Readers of my current book, I Know Why the Dogwoods Blush, know that villain Vladimir Buchinsky was patterned after the late, great Bela Lugosi. Lugosi remains a Hollywood icon today more than 40 years after his passing, still standing as the definitive model for everybody's favorite vampire, Count Dracula. While writing Dogwoods, I imagined Bela playing the role of the charming Buchinsky, an immigrant from (as one character in the book put it, "not from around here") Romania who comes to Timmonsville with a secret agenda. It does not take long for the reader to figure out that Buchinsky's agenda is not in the best interests of the townfolk. I can easily see Lugosi perfectly merging the charm of a European visiting the rural south with an underlying menace that is fully revealed in the explosive climax. Longtime fans of Charles Bronson also know that Charlie was the model for the mysterious Jeremiah Bronson, who also arrives in Timmonsville shortly after Buchinsky. Not only is there a possible connection between these two characters in the book (no more hints on that ... readers will have to decide that for themselves) but in real life, Bronson's TRUE name was Buchinsky. He is credited with this name in his early films with Vincent Price, only changing his name to BRONSON to make him more appealing to American audiences of the day. More on Charles Bronson and his influence in later posts, but for now, don't overlook my admiration and respect for one of the greatest screen villains and most under-appreciated movie stars of all-time, the late, great Bela Lugosi. Check out his official website at www.belalugosi.com. And always remember his fabled warning from Dracula ... "There are things worse than death awaiting man!" That is so cool ... and true! Come back later for more info on Bela, his influence on my writing and characters, and so much more!
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Linking Bela, Bronson and Buchinsky
Readers of my current book, I Know Why the Dogwoods Blush, know that villain Vladimir Buchinsky was patterned after the late, great Bela Lugosi. Lugosi remains a Hollywood icon today more than 40 years after his passing, still standing as the definitive model for everybody's favorite vampire, Count Dracula. While writing Dogwoods, I imagined Bela playing the role of the charming Buchinsky, an immigrant from (as one character in the book put it, "not from around here") Romania who comes to Timmonsville with a secret agenda. It does not take long for the reader to figure out that Buchinsky's agenda is not in the best interests of the townfolk. I can easily see Lugosi perfectly merging the charm of a European visiting the rural south with an underlying menace that is fully revealed in the explosive climax. Longtime fans of Charles Bronson also know that Charlie was the model for the mysterious Jeremiah Bronson, who also arrives in Timmonsville shortly after Buchinsky. Not only is there a possible connection between these two characters in the book (no more hints on that ... readers will have to decide that for themselves) but in real life, Bronson's TRUE name was Buchinsky. He is credited with this name in his early films with Vincent Price, only changing his name to BRONSON to make him more appealing to American audiences of the day. More on Charles Bronson and his influence in later posts, but for now, don't overlook my admiration and respect for one of the greatest screen villains and most under-appreciated movie stars of all-time, the late, great Bela Lugosi. Check out his official website at www.belalugosi.com. And always remember his fabled warning from Dracula ... "There are things worse than death awaiting man!" That is so cool ... and true! Come back later for more info on Bela, his influence on my writing and characters, and so much more!
No comments:
Post a Comment