Count Alucard (character)

For other uses of the name, see Alucard.

Count Alucard is the name of a fictional vampire who is the son of Count Dracula. Best known being played as Lon Chaney Jr. in the 1943 film, Son of Dracula. He has been featured in movies, comics, television shows, video games and other forms of media.

Creation

Alucard was a concept created by Universal Studios Robert Siodmak and his brother Curt for their 1943 film Son of Dracula. They made the name Alucard spelling Dracula backwards. It is the third film in Universals Dracula trilogy, preceded by Dracula (1931) and Dracula's Daughter (1936). Like Creature from the Black Lagoon and The Wolfman, it is one of the monster films with no novelization history.

Biography

Alucard is the first son of Count Dracula King of the Vampires and is "Prince of Vampires". There is little information on his childhood, teen years and beginning adult years and on how and by whom he was conceived.

Following the events of Son of Dracula Alucard is an old man who is invited to the U.S. where he meets Katherine Caldwell, a woman who secretly dates and marries him. However, when a jealous boyfriend, Frank Stanley, attempts to kill Alucard, the bullets pass through him and hit Katherine. Frank tells Dr. Brewster what happened who alerts a Professor Lazlo, who suspects that this may be a case of vampirism. While this is happening Alucard turns Katherine into a vampire. When confronted, Katherine says that she still loves Frank, but wanted immortality and tells Frank how to destroy Alucard. Frank sets Alucard's coffin on fire, killing him.

Since Son of Dracula, he has not appeared in a Universal film.

Characteristics

It is difficult to define the character since he has so few appearances. However, sometimes, in the Castlevania series of video games (the first being Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse), Alucard is a protangonist, and sometimes joins the other heroes in their quest to kill his father, implying that he has reformed.

In Other Media

Alucard appears in the 1967 film, Dr. Terror's Gallery of Horrors

• Main Article: Alucard (Castlevania)

In the popular Konami video game series Castlevania, he is a central character. His first appearance in the game series was in the prequel called Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse, as he joins the team of Trevor C. Belmont to stop Dracula. Alucard also appears in the game Castlevania: Symphony of the Night on the Sony Playstation as the main playable character.

• Main Article: Alucard (Hellsing)

Alucard is the protagonist in the Hellsing manga and anime series created by Kouta Hirano. (Even though in the Manga they say he is Count Dracula, that Van Helsing gains control of him and that he made him a servant of the Hellsing family.)

Similar Uses

The name "Alucard" is also used by other characters, and sometimes as an alias by Dracula himself.

Further information: Alucard