Critic’s Pick: Sink your teeth into two versions of ‘Dracula’ in L.A.

One of the little-known wrinkles of early sound films in Hollywood is that studios like Universal would shoot foreign-language versions of their films at night, using the same sets but different, foreign-language actors. Which is how we have not one but two wonderful versions of 1931’s classic “Dracula” available for pre-Halloween viewing.

Everyone is (or should be) familiar with the English-language version starring the great Bela Lugosi and his “creatures of the night.” But the Spanish-language version, with Carlos Villarias as the vampire in evening clothes, is every bit as good, and Fathom Events and Turner Classic Movies are joining forces to allow viewers to compare and contrast.

Films will screen at 2 and 7 p.m. on both Oct. 25 and Oct. 28. Local theaters include the Chinese Six in Hollywood, the Baldwin Hills 15, and LA Live downtown. TCM host Ben Mankiewicz will introduce.