The great Bela Lugosi reprises the role of a Romanian vampire but due to legal reasons instead of him once again playing Dracula he is now one Armand Tesla, complete with black cape etc. There are many vampire movies that don't feature a Dracula so in my book that's fine, indeed if anything it makes it just that little bit more interesting. Set in London this starts off in 1918 and Tesla is staked through the heart, he has a werewolf called Andrea as a servant but with the vamp "dead" Andrea's curse is lifted. This monster twosome is really quite enjoyable though the werewolf isn't the type that only changes during a Full Moon and he looks a bit more pet dog than wolf. The transformation effects of man to 'wolf and Dracula's - I mean Tesla's - inevitable demise are pretty good for the time. Move on to 1941 (?) and during a German bombing raid (some real life footage is used) Tesla's coffin is disturbed and a pair of comedy gravediggers/attendants pull the metal stake out of his heart, reviving him - and he wants revenge! I'm a big Lugosi fan and he's great fun to watch here, he is Dracula in all but name. Set in London but shot in the US there are the inevitable Americans trying but failing to sound English, thankfully there are some genuine Brits amongst the cast. I love old classic black and white horror movies and the many cemetery scenes here with swirling mists and crooked gravestones drool atmosphere. The modest 69 minutes pass quickly enough and the finale is rewarding. I have watched this film a few times now and would certainly watch it again, lights out late at night.
Review of The Return of the Vampire
