Foreign Language Version is a term for a film from the early talkie era (1929-1931) that was especially prepared for foreign markets. In the early days of sound films, it was common for Hollywood studios to produce foreign-language versions of their films using the same sets, costumes and so on. While many of these versions no longer exist, the Spanish-language version of Drácula is a notable exception.
The first foreign language versions began to be produced in 1929 and largely replaced the International Sound Version method for all major releases. The most common languages used for these productions were Spanish, French and German. Although quite a large number of these films were produced very few survive today. Some notable exceptions are the foreign language versions of Laurel & Hardy shorts, Charley Chase shorts, the Spanish version of "Charlie Chan Carries On" 1931, the Spanish version of "Pardon Us" 1931, Buster Keaton's Spanish version of "Free And Easy" 1930 (entitled "Estrellados"), the German version of Greta Garbo's "Anna Christie" 1931, the German and French versions of "The Big House" 1930, and the Spanish version of "The Lady Who Dared" 1931 ("La Dama Atrevida"), etc.
In 1931, dubbing and subtitling became perfected and this, along with the Great Depression, led to the demise of the foreign language version. It continued to be utilized for special deluxe pictures, such as the French version of "The Merry Widow" 1934 and the French version of "Folies Bergere" 1935, until the mid-1930s and then quietly disappeared.
List of Foreign Language Versions
| Title | Release Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| El alma de la fiesta | March 12, 1931 | Spanish version of Charley Chase short "Thundering Tenors" |
| Marido y mujer | February 22, 1932 | Spanish version of 1931 Fox feature "Bad Girl" |
| Cuerpo y alma | June 5, 1931 | Spanish version of 1931 Fox feature "Body and Soul" |
| Los calaveras | April 19, 1931 | Spanish version of Laurel and Hardy shorts "Be Big!" and "Laughing Gravy" |
| La carta | January 21, 1931 | Spanish version of 1929 Paramount feature "The Letter" |
| Eran Trece | December 4, 1931 | Spanish version of 1931 Fox feature "Charlie Chan Carries On" |
| El código penal | February 19, 1931 | Spanish version of 1931 Columbia feature "The Criminal Code" |
| Don Juan diplomático | February 13, 1931 | Spanish version of 1930 Universal feature "The Boudoir Diplomat" |
| Conoces a tu mujer? | September 11, 1931 | Spanish version of 1931 Fox feature "Don't Bet on Women" |
| Salga de la cocina | February 25, 1931 | Spanish version of 1930 Paramount feature "Honey" |
| Drácula | March 11, 1931 | Spanish version of 1931 Universal feature "Dracula" |
| En cada puerto un amor | March 27, 1931 | Spanish version of 1930 MGM feature "Way For A Sailor" |
| Esclavas de la moda | July 3, 1931 | Spanish version of 1930 Fox feature "Off Your Back" |
| La fiesta del diablo | February 11, 1931 | Spanish version of 1930 Paramount feature "The Devil's Holiday" |
| La fruta amarga | March 13, 1931 | Spanish version of 1930 MGM feature "Min and Bill" |
| El pasado acusa | October 14, 1931 | Spanish version of 1931 Columbia feature "The Good Bad Girl " |
| El impostor | April 17, 1931 | Spanish version of 1930 Fox feature "Scotland Yard" |
| La incorregible | March 17, 1931 | Spanish version of 1930 Paramount feature "Manslaughter" |
| La dama atrevida | March 20, 1931 | Spanish version of 1931 First National feature "The Lady Who Dared" |
| La llama sagrada | January 30, 1931 | Spanish version of 1929 Warner Bros. feature "The Sacred Flame" |