Return of the Vampire (1944)

60% of critics liked it
(5 reviews)
36% of users liked it
(180 ratings)

He looks like Dracula, talks like Dracula and dresses like Dracula; but since the movie rights to Dracula were controlled by Universal, Bela Lugosi's character name is Armand Tesla in Columbia's Return of the Vampire. Bringing the Old Legend up to date, the film contrives to have the blood-sucking… More He looks like Dracula, talks like Dracula and dresses like Dracula; but since the movie rights to Dracula were controlled by Universal, Bela Lugosi's character name is Armand Tesla in Columbia's Return of the Vampire. Bringing the Old Legend up to date, the film contrives to have the blood-sucking Tesla rise from his coffin when his tomb is blasted open during the London Blitz. Making up for lost time (he's been interred since WW1), Tesla enlists the aid of talking werewolf Andreas (Matt Willis), who brings him provisions and seeks out new victims. The next soft white neck on Tesla's list belongs to the lovely Nicki Saunders (Nina Foch), but not if Lady Jane Ainsley (Frieda Inescort), who knows what the mysterious stranger is really up to, has anything to say about it. Incidentally, the girl playing Tesla's victim in the opening credits is an unbilled Jeanne Bates. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 9 min.
Directed By: Lew Landers
Genres: Classics, Horror

On DVD: Aug 13, 2002

Critic Reviews

Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
Set during WWII, the film tries to combine wartime propaganda and horror.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
One of Bela Lugosi's better later day roles since he played Dracula in the 1930s for Universal.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
A straightforward -- almost by-the-numbers -- vampire movie, and one that stays on something like a high school level of horror, but with a strong Lugosi performance.
Forrest Hartman, Reno Gazette-Journal
This one's a winner for those who like old gothic horror films.

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Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

Dracula (Lugosi) returns from being staked in the end of the last film, which really isn't supposed to be able to happen, but the writers wanted to make a sequel, so ta-da! The story is stupid and disappointing to the fans, but Lugosi gives a pretty good performance anyway.