Q&A: Author Robert Cremer and Lynne Lugosi Sparks Discuss BÉLA LUGOSI: THE MAN BEHIND THE CAPE, Now on Kickstarter!

He brought one of the most iconic characters of all time to life on the silver screen with his portrayal of Count Dracula in 1931, but there is still much about Béla Lugosi that is waiting to be discovered, and in his new book Béla Lugosi: The Man Behind the Cape, author Robert Cremer shines a celebratory light on Lugosi’s amazing life like never before. With Béla Lugosi: The Man Behind the Cape now on Kickstarter via Clover Press, we caught up with Cremer and Béla Lugosi’s granddaughter and CEO of Lugosi Enterprises, Lynne Lugosi Sparks, to discuss what readers can expect from the ambitious new biography!

Thank you for taking the time to answer questions for us, Robert, and congratulations on your new biography Béla Lugosi: The Man Behind the Cape! When did your fascination with Béla Lugosi begin, and what made you want to write a biography about the legendary actor? 

Robert Cremer: I “met” Béla when Universal released its package of classic horror films, Shock Theater, to TV in 1957. I was fascinated by him, because I found myself confused as to whether he was a “good guy” or a “bad guy”. I knew he was an evil vampire, but he was so suave and charming at the same time. This fascination with Béla never waned. Fifteen years later, while I was working as a syndicated columnist for the Hollywood Reporter, I began researching  Béla’s life in the old Margaret Herrick Library on Santa Monica Boulevard. I found a great deal of contradictory information about him, particularly regarding his personal life. In one article, I learned that his son, Bela Lugosi, Jr., was a practicing attorney in Los Angeles. I contacted him and we met for lunch. I discussed my desire to write a biography that clarified this misinformation for once and for all. He arranged a meeting for me with his mother, Lillian, who was married to Béla for 20 years. When I explained my desire to write an accurate and straightforward biography of Béla, she said to me, “Bob, I would love to do that, because the record needs to be set straight! I am tired of reading the same faulty information about his life. Béla deserves better.” We worked together on the project for months and then we made a trip to Hungary and Romania together to continue research on his earlier life.

This biography features more than “700 photographs, letters, documents and artifacts, including rare and never before seen photos from the Lugosi Family Archives.” How did you go about accessing these priceless elements for your book, and how much time did you spend gathering these unique pieces of Béla’s life?

Robert Cremer: I defer to Lynne Lugosi Sparks for an answer to this question, because she has been in charge of identifying family photos, film stills, documents, and correspondence for the book. As curator of the Lugosi Family Archives, she has been instrumental in locating not only photos in the archives, but also through her contacts with film institutes and libraries in Hungary and Romania.

Lynne Lugosi Sparks: Curating the photos for the book was years in the making, but a wonderful journey that has resulted in an accumulation of photos that tell my grandfather’s life story through pictures. My mother, Nancy Lugosi, beautifully organized and preserved Béla Lugosi’s personal collection of photos, clippings, letters and documents that were given to my father, Bela Lugosi, Jr., by his father and his mother, Lillian Lugosi Donlevy. For the first time, we are sharing our family archives with the world! We are very fortunate to have the support of individual collectors, film institutes and libraries in the U.S., Hungary and Romania, and are overwhelmed by their respect of Béla Lugosi’s legacy and their generosity and happiness to share their special photos for inclusion in the project. Also included in the book’s massive collection are film stills from Béla’s entire filmography as well as images of interesting artifacts from his life and career. 

Through your extensive research, was there anything in particular that surprised you about Béla Lugosi that you weren’t aware of before you wrote this biography?

Robert Cremer: Literally everything surprised me about him, as I conducted exclusive interviews with Béla’s wife, his relatives, his closest friends, many of whom knew him in Budapest, as well as with Dr. Nicholas Langer, who treated Béla during his rehabilitation at Metropolitan State Hospital in Norwalk, CA. These exclusive interviews frequently corrected inaccuracies about Béla that had been repeatedly reported in the press, or revealed completely unknown information about Béla’s personal life and professional career. For example, I was amazed when I found answers to many questions, such as:

• How Béla’s labor union activism brought an end to his first marriage to Ilona Szmik.
• Why Béla feigned insanity to be released from the army during WWI after he volunteered for military service.
• How two sailors and a cat saved Béla’s life during his transatlantic crossing to the U.S.
• How Béla’s performance in the film The Raven resulted in his becoming virtually unemployed for nearly three years.
• What factors led Béla from the pinnacle as Count Dracula to B-movies in Gower Gulch.
• Why Béla inflated his dependence on drugs and alcohol from just three years to 20.
• What role fishhead stew played in the cult collaboration of Béla with Edward D. Wood, Jr. 

Béla’s life was full of surprises for the simple fact that it is a story unlike that of any other Hollywood star. His dramatic experiences in the life were the negative from which his stage and film roles were developed. His biography is unsurpassed in personal drama, tragedy and inspiration.

What has been your experience working with the team at Clover Press as you prepare to crowdfund Béla Lugosi: The Man Behind the Cape on Kickstarter, and what types of perks can supporters look forward to?

Robert Cremer: The teamwork with Clover Press has been remarkable in my experience as an author. The creativity, openness for various approaches and communication during all phases of the project have been really motivating and, in my view, incredibly productive. I am not just working with total professionals, but also with Béla Lugosi fans, who share my dream to provide an authoritative, if not definitive, biography of this great actor and human being. The Kickstarter is a reflection of an imaginative team that knows what perks will captivate Lugosi fans. The program begins with beautiful slipcase and deluxe clamshell editions of the biography, but also includes collector pieces licensed by Lugosi Enterprises that will only be available through the Kickstarter program. These items will be announced with the official launch of the Kickstarter.

Lynne Lugosi Sparks: After years of looking for a publisher to take on this project, which is very close to my heart, Robert Cremer and I were introduced by a friend to Hank Kanalz at Clover Press. After our first conversation, I knew we had found the right person and company to see our dream of publishing this biography through to the end. The Clover Press team combines professionalism and talent with a passion for their projects, and in our case, with a genuine interest in extending the legacy of Béla Lugosi, the man who has become an icon for his indelible portrayal of Dracula. We are excited to reveal the unique perks that Clover Press will offer to supporters of the Kickstarter. Fans and collectors are going to be thrilled with the beautiful deluxe editions of the book and the varied selection of special items that the Clover Press team has assembled. I am especially happy to showcase products which have not been offered as officially licensed merchandise until now.

Béla Lugosi: The Man Behind the Cape features a new foreword by Béla Lugosi, Jr. How important was it for you to get Béla Lugosi, Jr.’s blessing and include him in this biography about his father?

Robert Cremer: This no-holds-barred biography of Béla would not have been possible without the unconditional support of Bela, Jr., Lillian, and the relatives and friends they requested to cooperate with me in the writing of this book. The true story of Béla Lugosi could only be told by those who knew him intimately. Had I not received the support of the family, I would not have written the book. It is also important to note that “family-authorized” biographies of celebrities often convey a negative connotation ‒ that facts were withheld or altered to protect the subject of the biography. Lillian conveyed the purpose of this book best, when she said to me, “Bob, I want this book to be honest in every respect, because only the truth does justice to Béla’s values as a man and actor. Whitewashing the truth would be an insult to him.”

Ultimately, what do you hope readers take away from Béla Lugosi: The Man Behind the Cape?

Robert Cremer: Béla’s values as a human being, his drive for perfection in his profession and his uncompromising ethical standards are simply inspiring. He sacrificed family, wife and country for his principles in Budapest, and then risked them again in his involvement in the founding of the Screen Actors Guild in the U.S. His untiring commitment to righting injustices on behalf of actors and others, who were discriminated against, presents a compelling role model for readers. When Hollywood had abandoned him and Béla was near retirement age, he didn’t give up; he fought harder. Plagued by severe pains resulting from a WWI injury, he turned to drugs to alleviate the pain. Why? Because he did not want to disappoint his audiences with an interruption or the cancellation of a performance. No other actor can boast of the legion of younger fans that continue to be fascinated by Béla. His legacy, like Count Dracula, is immortal and indestructible. This message will definitely move readers and enhance their appreciation of the man behind the cape.

Lynne Lugosi Sparks: This honest, touching story of Bela Lugosi’s life reveals his successes and happy times woven into times of war, activism, personal struggles and a lifetime of hard work. This book will illuminate readers with Béla Lugosi’s dramatic life experiences and with details of his prolific professional career, and ultimately reveals a multifaceted human being. I believe readers will have a greater appreciation of the man who is best known as a Hollywood icon, and Dracula himself. It is a story that many will be pleasantly surprised to find is different than what they expected or thought they knew.

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Below, we have the official press release with additional details, and to learn more and support Béla Lugosi, The Man Behind the Cape, visit:

Press Release: (October 20, 2023) Béla Lugosi was more than just an actor; he was a cultural icon and a legend of the silver screen whose commanding presence, hypnotic voice, and mesmerizing gaze made him the embodiment of Count Dracula. Now acclaimed journalist and Lugosi expert Robert Cremer has written BÉLA LUGOSI: THE MAN BEHIND THE CAPE, a comprehensive and essential biography that features over 700 photographs, including many rare or never-before-seen family photos, letters, documents and historical artifacts curated by Lynne Lugosi Sparks of the Lugosi Family Archives, many of which have never before been published. The book, which is being crowdfunded on Kickstarter by Clover Press, also features an all-new foreword by Béla Lugosi, Jr. and an afterword by noted Lugosi historian Dr. Gary Rhodes.

BÉLA LUGOSI: THE MAN BEHIND THE CAPE includes exclusive interviews conducted with Lillian Lugosi Donlevy, Lugosi’s wife of 20 years, as well as his closest Hungarian relatives and friends. The biography explores the actor’s humble beginnings in Hungary; his political activism, which cost him his wife, family and almost his life; his harrowing transatlantic crossing to America; and his struggles to realize his dream of becoming a success on stage and on the silver screen. The book also provides compelling insight into the reasons for Béla’s decline into B-movie productions in Gower Gulch in the 1950s, with extensive interviews with Edward D. Wood, Jr. which unlock heretofore unknown background on Béla’s involvement in the filming of the cult classics Glen or Glenda, Bride of the Monster and Plan 9 from Outer Space.

BÉLA LUGOSI: THE MAN BEHIND THE CAPE provides unprecedented look into many aspects of Lugosi’s life, including:

• Why Béla enlisted in the army in 1914, when he could have been excused from military service.
• How Béla became a major union organizer in 1918 that catapulted him to fame and then to exile from his beloved Hungary.
• How a sailor and his cat saved Béla’s life during his transatlantic crossing to the U.S.
• Why Béla was not the first choice for the role of Count Dracula.
• Why Béla risked involvement in the founding of the Screen Actors Guild in Hollywood, given his near-fatal experience with union activism in Hungary.
• Who was really behind the ban on horror films in 1936.
• Why Béla’s film The Raven was a personal nightmare for the actor, despite being a box office hit.
• Why Béla risked his health repeatedly on cross-country barnstorming tours.
• What role fishhead stew played in Béla’s embarking on a second career with filmmaker Ed Wood.
• Why Béla asked his son not to drive him to his wedding ceremony with Hope Lininger.

Perfect for film buffs, horror aficionados and readers with a taste for the macabre, BÉLA LUGOSI: THE MAN BEHIND THE CAPE is now on Kickstarter. Visit the campaign here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/cloverpress/bela-lugosi-the-man-behind-the-cape-by-robert-cremer?ref=4a1sgn

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About Clover Press: Headed by IDW co-founders Ted Adams and Robbie Robbins, along with Matt Ruzicka and former DC executive Hank Kanalz, Clover Press publishes a wide variety of collected and original content ranging from re-mastered reprints of Terry and the Pirates and Dick Tracy, to horror graphic novels, and high-quality art books. Clover Press is working with a wide variety of creators including Kevin Eastman, Craig Yoe, Dean Mullaney, Steve Niles, Gabriel Rodriguez, Ruben Bolling, Timothy Truman, Jorge Coelho, Richard Bennett, Ricardo Delgado, Ray Troll, John K. Snyder III, Stewart Kenneth Moore, Aron Wiesenfeld, Alex Maleev, David Mack, David Nakayama, and more.

About Robert Cremer: Robert Cremer began his journalistic career as a syndicated columnist at the Hollywood Reporter in Hollywood. He later established the first university cable network at the University of California at Berkeley and directed the university FM radio station KALX there. He was a regular contributor to the entertainment section of the San Francisco Chronicle and was a feature writer for other newspapers on the West Coast. While in the U.S., he authored two books, Lugosi: The Man Behind the Cape and Orienteering with Map and Compass. Following his move to Germany in 1993, he authored a book in German, Die Geheimsprache des Blues, which he then translated into English ‒ The Secret Language of the Blues ‒ for distribution in the U.S. and other English-speaking countries. He currently lives in the Bavarian town of Bamberg, which has the densest concentration of beer breweries in the world. He attributes his continuing output in retirement to this fact alone.

About Lynne Lugosi Sparks: Lynne Lugosi Sparks is the granddaughter of Béla Lugosi and the CEO of Lugosi Enterprises. In the course of archiving and preserving the Lugosi family’s photos and memorabilia, she has also curated an extensive collection of Béla Lugosi’s work on film, including features, serials, and shorts, and coordinated the donation of these materials to the Béla Lugosi Collection at the Academy Film Archive. Along with her father, Béla Lugosi, Jr., she oversaw the transfer of Béla Lugosi’s iconic screen-worn cape from the Lugosi Family Collection to the Academy Museum. Managing the licensing of her grandfather’s name and likeness, she is proud to have established the Béla Lugosi brand, which features a large portfolio of highly sought-after, officially licensed products. Interacting with fans, artists and licensees is the most rewarding part of being a steward of her family’s heritage.