Original artwork, not a still
I am Dracula. I bid you welcome.
— Dracula · 1931
Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
Lugosi's slow, Hungarian-accented delivery, a courtly host with velvet menace, set the pattern that countless vampires still follow. The greeting is simple enough to work as a catchphrase, a party-host impression and a Halloween staple, usually followed by the line about the children of the night. For many people this is simply the voice of Dracula.
Context reviewed
In context
Spoilers for DraculaShow the scene
In Tod Browning's 1931 film, the solicitor Renfield travels to Count Dracula's castle in Transylvania despite the villagers' warnings. In the great hall, with its giant cobwebs, Renfield wonders aloud whether he is in the wrong place; the tall, caped Count announces who he is and bids him welcome. Bela Lugosi plays Dracula. He then climbs the stairs, pausing to hear the howling wolves outside with a remark about the children of the night.
Sources (2)
- Dracula (1931 English-language film), WikiquoteCastle scenes with RenfieldReference checked
- Dracula (1931 English-language film), WikipediaPlot; production and legacy notesReference checked
Context reviewed
