The Vampire Bat (1933)

When the villagers of Klineschloss start dying of blood loss, the town fathers suspect a resurgence of vampirism. While police inspector Karl remains skeptical, scientist Dr. von Niemann ... See full summary »

Director:

Frank R. Strayer

Writer:

Edward T. Lowe Jr. (screen story)

Stars:

Lionel Atwill, Fay Wray, Melvyn Douglas

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Lionel Atwill	...	Dr. Otto von Niemann
Fay Wray	...	Ruth Bertin
Melvyn Douglas	...	Karl Brettschneider
Maude Eburne	...	Aunt Gussie Schnappmann
George E. Stone	...	Kringen
Dwight Frye	...	Herman Gleib
Robert Frazer	...	Emil Borst
Rita Carlyle	...	Martha Mueller (as Rita Carlisle)
Lionel Belmore	...	Bürgermeister Gustave Schoen
William V. Mong	...	Sauer
Stella Adams	...	Georgiana
Harrison Greene	...	Weingarten

Storyline

When the villagers of Klineschloss start dying of blood loss, the town fathers suspect a resurgence of vampirism. While police inspector Karl remains skeptical, scientist Dr. von Niemann cares for the vampire's victims one by one, and suspicion falls on simple-minded Herman Gleib because of his fondness for bats. A blood-thirsty mob hounds Gleib to his death, but the vampire attacks don't stop.

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Plot Keywords:

police | death | police inspector | blood | bat | 

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Taglines:

These are the TALONS of The Vampire Bat (original ad)

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Genres:

Drama | Horror | Mystery | Romance | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 January 1933 (USA)

Also Known As:

Blood Sucker

Filming Locations:

Bronson Caves, Bronson Canyon, Griffith Park - 4730 Crystal Springs Drive, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Majestic Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

65 min 64 min (2005 restoration) 65 min (copyright length)

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Photophone System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

German certificate: -8 (video rating)

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Quotes

Karl Brettschneider: Goodnight, gentlemen. Don't let the vampires get you.

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Connections

Featured in 100 Years of Horror: Blood-Drinking Beings (1996)

User Reviews

Neglected minor classic

This was made by a minor ,Poverty Row studio but it stands up well alongside other more lavish Universal productions from around the same time and has a pretty decent cast that provides a touch of quality in the acting department. The title is a misnomer as the evil that bedevils the remote Central European town turns out to be human in origin although the inhabitants of the town firmly believe that the exsanguinated bodies turning up all over the place are the work of vampires .They hound a simple minded young man ,Herman ,( movingly played by Dwight Frye ) to his death claiming he is the culprit while the real villain is unmasked shortly after his death. Neat performances from Lionel Attwill as the town doctor ,Melvyn Douglas as the sceptical local policeman and the aforementioned Mr Frye compensate for a wan and colourless Fay Wray as the love interest and the tedious comic relief of Maude Elune as a bossy old maiden Aunt prone to fits of the vapours .

Its ingredients will be familair to lovers of the vintage horror picture and we get many of the scenes that were a staple of the genre--superstitious villagers wielding torches ,a crazed man of science and the debate between science and folklore but it is expertly welded together and never oustays its welcome