The Return of Dracula

I first saw this film when it was originally released in 1958 and it literally scared the hell out of me. Once I got significantly older and happened to see it available on video, I purchased it for old times sake. I was pleasantly surprised to see that it had lost not one iota of it's power! The casting of the suave Francis Lederer in the title role was a master stroke. It indeed does bring back memories of the superb "Shadow of a Doubt". Although a low budget entry, it still causes uneasiness to its viewers. Gerald Fried's eerie score is a plus too. It was largely overshadowed in 1958 by the "Horror of Dracula" (also a fine film as any Draculaphile would agree) but it deserves to be recognized as the fine chiller it is. i heartily recommend it to any fan of good thrillers.

Paul Landres directed this better-than-expected updating of the Dracula legend. Francis Lederer(quite good) plays Count Dracula, who flees his native land when vampire-hunters threaten him. He kills a Czech artist on a train, and assumes his identity as "Cousin Bellac", who visits the man's family in America, where he stays. Young Rachel Mayberry(played by Norma Eberhardt) becomes infatuated with her "cousin", who is both suave and mysterious, which makes her boyfriend jealous. Meanwhile, Dracula proceeds to seduce a local blind girl named Jenny, with tragic consequences, which climaxes with a pursuit in a spooky cave... Good horror tale cleverly uses the premise of "Shadow Of A Doubt" to fine effect, resulting in an atmospheric Halloween-setting, with a good score. Not a classic, but better than the title would suggest.

Trivia note: Lederer would "return" as Dracula in a fine episode of the "Night Gallery" TV series called 'The Devil Is Not Mocked'.

Plot-- A European vampire travels to America for fresh feeding grounds. While there he impersonates the relative of an average American family. In the process, he's drawn to the family's spirited daughter who's his assumed cousin. So what will happen now that the suburbanites have a new blood(y) relative with very strange habits.

Pretty good little programmer that benefits from interesting premise. Actor Lederer has a strong physical presence but unfortunately doesn't exude the evil of a Lee or Lugosi. Nor, for that matter, does he appear to be trying that hard. Thus his vampire is more a presence than evil. In my little book, it's really actress Eberhardt's charm and expressive range that carries the story. She gets the most screen time, while projecting personality into a rather fuzzily written ingénue part. The location photography of an average American neighborhood lends a touch of realism and is certainly a long way from the usual murky hilltop castle. But note that except for the brief scenes in the cavern, there's little spooky shadow to create mood. But then it's hard to work pervasive shadow into well-lit suburbia. So I guess Dracula needs his castle. Nonetheless, the lack of spooky lighting undercuts a needed mood of evil menace. Also, what's with that color flash of gory blood in an otherwise b&w flick. It's a needlessly disruptive effect that simply calls attention to the fact that this is a movie of uneven effects. Happily, the flick does manage to avoid the hokey, the usual pitfall of cheap horror productions. All in all, however, the 73-minutes may be imaginative but still fails to rise above programmer level.

One almost expects Ward, June, Wally and the Beav to visit too...Yes, this is an underrated masterpiece. "What? What did you say?" In the main title Dracula is shown standing still behind a three-stick candle...the "scene" reminds me of an icon in a Byzantine Catholic or Orthodox church...and what happens when Jennie is staked...Cousin Bellac temporarily reels and almost faints...reminds me of "Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers you do unto me"...and that line, "You will arise reborn in ME!"...there's a discernible anti-theology here and I hope whoever was responsible for it didn't believe it. But I'd not be surprised if there were a cult-especially in CA-which worships Dracula. The most chilling scene in the film is the scene in which Rachel is primping at the downstairs mirror, but-to me-the most chilling line of dialogue is the interchange between the pastor and Cousin Bellac concerning Rachel's charm, when Cousin Bellac says, "Why yes...I daresay she'd even charm the devil himself." Lederer-may he rest in peace-may have hated this film, but he turned in a truly great performance. Pity this film is so little credited.

Indeed this is a vampiric version of SHADOW OF A DOUBT. Nonetheless it is a fun romp and a tremendous performance by Francis Lederer as Count Dracula who has assumed the identity of Belloq Gordal, a Hungarian visiting his Southern California family. There is a wonderful "Dies Irae" score by Gerald Fried and excellent performances and atmosphere throughout. There is a color insert shot of the staking of a vampire woman that is also fun. This film is another in the Fifties canon of cult horror which deserves classic status of sorts. One can almost imagine Joseph Cotten in the titular role, though. The comparison between this film and SHADOW will be obvious, but who cares?