The Return of the Vampire (1944)

Director:

Lew Landers

Writers:

Randall Faye (additional dialogue)
Griffin Jay (writer)

Release Date:

1 January 1944 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Horror

Tagline:

BEAUTY at the mercy of a MONSTER!

Plot:

During the London Blitz an errant German bomb unearths a vampire causing the stake in his heart to dislodge.

Plot Keywords:

Vampire | WWII | Revenge | London Blitz | Monster

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)

Bela Lugosi	...	Armand Tesla / Dr. Hugo Bruckner
Frieda Inescort	...	Lady Jane Ainsley
Nina Foch	...	Nicki Saunders
Miles Mander	...	Sir Frederick Fleet
Roland Varno	...	John Ainsley
Matt Willis	...	Andreas Obry

Runtime:

69 min | Argentina:70 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Certification:

USA:TV-PG | Argentina:16 | Chile:18 | USA:Approved (PCA #9643)

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

The text of Tesla's book as shown is: "THE SUPERNATURAL AND ITS MANIFESTATIONS By Dr. Armand Tesla. From the beginning of time, man has been troubled by the uncertainty of death and by the rare and horrible manifestations which occur at intervals in which the dead are known to return from their grave. Such people are known as vampires or werewolves. Scientific men throughout the ages have endeavored to delve into the mystery that has baffled them The most ancient writings have mentioned this strange phenomenon and it has always left the writer baffled. It is a known certainty that these beings do do return to earth and have been known to attack humans. They have at times left horrible marks of their visits. The victim of such an attack by the un-dead insists upon the memory of a horrible dream, or nightmare. In addition, there are lacerations about the size of pin-pricks, on the throat and an almost total absence of blood in the body. They strike with such suddenness that it has been impossible to locate their coming and going and it is usually a case of sudden death to the unfortunate victim. Some tribes have recorded the visits of these beings and scientific research has revealed them to be beyond the realm of superstition. From the beginning of time..." (text begins repeating at this point.)

Goofs:

Incorrectly regarded as goofs: While it is stated that Andreas is a werewolf, no explanation is given as to how or why he transforms without benefit of a full moon. However, this story appears to incorporate a different version of the werewolf legend, in which Andreas' transformations occur only when Tesla has control over his mind and therefore don't have anything to do with a full moon.

Quotes:

Armand Tesla: I sleep... during the day. I am not to be disturbed... during the day.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Sanford and Son: The TV Addict (#5.17)" (1976)

Good escapism

If you're looking for a movie that will give you some good, old fashioned, escapism and not try to preach to or lecture you, you will enjoy this movie. Lugosi, with the aid of Andreas (his werewolf assistant) is once again trying to capture the heart and soul of a young woman. But, the young womans' soon to be mother-in-law is on to Lugosis' plot and a real battle royale is soon underway. This is a down to earth, old time vampire movie which takes place during the WW II years. Enjoy it for what it is and don't take it too seriously. IMHO, the walking, talking, sharp dressing vampire assistant is one of the best parts of the story. Andreas has a real inner conflict while trying to decide whether to help his evil vampire master or to help the heroine rid the earth of this monster.