Dracula in popular culture Balderston (see below); it starred Bela Lugosi as Dracula and Edward Van Sloan as Van Helsing, both of whom had originated their respective roles on the stage in the aforementioned play, along with Helen Chandler as Mina and Dwight Frye as Renfield. Directed by Tod Browning, it is one of the most famous versions of the story and is widely credited with initiating the Universal horror film series of the 1930s and ‘40s. The 1931 Dracula film was an inductee of the 2000 National Film Registry list. The films had music only during the opening (the famous main theme from
Horror icon famous horror film icons. These films have had numerous sequels and remakes made, each one varying in success. In the 1940s, sequels to Dracula and Frankenstein's monster were released, and when "The Wolf Man" (1941) was released a new horror icon had rose to prominence, the werewolf. In the 1950s, "The Creature from the Black Lagoon" led to the Gill-man becoming an icon. Another well known horror icon is Norman Bates from the "Psycho" franchise. Many modern horror icons originate from the 1970s. Leatherface from "The Texas Chain Saw Massacre" went on to become a horror icon. The Phantom from