I agree with your assessment of the Karloff actor. The events of "ed Wood" however, were grossly misrepresented, and Forry Ackerman as well as others took issue with Burton's "creative license" with regards to bela's final years, and use of language.
Let's be a little clearer, just for the un-initiate's sake. Lugosi wasn't some side street junkie, stalking dives seeking his fix. He injured his back and leg in the war, while serving in Hungary's ski patrol. His pain associated with his injuries became worse as he got older, prompting the use of demerol for pain. He became addicted. He checked himself into a clinic, and was the first celebrity to do so.
There are hundreds of thousands of people worldwide who take medications prescribed for them everyday by doctors (for pain) who are dependent upon the medication for quality of life. Bela just became too dependent. It's sad, but its been overly sensationalized over the years and seems to be the only aspect of his life people want to focus on.
How about this...Bela died with nothing. Frank Sinatra, moved with compassion for Lugosi and his family, paid for Bela's funeral. All of it. He never even met him. Bela made, and continues to make, a great impact on people from all walks of life. He is probably more beloved by me than even Karloff. Just because everyone chewed him up, spat him out and took advantage of his lack of the being able to fully understand the English language....but he still shrugged it all off and lived his life, and left a great mark on cinema. The mark of the vampire.
A man who was a Family man, A man who gave SO much to charities. A man who took the time out of his days to see disabled children in hospitals.
I did not know Bela died with no money.
