Bram Stoker's novel(1897) was ever since adapted many times portraying the characters and the plots in different ways.Through the years Lucy's character has also been shown with different make-up looks. I wanted to have a look at hoe the make-up progressed from the historical past to more recent times. As in the Victorian era the make-up was very slight and they were mire of unpainted ladies. However, I want to create my character being dead(undead) as she was described in the book. Below are some images and the actresses who portrayed Lucy in different film adaptions of Dracula.
Frances Dade 1931
Frances Dade played Lucy's character in the Dracula's film adaption in the year 1931. This was the first film adaption of this novel. Her make up in this picture seems subtle even though the image is black and white. She has the classic hair of the 30's which is not so Victorian as it has the finger waves towards the side of the face.
Her make-up has the looks of the 30's as well. The classic eye shadow with red lips and thin arched eyebrows. The make-up seems to be simple however the eye shadow seems to be dark as in the nineteenth century it was seen ever so subtly on the eyes.
Carol Marsh 1958
Dracula was then released again in 1958 and was another adaption of the original novel by Stoker. Her make-up looks natural as if she has none on her. In my opinion this looks like the victorian look as she has a soft colour on the lips, the eyes a subtle as well as the eyebrows. The hair resembles Victorian hair slightly. It looks structured as it has been pulled flat on the sides and the middle has part of the hair has height and curls.
Soledad Miranda 1970
In 1970, Count Dracula was the film adaption to the novel. Soledad Miranda was portrayed as Lucy in the film. I decided to look at the image where she lies in her tomb as that is the way she is described in the original novel. Her skin looks very pale almost white and her eyes look as if she has dark circles under her eyes as there is a shadow under her eyes. Her lips have a sallow colour on them with blood dripping from her mouth. The white pale complexion must be because she is considered to be undead a this point in the film.
Pamela Brown 1973
Pamela Brown was portrayed as Lucy in Bram Stoker's Dracula in the year 1973. Compared to the image of Lucy from 1970, her skin has a pale complexion in this image but not as white as the one above. After looking at this I feel like the one at the top might be slightly theatrical or it could be the fact that her complexion in this image is too light. Her eyes seem to have a dark shadow around them as well.
I think this is because of the fact that she is a dead human being but an undead vampire creature. Her eyebrows are ever so subtle and also look very natural. Looking at her face, to me it looks a little more pale than her neck and hands. I will have to keep this in mind when creating my final character as her face should be the same colour as all the other visible parts of her body.
Sadie Frost 1992
Dracula was created again in the year 1992 and Sadie Frost played Lucy's character in the film. Seeing the film I think that all characters including Lucy have more theatrical and special effects make-up, seen on Dracula himself. Coming back to Lucy her make up is quite bold and strong. Her skin is more white than pale. Her cheeks look like they have a dark shade on them to make them appear sunken in. Her eyes are blood shot red and also have a shadow around them. Her lips are red and have blood dripping from them.
As we have to keep in mind the Victorian era and the hair and make-up from that era, I will have to make sure that my final character does not look this theatrical. I will also have to make sure that the the eyes are a little more subtle than what appears to be in this image and the overall look as well.
Ref:
Tod Browning. Dracula, 1931 [digital video] ITV
Terence Fisher. Dracula, 1958 [digital video] BBC4
Francis Ford Coppola. Bram Stoker's Dracula, 1992 [digital video] CH4
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