The Return of Dracula [Blu-ray]

Director: Paul Landres Paul Landres

Overview

Originally released as The Return of Dracula (and also known by the irrelevant title The Fantastic Disappearing Man), this interesting vampire variant on Shadow of a Doubt finds the infamous Count (Francis Lederer) leaving his castle digs in Transylvania and departing for the United States after killing an artist and assuming his identity. Passing himself off as a distant relative, he settles in with the Mayberry family in California, where he begins seeking fresh victims. The suspicions of young Rachel Mayberry (Norma Eberhardt) regarding her pale visitor's eerie nocturnal habits prove well-founded after the mysterious death of her best friend, and she soon discovers her own ghastly role in the Count's master plan; her only hope lies with an expatriate police inspector, who may be familiar with the ways of the undead. Played refreshingly straight, this modest Universal production benefits from Lederer's compelling performance as the seductive Count and several unique plot twists (including a blind girl who becomes sighted on turning into a vampire).

Product Details

Release Date:	10/18/2016
UPC:	0887090128612
Original Release:	1958
Rating:	PG
Source:	Olive
Region Code:	A
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Mono]
Language:	English
Time:	1:18:00
Sales rank:	17,911

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Francis Lederer	Count Dracula, posing as Bellac Gordal
Norma Eberhardt	Rachel Mayberry
Ray Stricklyn	Tim Hansen
Jimmy Baird	Mickey,Mickey
Greta Granstedt	Cora
Virginia Vincent	Jennie
John Wengraf	Merriman
Gage Clark	Reverend
John McNamara	Sheriff Bicknell
Harry Harvey	Station Master
Hope Summers	Cornelia
Dan Gachman	County Clerk
Robert Lynn	Doctor
Gage Clarke	Whitfield
Gerald Fried	Composer

Technical Credits

Pat Fielder

Arthur Gardner	Producer
Paul Landres	Director
Jules V. Levy	Producer,Producer
Pat Fielder	Screenwriter

Editorial Reviews

The Curse of Dracula runs the risk of being a camp hoot-fest. After all, setting the notorious vampire loose in a 1950's-era small California town could have inspired an unintentionally hilarious travesty. So it's definitely to Curse's credit that the transfer for the most part is handled smoothly and works fairly well. Yes, there are some moments when the presence of this very period creature in another era causes a few smiles, but for the most part writer Pat Fielder and director Paul Landres keep the tone well in hand. Likely to be more bothersome to some viewers is the logic of a vampire heading to a small town to practice his "craft," as his presence in such a venue is likely to be more noticed and attract greater attention and danger to himself than if he were immersed in the anonymity of a large city. Aside from these reservations, however, there's not much to criticize in what is generally a superior horror flick. Francis Lederer is absolutely mesmerizing as Dracula, employing a style that has faint echoes of the great Lugosi without ever attempting to imitate him. Lederer holds the screen throughout, menacing or sensual as the moment calls for. The rest of the cast is good, if not in Lederer's league, and Landres directs with assurance and a nice bit of flair.

All Movie Guide - Craig Butler