The Return of Dracula (1958)

Director:

Paul Landres

Writer:

Pat Fielder (original screenplay)

Release Date:

April 1958 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

DRACULA-The Most Terrifying Name in the History of the World

Plot:

After a vampire leaves his native Balkans, he murders a Czech artist, assumes his identity, and moves in with the dead man's American cousins.

Plot Keywords:

Cousin | Dracula | Train | Vampire | Dual Identity

Cast

Francis Lederer	...	Count Dracula, posing as Bellac Gordal
Norma Eberhardt	...	Rachel Mayberry
Ray Stricklyn	...	Tim Hansen
Jimmy Baird	...	Mickey Mayberry (as Jimmie Baird)
Greta Granstedt	...	Cora Mayberry
Virginia Vincent	...	Jennie Blake
John Wengraf	...	John Meiermann
Gage Clarke	...	Doctor Rev. Whitfield
John McNamara	...	Sheriff Bicknell
Harry Harvey	...	Station Agent (as Harry Harvey Sr.)
Melvin F. Allen	...	Mel, the Baggage Clerk (as Mel F. Allen)
Dan Gachman	...	County Clerk
Hope Summers	...	Cornelia (scenes deleted)
Robert Lynn	...	Dr. Paul Beecher

Also Known As:

The Curse of Dracula
The Fantastic Disappearing Man (UK)

MPAA:

Rated PG for images of vampire violence.

Runtime:

77 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color | Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:GP (1970) | USA:PG (re-rating) (1997) | Sweden:(Banned)

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Gramercy Pictures (II)

Trivia:

The original theatrical release prints contained a brief shot, lasting several seconds, that was in color. When the stake is driven into Jennie's heart, there is a close-up of bright red blood spurting from the wound. The approximately three foot section of color film was manually spliced into the black and white prints.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Rachel goes to the window in her bedroom, the crucifix is shown outside of her nightgown, but when she leans out the window the crucifix isn't shown, then it is when she goes back in the bedroom.

Quotes:

[first lines]
narrator: It is a known fact that there existed in Central Europe a Count Dracula. Though human in appearance and cultured in manner, he was in truth a thing undead... a force of evil... a vampire. Feeding on the blood of innocent people, he turned them into his own kind, thus spreading his evil dominion ever wider. The attempts to find and destroy this evil were never proven fully successful, and so the search continues to this very day.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Svengoolie: The Return of Dracula (#1.14)" (1995)

Soundtrack:

DIES IRAE

Dracula visits the Cleavers

One almost expects Ward, June, Wally and the Beav to visit too...Yes, this is an underrated masterpiece. "What? What did you say?" In the main title Dracula is shown standing still behind a three-stick candle...the "scene" reminds me of an icon in a Byzantine Catholic or Orthodox church...and what happens when Jennie is staked...Cousin Bellac temporarily reels and almost faints...reminds me of "Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers you do unto me"...and that line, "You will arise reborn in ME!"...there's a discernible anti-theology here and I hope whoever was responsible for it didn't believe it. But I'd not be surprised if there were a cult-especially in CA-which worships Dracula. The most chilling scene in the film is the scene in which Rachel is primping at the downstairs mirror, but-to me-the most chilling line of dialogue is the interchange between the pastor and Cousin Bellac concerning Rachel's charm, when Cousin Bellac says, "Why yes...I daresay she'd even charm the devil himself." Lederer-may he rest in peace-may have hated this film, but he turned in a truly great performance. Pity this film is so little credited.