Hey_Sweden

This obviously minor horror flick from micro-budget outfit PRC is still a good deal of fun, especially for fans of the actors. The great George Zucco ("The Mad Ghoul") is front and center as twin brothers, one good and one evil (naturally). The good brother is kindly town doctor Lloyd Clayton, the evil sibling is sorcerer Elwyn Clayton, who comes back from the dead as a vampire. Elwyn proceeds to put the bite on their lovely niece (the appealing Mary Carlisle ("The Sweetheart of Sigma Chi")).

Although the story here is patently routine, director Sam Newfield ("The Mad Monster") still generates decent atmosphere; the film has good graveyard scenes. But the main value lies with the cast. Zucco is wonderful as always, especially as Elwyn (you can tell he's having fun with this role). Nedrick Young (future screenwriter of "The Defiant Ones" and "Inherit the Wind") is earnest as the nieces' love interest. Fern Emmett ("Cinderella Swings It") is fun as local eccentric Kate, who definitely knows the score when it comes to Elwyn. And last but never least, there's the incomparable Dwight Frye of "Dracula" fame playing another of *his* patented crazed characters. (Sadly, this was among his final credits; he died of a heart attack at age 44 the year this picture was released.)

If it *weren't* for this group of actors, "Dead Men Walk" might still have been entertaining, but it would be a lot less notable.

Six out of 10.

"Dracula, Prisoner of Frankenstein" is a so-so monster mash from the prolific Euro-cult filmmaker Jess Franco. Dr. Seward (a bland Alberto Dalbes) eliminates Count Dracula (Howard Vernon) once and for all - or so he thinks. Dr. Frankenstein (a bored-looking Dennis Price) soon shows up to resurrect the vampire, and turn him loose so that Dr. F can have an army of vampires to command.

For me, there wasn't much that was excessively tacky about this opus; at least, I was able to take it seriously enough (although the excellent music score by Bruno Nicolai & Daniel White may have played a big part in that). There was just nothing particularly *interesting* here; it felt like just about everybody involved was just going through the motions. That is, except maybe for Genevieve Robert as the gypsy who cares for Seward when he almost perishes.

Throw in a "Frankenstein monster" (Fernando Bilbao) and a werewolf (Brandy) who only shows up at the end, and there's something here that is watchable enough, but pretty easy to forget.

Five out of 10.