The Return of Count Yorga (1971)

Director:

Bob Kelljan

Writers:

Bob Kelljan (writer)
Yvonne Wilder (writer)

Release Date:

1971 (UK)

Genre:

Horror

Tagline:

The DEATHMASTER is back from beyond the grave!

Plot:

Count Yorga continues to prey on the local community while living by a nearby orphanage. He also intends to take a new wife, while feeding his bevy of female vampires. |

Plot Keywords:

Vampire | Police | Living Dead | Reverend | Sequel

Cast

Robert Quarry	...	Count Yorga
Mariette Hartley	...	Cynthia Nelson
Roger Perry	...	Dr. David Baldwin
Yvonne Wilder	...	Jennifer Nelson
Tom Toner	...	Rev. Thomas, Westwood Orphanage
Rudy De Luca	...	Lieutenant Madden
Philip Frame	...	Tommy
George Macready	...	Professor Rightstat
Walter Brooke	...	Bill Nelson
Edward Walsh	...	Brudda, Yorga's Valet
Craig T. Nelson	...	Sgt. O'Connor (as Craig Nelson)
David Lampson	...	Jason, Ellen's Boyfriend
Karen Ericson	...	Ellen Nelson (as Karen Huston)
Helen Baron	...	Mrs. Liza Nelson
Jesse Wells	...	Mitzi Carthay

Also Known As:

Curse of Count Yorga
The Abominable Count Yorga

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M | USA:GP (original rating) | USA:R (re-release) | West Germany:18

Filming Locations:

San Francisco, California, USA

Company:

Peppertree Productions Inc.

Trivia:

Craig T. Nelson's film debut.

Quotes:

Rev. Thomas: [Rev. Thomas is sinking into the bog] You... you... you lead me to this, this was your purpose! In the name of God, man, please. You devil! You vampire! You never intended donating that money! You sick, tormented monster. You'll never get away with this.
[produces crucifix]
Rev. Thomas: There. There, you madman! How do you like that? *Gurgle*

Movie Connections:

References The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1939)

Cracking sequel to perennial cult favourite

Ah, the seventies. Don't you miss 'em? Even the trash had class. This sequel is even jocular than the original but any laughter soon becomes forced as director Kelljan seems to have an unnerving understanding of evil, creating a disquieting atmosphere which borders on verite and never relaxes it's disturbing grip. Great photography of swamplands. There is one really distressing scene with a mute housekeeper who is unable to scream upon discovery of multiple murder. She is also unable to articulate the evil of a boy she knows is lying about the death of his parents. It's a great performance. The film also features Mariette Hartley, an actress who was once tipped for the top but never quite managed it, through no fault of her own. The scenes where this women of a sweet Christian nature is stalked by a harem of taunting vampires and trapped by Yorga himself are strongly performed. Hard to know what this film's attitude to life and religion is though, although an early speech by Yorga gives hints (being a predator is not morally pernicious), it just has this odd atmosphere.

Quarry is great and has the best line in dry wit. While attending an orphanage party he finds himself by a piano with a kid banging away on the keys. "Do you like Beethoven, mister?" he asks. "When played well", Yorga disdainfully replies. Great stuff. How Yorga's man servant continues to do his job so well in this film is something of a mystery. He was killed in the first one.