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Armadillos
posted by rudely_murraySTAFFMOD on December 31, 2017 at 10:33 AM
I always found it odd that Dracula’s castle in this movie has a population of armadillos. I guess to audiences of the early 1930s these animals may have appeared more exotic and creepy, presumably why Browning decided to include them, but they are certainly not a species one would expect to find livng wild in Transylvania.
Reply by bluersun
on December 31, 2017 at 10:42 AM
Anytime someone mentions armadillos I think of Dimebars... British advert from the 90s if you get the reference..! Anyway, yep must be they were just an exotic animal the general public weren't used to seeing and added to the weirdness at the time and now is an odd little curiosity...
Reply by rudely_murray
on December 31, 2017 at 11:11 AM
Haha yes I remember that advert very well... in the mid 90s after I graduated from university my best friend and I took a holiday to the US and spotted several armadillos, some alive and some roadkill, on the freeway verges. We quoted that ad to one another frequently.
Reply by bluersun
on December 31, 2017 at 11:37 AM
"Crunchy on the outside, chewy in the middle"
Reply by genplant29
on January 1, 2018 at 10:14 PM
I'm in the States and always get a kick out of the armadillos in this movie as I know it's definitely in this part of the world, not in the mountains or deep forests of Transylvania, that they're found. Perhaps the Count had his "flown in"?
By the way, I'm (on the East Coast) not in the part of the US that armadillos dwell in. To the best of my recollection I've never actually seen one in person.
Years back I was supposed to travel to Roumania, and was very much looking forward to visiting Vlad the Impaler's castle and region, though, regrettably, the trip wound up needing to be canceled about a month before it was supposed to happen.
Reply by bratface
on January 2, 2018 at 1:23 AM
Dime bar ad:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqeGxMgVOHI
Picture of the armadillos:
https://dlsummers.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/dracula-armadillos.jpg?w=474
Reply by bluersun
on January 2, 2018 at 6:59 AM
Ok I got the quote wrong - but it's been years since I've seen this - thanks for posting the link @bratface
Reply by rudely_murray
on January 2, 2018 at 8:55 AM
Yes, thanks so much for posting those! That ad is a real blast from the past...
Reply by bratface
on January 2, 2018 at 3:10 PM
rudely & bluer, You are welcome. You both live in the UK right? Also, honestly I've seen Dracula a 'million times' but didn't remember ever noticing the armadillos.
Reply by genplant29
on January 2, 2018 at 3:14 PM
brat, I kinda "remembered" the armadillos being included in the wives-awakening montage, when we see various critters emerging from here and there, though now see that they're not:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSmSuiMNbDI
Following is when the armadillos actually make their brief appearance:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjDfOAhtWwo
By the way, it must be a pain for Drac to keep his black garb dust-free, considering the very lax state of his castle's housekeeping!
Reply by bluersun
on January 2, 2018 at 3:28 PM
Yep, England.
Reply by rudely_murray
on January 2, 2018 at 4:11 PM
I come from the UK but am currently living in Singapore. 😁
Reply by genplant29
on January 2, 2018 at 4:14 PM
It's wonderful how the internet is able to bring people together, all over the world, in real time.