Mother Riley Meets the Vampire

I, too, first saw this film at the Classic Cinema in Hammersmith. And to me, it was hilarious. But for so many of us growing up in England, the Old Mother Riley films were always a definite treat so that it's not surprising that so many of them were made. And at the time, I'd never even heard of Bela Lugosi. There is no question that the humour in this film is understood best by those of us born and raised in England. And having lived in New York for many years, it's only in recent months that I finally saw, once again, the original version of the film. It's also remarkable for its fine cast of British character actors which includes the now legendary Dora Bryan who, after many years, remains unknown to Americans. I just don't think that Americans could ever truly appreciate or understand the full significance of this film and its importance as the final screen appearance of a British cinema legend. And yes, in the scene where a trolley bus is standing at a traffic light, it does, indeed, appear to be a 660 which I would have used to get home from the cinema after the film was over.

While the Mother Riley series (with star Arthur Lucan in drag as an old woman) was rarely outrageously funny, some films in the series nevertheless do manage to amuse and keep an audience's interest. This is one such film. The best bits here involve Bela Lugosi as a vampire who actually behaves more like a mad scientist and the Robot under his command who chases after poor ole Mrs. Riley. More a spoof on old British Scotland Yard films than anything else really. Not bad of its type.

This obscure British B-pic has to be seen to be believed. Ageing music hall entertainer Arthur Lucan ("Mother Riley") confronts a raddled and ill-looking Bela Lugosi, playing a master criminal who sleeps in his coffin and thinks he's a vampire. Lugosi, spoofing his own horror persona, is assisted by a sinister henchman called Hitchcock (!) and a silly-looking robot.

The film isn't particularly good but you keep on watching out of sheer bemusement, wondering what will crop up next. There's a song-and-dance routine in Old Mother Riley's shop, speeded-up chase sequences, a brief appearance from ex Will Hay "fat boy" Graham Moffat and, showing how social attitudes have changed, a running joke involving a drunk driver!

I couldn't believe it when I heard the above saying from Lucan's lips as he thanked a woman. Though the film hardly operates on the same level as Abbott and Costello meet Frankenstein, it passes an hour or two quite amiably. Bela is clearly happy to be back in front of a film camera for the first time in years - even a low budget British one - and he effortlessly conveys his old authority and a sense of fun - he comes across as an enjoyably hammy British version of a Batman TV Series supervillain. Lucan is relatively restrained in this outing compared to past ones. The splendid book VAMPIRE OVER London; BELA LUGOSI IN Britain indicates his personal troubles over his estranged partner Kitty Mcshane, and one can only wonder if this is the reason why. The duo's stage act usually climaxed in plate throwing and this is compensated for by a madcap crockery-crashing slapstick sequence with Bela's henchmen. Dora Bryan is a more than adequate foil for Lucan.

Editing necessary for MY SON THE VAMPIRE means we lose Lucan's one musical number early on in the film. Also, the romance between the kidnapped Loretti and her Naval officer is underplayed to say the least - he keeps getting bonked on the head by various characters. Graham Moffat is also missing from the print. The ending is curious in that we contrast Riley's madcap race to stop the Vampire enduring various crashes and appropriated forms of transport on the way while Von Houson is actually seen gunning down two constables - a bit strong for a juvenile comedy.

The immediate postwar period was a time of apprenticeship for celebrated British comedy stars like the Goons and Tony Hancock who were learning and honing their trade upon being demobbed from the army. By 1951, they were ready to take on the entertainment establishment and sweep aside the old stars like Lucan - in much the same way the Beatles and their ilk were ready in 1963 to change the face of the British music industry. The brief resurgence of popularity Lucan and Mcshane enjoyed prior to this film proved to be a last fling at glory. A whole new wave of innovative British comedy was ready to sweep them aside. Lucan was more truthful than he knew when - at the climax of this film - he sputters "This is the end!" Both Lucan and Lugosi were enjoying a last stab at greatness in an age where they were already anachronisms.

My Son the Vampire AKA Vampire Over London (1952) or "Old Mother Riley Meets the Vampire" (original title).

This is a cute comedy-horror film. We have Bela Lugosi as "the vampire" Von Housen, Arthur Lucan in drag as Mother Mrs. O'Riley and a robot controlled by "the vampire" Von Housen trying to take over the world. Mrs. O'Riley in her comical ways will try to help stop the vampire from world domination. What more do you want from a zany comedy?! Mrs. O'Riley has to give us a song and dance - which is kinda cute but certainly not the highlight of the film - I personally think the highlight is Lugosi and the robot - but that is my taste.

A fun film overall.

6/10