The Return of the Vampire
by Lew Landers, Kurt Neumann
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Bela Lugosi, Frieda Inescort, Miles Mander, Nina Foch, Roland VarnoDirector: Kurt Neumann, Lew Landers
Brand: Sony
DVD: Region Code 99
Audio: English (Original Language)
Format: Black & White, Closed-captioned, DVD-Video, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 69 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2002-08-13
Audience Rating: Unrated
Studio: Sony Pictures
Movie Reviews of The Return of the Vampire
Movie Review: B?la Is Back!
Summary: 4 Stars
During the 1930s and 1940s, Universal Studios had a string of hits with horror films. Most of these films went on to become classics, mainly because of the presence of three actors: B?la Lugosi, Boris Karloff, and Lon Chaney, Jr.. Universal was then imitated by many other studios that tried to capitalize on the success of these iconic horror films, but typically the results were disastrous. There were, however, a few noteworthy exceptions. In the Columbia Pictures film, The Return of the Vampire, B?la Lugosi once again played a bloodsucker, though this time in World War II England. His role as Armand Tesla is almost identical to the role he played in Dracula, which was the classic film from Universal that spawned the horror movie craze. Along with B?la Lugosi playing the archetypal vampire, there is also a reluctant werewolf, and a chase seen through a fog-enshrouded cemetery; all of these things, which could be attributed to the Universal Monster cycle of films. Unlike most attempts at recreating the atmosphere of the Universal films, The Return of the Vampire succeeds on most levels. The acting is of the same style and quality of the Universal films and look of the sets and costumes is very close to those films. The film so closely resembles the horror films of Universal that I'm surprised that the Universal Studios didn't sue for plagiarism. Luckily they did not.
During the air raids in London a vampire named Armand Tesla is accidentally resurrected after a bomb blast disturbs his coffin. He sets out to destroy those responsible for his temporary demise twenty-three years earlier. Tesla targets the offspring of his assailants, Lady Jane and Professor Saunders. He once again calls upon his slave, the reluctant werewolf Andr?as to help him carry out his insidious plans. But little does Tesla realize that in his absence, Lady Jane has been teaching Andr?as to resist his master's hypnotic powers. As Tesla takes his revenge, Lady Jane is forced to consider the possibility that only through sacrificing her son, John and Professor Saunders' granddaughter, Nikki will they be able to stop Tesla from spreading his plague of death and vampirism. But can Armand Tesla be thwarted?
While B?la Lugosi's performance is by no stretch of the imagination groundbreaking, viewers will delight in seeing him once again playing a Count Dracula-like vampire. The cast also includes Nina Foch, who later would famously declare that she hated horror films.
While the plot is not that dissimilar from other horror films of the time, it is interesting to see a B-movie address the war, even if they merely exploit it as a plot device. Most films intentionally avoided the subject for fear of depressing audiences further.
It's also fascinating to take note that Lugosi's costume is almost exactly the same as the one he wore in Dracula, and some film historians have even suggested that the costume he wore was that from the 1927 stage play of Dracula.
Despite it's predictable plot and hammy acting, The Return of the Vampire is a must-have for horror fans, if not for its story then for its star, B?la Lugosi. Another reason for adding this often-overlooked film to your collection is its novel ending. After seeing the disintegrated corpse of the vampire, a skeptical police investigator turns toward the camera and actually asks viewers if they believe in the existence of vampires. Priceless!
Also recommended:
Dracula: The Legacy Collection
Frankenstein: The Legacy Collection
The Wolf Man: The Legacy Collection
Hollywood's Legends of Horror Collection
The Val Lewton Horror Collection
Summary of The Return of the Vampire
Bela Lugosi stars as a vampire stalking the streets of World War II London when German bombing releases vampire Armand Tesla (Lugosi) from his grave. Aided by a werewolf named Andreas (Matt Willis) and opposed by Lady Jane (Frieda Inescort) who operates an asylum Tesla goes in search of young ladies to supply him with blood.System Requirements:Running Time: 69 Min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre:?HORROR Rating:?NR UPC:?043396078727Horror DVD Video
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