The Return of Count Yorga (1971)

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.

Director:

Bob Kelljan

Writers:

Bob Kelljan (screenplay), Yvonne Wilder (screenplay)

Stars:

Robert Quarry, Mariette Hartley, Roger Perry

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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	...	Lt. Madden (as Rudy DeLuca)
Philip Frame	...	Tommy
George Macready	...	Prof. 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 Houston)
Helen Baron	...	Mrs. Marcia Nelson
Jesse Welles	...	Mitzi Carthay (as Jesse Wells)

Storyline

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.

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Plot Keywords:

witch | yellow ball | potion | formal dinner | red cape | 

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Taglines:

The last of the vampires walks again among us... and Evil will have its bloodiest hour!

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Genres:

Horror

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 August 1971 (USA)

Also Known As:

Yorga Returns

Filming Locations:

San Francisco, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Peppertree Productions Inc.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Film debut of Craig T. Nelson.

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Quotes

Boy: [playing piano badly] You like this kind of music?
Count Yorga: Only when played well.

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Connections

References The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1939)

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Soundtracks

This Song
Written by Marilyn Lovell (as Marilynn Lovell), Yvonne Wilder, Bob Kelljan,
Bill Marx
Performed by Vocal Arts Studio
Bill Bohen, Director

User Reviews

a worthy sequel

The Count is back, without any apparent explanation of how he survived the events of the first film. But who cares, eh? All that matters is that, mere minutes into "The Return of Count Yorga," vampire women emerge from their graves to stalk a poor little boy. The action starts quick in this one, folks! It's a bit scary…it's a bit erotic…and it's even a bit good.

In fact, "Return of Count Yorga" is almost good enough to eclipse its predecessor, but the middle act unfortunately sags and the conclusion feels too much like a retread. Still, there is plenty of great material here, including a harrowing attack segment on a house full of people and a memorable final chase through the narrow corridors of Yorga's mansion. Quarry is again smooth and super-cool as the Count; I love the way he effortlessly mingles with, and insults, the stupid townspeople at their costume party.

The film takes a stab at philosophy by allowing Yorga to have a "romance" with Cynthia (played by the lovely Mariette Hartley – what a nice voice she has), but this storyline basically reaches a dead end. They have one interesting conversation about their world views over punch at the party, and that's it. The notion of a vampire in love was explored more deeply (and more to my satisfaction) in "Subspecies II," one of my favorite horror movies of recent times.

Nevertheless, "Return of Count Yorga" should be applauded for being experimental, as this kind of movie goes. In many respects, it's a more thoughtful and engaging film than the first Yorga, but it's also more uneven. Anyway, fans of classic movies/actors should watch out for George Sanders in a cameo role as a loopy vampire expert who expounds upon the inherent difficulties of assuming yoga positions. Like the movie as a whole, Sanders' lone scene is very strange, but certainly worth seeing.