Il bacio dello spettro

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?

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.

With Dracula coming to live with a nice normal family in a small town in California, there's a trace of "Shadow of a Doubt" in the design of the story. He arrives by train (a la Joseph Cotten) in the person of FRANCIS LEDERER who has fled from Europe.

He's given a cordial welcome from the family and then the fun begins. The daughter seems to have the Teresa Wright role as the cousin who admires her uncle but senses something strange about him. Dracula keeps his distance from her. When invited to a Halloween party, he declares: "I have no social graces for large gatherings." Nevertheless, suspense builds as a series of incidents arise behind which we know he has played a part.

Lederer plays the part with such sinister glances that it's a wonder nobody in the household suspects anything except the girl's cynical boyfriend. The ending in the cave makes for a suitable climax to the story.

Summing up: Not quite as chilling as any of the Dracula films with Bela Lugosi, but still above average low-budget thriller.

Count Dracula (Francis Lederer) flees the forces of vampire hunter Meierman (John Wengraf), a modern day Van Helsing, and murders a local named Bellac (Norbert Schiller) who's headed for America to visit his cousins, assuming the other mans' identity. The American branch of the family is a little perplexed by his odd behaviour, but not enough to actively question it until Meierman turns up determined to finish what he started.

"The Return of Dracula" was another collaboration for screenwriter Pat Fielder and director Paul Landres, who'd previously done another genre film, "The Vampire". As such, it's basically a routine B movie, but not badly done at all. In fact, Landres and crew do give this movie a respectable amount of atmosphere; the scenes with Dracula are always the best. The sharp featured Lederer is a fine choice for the role, as he has an undeniable intensity and presence. The opening credits sequence is nice and creepy as it plays out over a shot of the Count where only his eyes are lit. Anytime the Count is out to seduce his "cousin" Rachel (beautiful Norma Eberhardt), or her pretty, appealing friend Jennie (Virginia Vincent), or emerging from his coffin, the movie is fun in the true old school tradition, with a music score by Gerald Fried that uses the classic "Dies Irae" theme. The cave is a fine location, where Dracula can put his coffin, and in which to stage the climax. It's always cool when the camera pans to show Dracula is present in a scene, although the filmmakers would have done better to refrain from obvious musical stings when this happens.

The capable acting from the supporting cast helps, with Wengraf an earnest vampire hunter, Greta Granstedt as Rachels' unknowing mother Cora, Ray Stricklyn as Rachels' would be boyfriend Tim, Gage Clarke as the Reverend Doctor Whitfield, Robert Lynn as Dr. Paul Beecher, and Charles Tannen as Bryant, the man from Immigration.

One of the best overall elements to enjoy in "The Return of Dracula" is that for a movie almost entirely shot in black & white, the brief burst of red when blood seeps out of a staked victim is a real visual treat. It's an effectively tight and trim little movie with an amusing, somewhat unpredictable ending, and is worth a look.

Seven out of 10.

I picked up The Return of Dracula on a whim for $5 at The Warehouse, expecting it to be a silly old B-movie. What a surprise I got.

I usually can't stand vampire movies (George Romero's Martin is my idea of a really good one), but this is one of the best I've seen. Visually, it's stylish and atmospheric. The script is above average. The music is effective, if a little pompous and overbearing at times. What makes the movie really click, though, is Francis Lederer as Dracula. His portrayal of fangface is as good as any I've ever seen.

The rest of the cast are competent, which makes them well above average for this sort of thing. The famed colour insert was present in my cheapo copy, which made up for the somewhat dodgy sound quality. Some of the scare scenes hold up quite well even 40+ years on. I'd recommend Return of Dracula highly to anyone who enjoys classy old B&W horror.