One of a pair of Low-budget B-movies made by Columbia in 1943 (the other being CRY OF THE WEREWOLF) this film has always been a bit of a favourite of mine when I'm in one of my
less demanding moods. Of course, it stars Bela Lugosi, which is a plus for any horror film, as a vampire named Armand Tesla (didn't David Bowie play his brother Nikola in the recent THE PRESTIGE?) who is Dracula in all but name. Another plus is a nice werewolf played by Matt Willis who is a sort of low-rent Lon Chaney Jr. The hapless victim is Nina Foch (who was the werewolf in CRY OF THE WEREWOLF) and the disbelieving Scotland Yard detective is the ever reliable Miles Mander. All in all it's a nice little programmer with good sets and some atmospheric photography. It's directed by Lew Landers (who had helmed the 1935 THE RAVEN at Universal) based on a story by Kurt Nuemann who would later go on to direct THE FLY. Rating ***
less demanding moods. Of course, it stars Bela Lugosi, which is a plus for any horror film, as a vampire named Armand Tesla (didn't David Bowie play his brother Nikola in the recent THE PRESTIGE?) who is Dracula in all but name. Another plus is a nice werewolf played by Matt Willis who is a sort of low-rent Lon Chaney Jr. The hapless victim is Nina Foch (who was the werewolf in CRY OF THE WEREWOLF) and the disbelieving Scotland Yard detective is the ever reliable Miles Mander. All in all it's a nice little programmer with good sets and some atmospheric photography. It's directed by Lew Landers (who had helmed the 1935 THE RAVEN at Universal) based on a story by Kurt Nuemann who would later go on to direct THE FLY. Rating ***