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Reviews of this film usually start with the supposed miscasting of Lon Chaney as Count Alucard! There is some validity to those who think that Mr. Chaneys well fed appearance detracts from his portrayal of a vampire. However, the many strengths the film possesses give the fans of the genre the right to proclaim it as the finest Universal Dracula film other than the Spanish Dracula(1931 George Melford).Every character in the film is plausible and responds to the filmic situations in the script with acceptable understanding. The one exception is Louise Albritton's character.She can't wait to get turned out as a vampire by Chaney. Her acting is good and her scences are important. We are given only a couple of lines to let us know that she is interested in things better left alone. Maybe that was enough for 1943 audiences but I can't help but feel that maybe her character did not received the attention then that it needed. One positive was here we have a willing victim of a vampire and I have not seen that portrayed in a vampire film except DRACULA(1979 John Badham).The Samuel S. Hinds character carries the film as a sort of greek chorus. He sees the events as we do and this reviewer feels that his performance is the best in the film. The character of the sheriff is a small one but the actor does have a few good lines. His part had some thought written into it as well. Robert Paige's character could have been played by anyone yet towards the end when he destroys his lost love with fire(another jolt not usually seen in 1940's films)his compassion and lost is very strong and we feel it with him. Varied camera angles provide another strength to Siodmak's film. When the Hinds character goes into the basement where the chickens are kept you fell uneasiness and where Chaney throws Paige through the doors after being shot he propels at you the viewer. The chase through the stage forest and the bat resting on and trying to bite Paiges neck are hokey yet the coffin rising out of the swamp and Chaneys various scenes where he materializes out of a smokey outline are interesting. Chaney does a good job with his line readings and gives you the feeling he is in a hurry and must do something soon. When he bites a boy after threatening two characters the doctor paints a cross on each of the neck wounds. Good writing! Evelyn Ankers is wasted. A good actress given nothing to do. Chaneys make-up is really nothing more than slicked back hair and highlighted stage makeup yet he is a more favorable and menacing Count Dracula than John Carradine was in his portrayal. Now that was real miscasting!