Mother Riley Meets the Vampire (1952)

Director:

John Gilling

Writer:

Val Valentine (writer)

Release Date:

1952 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Horror

Plot:

The mysterious figure known as the Vampire comes to England to complete experiments in his mad bid to gain control of the world...

Plot Keywords:

Vampire | Constable | Sequel | Crossover | Police Officer

Cast

Arthur Lucan	...	Mrs. Riley
Bela Lugosi	...	Von Housen
Dora Bryan	...	Tilly
Philip Leaver	...	Anton Daschomb
Richard Wattis	...	Police Constable Freddie
Graham Moffatt	...	Yokel (as Graham Moffat)
María Mercedes	...	Julia Loretti
Roderick Lovell	...	Douglas
David Hurst	...	Mugsy
Judith Furse	...	Freda
Ian Wilson	...	Hitchcock, the butler
Hattie Jacques	...	Mrs. Jenks
Dandy Nichols	...	Humphrey's Wife
George Benson	...	Humphrey the Drunk
Bill Shine	...	Mugsy's Assistant

Also Known As:

Dracula's Desire
Mother Riley Runs Riot
My Son, the Vampire (USA)
Old Mother Riley Meets the Vampire
The Robot and the Vampire (USA) (pre-release title)
The Vampire and the Robot (USA) (pre-release title)
Vampire Over London (USA)

Runtime:

74 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Not Rated | UK:U

Company:

Fernwood Productions

Trivia:

This was the only film in the "Old Mother Riley" series in which Arthur Lucan's longtime partner and wife, Kitty McShane, did not appear as Mrs Riley's daughter. Lucan and McShane had a very bitter separation in 1951.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: Head of film crewman clearly visible at left bottom of screen as robot enters Mother Riley's bedroom.

Quotes:

Tilly: [about the coffin] There may be a mummy in there.
Mrs. Riley: Oh mummy mummy, open up it's daddy.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Dracula: A Cinematic Scrapbook (1991)

Soundtrack:

I Hold Up My Finger and I Say Tweet Tweet

Lugosi Has A Good Time In This Horror/Comedy

MORD39 RATING: ** out of ****

As a kid I recall laughing hysterically at this comical film; as an adult I don't know what was so funny, although I still manage a grin here and there.

Bela Lugosi had to make this film in England in 1952 because he needed the money for his ticket back home. He went to Britain to revive his famous DRACULA play, but was stuck there when it bombed and the actor couldn't scrape up enough cash to sail to America! This film helped him get back on his feet, although almost nobody has a kind word for it.

The film is "okay", and it's Bela's best fifties flick if for no reason other than that he appears to be having fun and really getting into his character (a criminal who acts like a vampire but isn't really one). He's even funny in a few scenes.

Mother Riley (Arthur Lucan in drag) had a long-running comedy series of his (her) own, and this one was the last. Lucan is amusing some of the time as well, getting involved in Lugosi's mad plans for world domination.

The bottom line is that if you know what to expect, you can have a fun time with this movie. And for Bela Lugosiphiles, it's a MUST.