The Best of Martin Landau as Bela Lugosi in ‘Ed Wood’
Tim Burton’s hilarious biopic Ed Wood was released 30 years ago on October 7, 1994, and it remains a unique celebration of one of Hollywood’s most beloved cult figures.
Ed Wood (Johnny Depp) is often regarded as one of the worst directors in history, known for his low-budget horror and sci-fi B-movies like Plan 9 From Outer Space (1957).
Ed Wood is also notable for Martin Landau’s portrayal of Bela Lugosi, capturing the poignant decline of the once-great horror star known for Dracula.
Remind Landau’s performance earned him the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor:
In honor of Ed Wood’s 30th anniversary and TCM’s current Star of the Month, we pick the best Bela quotes and moments from the movie:
1“How dare that asshole bring up Karloff? You think it takes talent to play Frankenstein? It’s all makeup and grunting!”
2“After I did Dracula, the studio offered me Frankenstein, but I turned it down. That wasn’t sexy enough. Too degrading for a big star like me.”
3“They were mythic. They had a poetry to them. And you know what else? The women … the women preferred the traditional monsters. The pure horror, it both repels and attracts them, because in their collective unconsciousness, they have the agony of childbirth. The blood. The blood is horror. Take my word for it. If you want to make out with a young lady, take her to see Dracula.”
©Buena Vista Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection
4“This is the most uncomfortable coffin I’ve ever been in. Your selection is quite shoddy. You are wasting my time.”
©Buena Vista Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection
5“Home? I have no home. Hunted. Despised. Living like an animal! The jungle is my home! But I will show the world that I can be its master. I shall perfect my own race of people — a race of atomic supermen that will conquer the world!”
6I never drink … wine.
7“You must be double-jointed. And you must be Hungarian.”
Dracula
October 2020
Drac is Back! Delve into some of the best vampire fare in TV, movies, radio and books.
Buy This Issue