THE RETURN OF DRACULA
US, 1958, 77 minutes, Black-and-white/Colour.
Francis Lederer, Norma Eberhardt, Ray Stricklyn, John Wengraf, Virginia Vincent, Gage Clarke, Rita Granstedt.
Directed by Paul Landres.
1958 saw the emergence of Britain’s Hammer Studios and the production of a series of horror films, especially focusing on Frankenstein and Dracula.
Meanwhile, in the United States, this small film with an update of Dracula’s survival in Europe, his decision to move to the United States, to set up his coven there, was overshadowed. However, it plays quite well and has something of a cult reputation.
Czech actor, Francis Lederer, who came to the United States in the 1930s, looks the part of an ageing Dracula – wearing a suit and hat, a cloak, contemporary yet old world. He murders an artist during a train ride and assumes his identity, coming to live in a small Californian town with the artist’s family who accept him. He is sinister and singular but accepted.
We see him pursue a blind girl and transform her, later turning her into a wolf to attack an investigator. He also has his eye on the young daughter in the house, Rachel played by Norma Eberhardt. Rachel is being wooed by Tim, the young man next door.
The tone of the film is set by the opening where the vampire hunter and a group of people approaching a mausoleum to put a stake through Dracula’s heart – but he is gone. The vampire hunter then comes to the United States, gets the help of the local police, of the local Reverend, putting a stake through the heart of the blind girl (with the famous brief colour shot of red blood – which is present in the You-tube version). However, Dracula hypnotising Rachel, takes her to an abandoned mine where he has a coffin to rest in, but in the struggle with Tim, he falls into a pit and is impaled.
In a way, something of a relief from the traditional Dracula film.
1. The literary tradition of Dracula stories? History? The cinema history? By the late 1950s? Hammer Studios and subsequent series? Other versions?
2. This version as an updating of the Dracula story? Presupposing audience knowledge? The count? The living dead? Day in the coffin? Roaming at night? Drinking blood? Seeking women? Hypnotic powers? Vindictive?
3. The opening, the vampire hunter, the police, the monk? Going to the mausoleum? Opening the coffin? Dracula gone?
4. The artist, leaving his family, the American connections and hopes? On the train? Dracula reading the newspaper? The attack? Killing the artist? His papers and identity?
5. Dracula in the US, the train trip, Carleton California? The family eager to welcome him? The past contacts, letters, the art? Cora and her welcome, Rachel and Michael, Tim as the boy next door in love with Rachel? His sinister waiting at the station, travelling home with them?
6. The typical American family, the apple pie family! Cora and her running of the household, the doctor, pastor of the parish, the visit and his meal? Kindness? Rachel, her age, dress designing? Mickey, Young and mischievous? Tim always in the house?
7. Dracula as cousin Bellac, his room, removing the mirror, talk with Rachel, her being mesmerised?
8. The opening, the incident with the cat, the mine, the accident? Dracula returning to the mine, his coffin? Sleeping there?
9. His clothes, his look, not sociable? The family making allowances? Invitations? To the party?
10. The blind girl, Dracula and his pursuit, the drama of his killing her, in the mausoleum? Raising her? His enmity towards the investigator? Transformation to the wolf, killing the investigator?
11. The vampire hunter and the investigator, their visiting the town? Interviews with police? The help of the Reverend Doctor? The police and the interrogation of Dracula, his papers, ensuring all the questions?
12. The visit to the mausoleum, the dead girl, the stake through her heart – and the spurt of blood in colour and audience response?
13. Dracula, his hypnotising Rachel, wanting her to move the cross?
14. The party, the dress competition, Tim and his behaviour, Rachel and her reactions, going back to Dracula, the hypnosis? Tim and the attempts to rescue her?
15. Going to the abandoned mine, Dracula’s hold over Rachel, Tim and his struggle – and Dracula falling into the pit and impaled, dissolving to skeleton form?
16. The film overshadowed the time by Hammer Studios? Its reputation in retrospect?
