The 'sequel' to Universal's Dracula (1931) that nearly landed Columbia Pictures in hot water. Columbia didn't make many horror films, but by 1943 they saw how much money Universal was making and decided to have a go themselves - with their own Dracula pic (there was some question over the copyright status of the long dead Stoker's original book). They even went a step further and hired Bela Lugosi himself to play Dracula. Universal got wind of this and threatened to sue. As far as Universal were concerned they had the legal rights for any films based on Stoker's book. And even if there was any basis for that to be challenged they certainly owned their version of Dracula - which they argued was inextricably linked in the public consciousness with Bela Lugosi's portrayal. Columbia backed down - to an extent. They still made the film but changed the vampire's name to 'Armand Tesla'. They also filmed an additional opening sequence showing Tesla being staked 20 years earlier, thus justifying the retention of the word 'return' in the film's title and giving valid context to the subsequent scenes showing the 'present day' removal of the stake allowing Tesla's resurrection (obviously Columbia never intended to recognise the events of Universal's own Dracula sequel, Dracula's Daughter (1936), which showed Dracula's body being destroyed by fire in the first 10 minutes).
With all that said, it's a pretty good film. Lugosi (who dresses, talks, and behaves exactly as he did in the 1931 film) was having health problems by this time, but he really pulls it all together and gives a great performance. Frieda Inescort is believable as basically a 'female Van Helsing', the always great Miles Mander is the sceptical head of Scotland Yard, and Nina Foch is ridiculously gorgeous as the object of Tesla's villainous intentions. On top of all that the fog-shrouded sets (including a terrific abandoned cemetery) look straight out of a Universal horror and the effects are pretty impressive. 7/10.
With all that said, it's a pretty good film. Lugosi (who dresses, talks, and behaves exactly as he did in the 1931 film) was having health problems by this time, but he really pulls it all together and gives a great performance. Frieda Inescort is believable as basically a 'female Van Helsing', the always great Miles Mander is the sceptical head of Scotland Yard, and Nina Foch is ridiculously gorgeous as the object of Tesla's villainous intentions. On top of all that the fog-shrouded sets (including a terrific abandoned cemetery) look straight out of a Universal horror and the effects are pretty impressive. 7/10.
Tell Your Friends