The Vampire Bat (1933)

When corpses drained of blood begin to show up in a European village, vampirism is suspected to be responsible.

Director:

Frank R. Strayer (as Frank Strayer)

Writer:

Edward T. Lowe Jr. (screen story) (as Edward T. Lowe)

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:

hypochondria | vampire | monster movie | mad villager | angry mob | 

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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:

Passed

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:

Larry Darmour Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

64 min (2005 restoration) 65 min (copyright length) 63 min (UCLA Film and Television Archive Print)

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Photophone System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

To keep production costs low, "poverty row" Majestic Pictures filmed at night on "Universal's" European village set which was used for "Frankenstein (1931)." The interior of Lionel Atwill's house is the set from "The Old Dark House (1932)."

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Goofs

When von Niemann shows Brettscheider a rosary he'd discovered, he calls it a "crucifix". Although a crucifix is part of a rosary, the entire piece is always called a rosary, not a crucifix.

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Quotes

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

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Alternate Versions

When originally released theatrically in the UK, the BBFC made cuts to secure a 'A' rating. All cuts were waived in 1993 when the film was granted a 'PG' certificate for home video.

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Connections

Featured in The Schlocky Horror Picture Show: The Vampire Bat (1933) (2009)

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Soundtracks

Stealthy Footsteps
(uncredited)
Music by Charles Dunworth
[main title music]

User Reviews

In the Trail of the Success of Dracula and Frankenstein (1931)

In the small village of Kleinshloss, the locals are scared with a serial killer that is draining the blood of his victims, and the Burgomaster Gustave Schoen (Lionel Belmore) is convinced that a vampire is responsible for the deaths. The skeptical police inspector Karl Brettschneider (Melvyn Douglas) is reluctant to accept the existence of vampires, but the local doctor Otto Von Newman (Lionel Atwill) shows literature about cases of vampirism inclusive in Amazon. When the apple street vendor Martha Mueller (Rita Carlisle) is murdered, the prime suspect becomes the slow Herman Gleib (Dwight Frye), a man with a mind of child that loves bats. The group of vigilantes chases Herman, while Dr. Von Newman's housemaid Georgiana (Stella Adams) is attacked by the killer.

"The Vampire Bat" is an entertaining low-budget horror movie from the 30's that is visibly inspired in the success of Universal "Dracula" and "Frankenstein" in 1931. There are many analogies in the stories, like the living growing tissue or the innocence of Herman or the raged crowd. The characters are not well developed, and I did not understand the relationship of Ruth Bertin and her annoying hypochondriac aunt Gussie Schnappmann with Dr. Otto Von Newman, or how the doctor hypnotizes or controls his assistant Emile. It is great to see Fay Wray acting in the same year of "Mystery of the Wax Museum" and "King Kong". My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "O Morcego Vampiro" ("The Vampire Bat")