Brides of Dracula
CLASSIC BRIDES Geraldine Dvorak, Cornelia Thaw, and Dorothy Tree, ''Dracula'' (1931)
Dowdy wraiths with zombie-like personalities in plain white gowns (above left) that possess your basic succubi qualities -- sucking blood and taking life. They have so little personality that they can disappear from the film without consequence.
''VAN HELSING'' BRIDES Silvia Colloca, Elena Anaya, and Josie Maran
These sexy beasts -- while still bloodthirsty -- are voluptuous and fashionably clad (above right). Like most wives, these ladies want children -- the pitter-patter of a million baby demon wings -- and they'll even risk their ''lives'' for it.
SCARIER ''Van Helsing'' brides
COOLER ''Van Helsing'' brides
BONE UP Lugosi's ''Dracula'' may be the best movie to feature the brides, though they're largely afterthoughts here, as they are again in Hammer's otherwise landmark ''Horror of Dracula.'' But they get a big, sexy scene seducing poor, outmatched Keanu Reeves in ''Bram Stoker's Dracula'' (1992), where they're played by Michaela Bercu, Florina Kendrick, and a pre-''Matrix'' Monica Bellucci.
