actors lifetime. These drawings were supported by short succinct and accurate descriptions. These provided the context for the subsequent scenes and were shown in wonderfully intricate historically based representations of buildings, key figures and historical symbols.

These included pictures of key places such as Budapest in 1917 and then flags. In the later parts of the story, the Hollywood sign appropriately changes from Hollywoodland to Hollywood, dependant on the date of the then storyline. Shadmi has clearly researched the then appearance of the buildings at this time.

These are seen in his credible illustrations of the Motion Picture and Country House Hospital and the site of his marriage to his first wife, Church Of St Anne Budapest. All pertinent buildings are majestically recreated and signs on those illustrated buildings are written in the Hungarian or English language as appropriate to the time and place.

Lugosi’s Hungarian accent was also honoured in his dialogue bubbles. A little text also indicates when Lugosi speaks languages other than English. These attributes all added up to a warm and affectionate telling of Lugosi’s life story. Touches like these added to the history and storytelling in subtle but strong and effective ways.

Shadmi also wonderfully recreated this actor’s physical presence as he looked at different ages in his life and in his roles in many of his movies. These are seen in wonderful true to life illustrations. Other familiar Hollywood and historical names such as Ed Wood, Clara Bow, Boris Karloff and Lenin as they appeared in his life story were tributed in the same credible manner. These characters donned both appropriate clothes and spoke appropriate dialogue.

The content must be praised for its detailed recreations of his films. These are included his character alongside his scenes and dialogue. In one (favourite) picture, Shami wonderfully recreated Lugosi in character in a number of his films. I believe this picture would be a delight to his fans. Shadmi provided a tribute to this actor’s character’s physical presence in a wide range of films.

The dialogue bubbles used within the story were easy to follow and set the scene telling of this actor’s life and times, his career and many marriages. The book also appears to have taken note of the criticisms from his family, in response to the Ed Wood biopic. At the same time, this book appeared to be paying homage to this film with his and Wood’s dress and appearance reminding me of this biopic movie.

I would love to see this well researched and captivating book made into an animated cartoon. Perhaps, as a tribute made in time for the 140th anniversary of Lugosi’s birth, which is next year. I concur with Lonsdale, that the love for Lugosi in his definitive role of Dracula continues as;

“there’s always a place in our hearts for the man who introduced us to vampires and creeping terror”.

So, I would wholeheartedly recommend getting your teeth into this graphic novel biography on the Dracula actor who was haunted by his most immortal role.