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30

TUESDAY

Boy, it sure was a lot harder to make films accessible to an international audience way back in the days before subtitles. Take the story of Drácula, for instance. Though most people are familiar with Bela Lugosi’s turn as everyone’s favorite bloodsucker, director George Melford sought to make a version for Spanish-speaking fans of the undead. Using the same set as the better-known 1931 Tod Browning film, Melford engaged his own actors to play out the identical script en español. An extra 30 minutes of footage helps work out some of the kinks evident in Browning’s edit, and though Melford was forced to shoot at night—around Browning’s schedule—the added darkness works to the film’s advantage. Find out how Carlos Villarías managed to roll his R’s through fangs, at 7 p.m. at the Library of Congress’ Pickford Theater, 101 Independence Ave. SE. Free. (202) 707-5677. Please call ahead to verify that this event is taking place. (Tricia Olszewski)