The Return of Dracula/The Vampire
by Paul Landres
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Actor: Francis Lederer, John Wengraf, Norma Eberhardt, Ray Stricklyn, Virginia VincentDirector: Paul Landres
Brand: Sony
Cinematographer: Jack MacKenzie
Editor: John Faure
Editor: Sherman A. Rose
Producer: Arnold Laven
Producer: Arthur Gardner
Producer: Jules V. Levy
Writer: Pat Fielder
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language)
Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.85:1
Running Time: 153 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2007-09-11
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
DVD Reviews of The Return of Dracula/The Vampire
DVD Review: Forgotten Classics that are perfect for a stormy night.
Summary: 4 Stars
I recall watching these two classic horror films on either Saturday night's Creature Feature or Saturday morning's equivalent and I enjoyed them every time I viewed them.
"The Return of Dracula" is by far the better film as a whole. The story of Dracula arriving in the states as a long lost European relative with "unusual" mannerisms is atmospherically filmed and solidly directed. Frances Lederer to sublimely perfect as Dracula and the supporting cast is terrific too. The film deals with surprisingly interesting themes outside of vampirism, such as longing to see and experience the outside world, what would be willing to exchange to overcome a handicap (blindness in this tale), ethnocentric conduct, and family loyality. For a 1950's film it is also surprisingly graphic with a staking in the heart that shifts the film from black and white to color with blood splashing on the camera lens to the terrific death of Dracula at the end which is my favorite of all Dracula slayings. Those two scenes are not for the faint of heart, even by today's standards.
Now, "The Vampire" is the weaker of the two overall, but better acted and a bizarre twist on vampire folklore. John Beal plays a local family doctor who is accidentally poisoned by his own young daughter when she mixes up the pills he asks for when he has a headache. Unfortunately, she gives him the pills he picked up from a dead patient who was experimenting with vampire bats. The story then shifts to more of Jekyll and Hyde horror tale than a vampire one as he becomes a monster periodically while addicted to the pills. Even when no longer on the pills he becomes a monster. I sense a subplot about chemical dependency in this tight little tale that is short on thrills, but long on story and acting.
This film relies much more on the actors and the scenes with John Beal and his nurse and with his daughter as they are very sensitively done. I was truly touched by a number of scenes. I think you will be very surprised at just how well acted this film is by all participants. Sadly, the make up is rather silly and takes away from the potential shock value the story could have had if the make up was done better.
No matter how you slice it, either film still holds up very well today and if you are a horror fan, you won't regret finding a place on your shelf for these oldies, but goodies.
06/08
Steve Hedge
Description of The Return of Dracula/The Vampire
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