Le Retour de Dracula

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.

Posing as a foreign relative, Count Dracula moves to an idyllic 1950s American town to look for a fresh batch of victims. Other than the odd hours he tends to keep, the family he's moved in with doesn't suspect anything out of the ordinary. They explain away his eccentricities to either being tired or his European heritage. But a couple of unusual deaths in the small town catch the eye and attention of an investigator hot on Dracula's trail. Can he track down Dracula before anyone else dies?

I've got to agree with several of the other comments on IMDb - The Return of Dracula is one spooky and fun little movie. It's also a real under-seen gem from the 50s that deserves a much wider audience. The movie's got a lot more atmosphere going for it than most of the other, cheaply made, b-type films of the period. Francis Lederer is suave and creepy enough to pull off the role of Bellac Gordal aka Dracula. There were at least two instances where I nearly jumped out of my skin as the camera panned to find Lederer. The score is another contributing factor to the eeriness of the movie. It hits all the right notes (pun intended). But my favorite moment in The Return of Dracula has to be the staking scene. It may go by quickly, but it's awesome. I won't spoil for those who haven't seen it, so I'll just say that it's one of those unexpected moments that make discovering these oddball 50s movies such a blast.

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.

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'.

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.