Midnite Movies Double Feature - The Return Of Dracula/The Vampire DVD

 Good 50's Horror Fun
As a kid in the 60's, I grew up seeing The Return of Dracula (under the title Curse of Dracula) on TV all the time and was so happy to find it on DVD. It still holds up very well, and although I wouldn't rate it up there with the early Hammer stuff, I thoroughly enjoy this film, and not just for nostalgic reasons. Watching it now, I only wish they'd made sequels. Francis Lederer was very good in a non-typical portrayal of Dracula. I don't recall having seen The Vampire in the past, so it was a very pleasant surprise. A mix of 50's sci-fi and vampire lore. If you like 50's monsters movies, you can't go wrong getting these two little-known gems at this great price.
Submitted by Petey (Rochester, NY, USA) 
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 Great Dracula Movie
I believe RETURN OF DRACULA and THE VAMPIRE were originally released as a double bill in 1957; they were made by the same company with most of the same personnel behind the camera. RETURN OF DRACULA is definitely the better of the two although both have only moderate production values. Francis Lederer is a suave, sinister Dracula and he dominates the feature with able assistance from beautiful Norma Eberhardt as the virginal heroine. THE VAMPIRE tells of a doctor (John Beal) who accidentally takes pills extracted from vampire bat serum and is turned into a blood sucking fiend. Although Coleen Gray and Kenneth Tobey give good suppport, the feature is only average. Overall, though, this is a double Halloween treat, but mainly for Dracula.
Submitted by aohar21 (Indianapolis, IN)
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 A Welcome return for Dracula
What a great double feature. Two vampire films for the price of one. "Return of Dracula" and "The Vampire". Both films made by the same studio, and both are cult classics. I've reviewed "The Vampire" before so I will concentrate on Dracula. The plot borrows from Hitchcocks " Shadow of a Doubt " . Dracula comes to america in the guise of a European relative and moves in with an american family. The family loves and adores him especially the young daughter, but Dracula is being tracked down by a Van Helsing character who is suspicious. An agent is sent to investigate but is disposed of when he takes a picture of Dracula. Even though its a hidden camera you can't catch the king of vampires off guard that way. Things begin to happen soon that make the daughter realize her cousin Bellac may not be who he says he is. Although the film is low budget it is still effective and Francis Lederer makes an excellent Dracula. My only complaint about this disc is it doesn't include the trailers to either movie, but on the plus side the picture and sound are excellent. "The Return of Dracula" is a welcome return for vampire fans everywhere.
Submitted by c gilman (deerfield beach, fl. usa)
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