Frank R. StrayerThe Vampire Bat (1933)

The city of Kleinschloss is infected with a dark scourge from the past. A Legion of bloodsucking creatures who can assume human form have returned to prey upon the unsuspecting citizens. Detective Karl Brettschneider begins investigating numerous gory deaths at the request of the burgomaster. Despite the obvious evidence, he refuses to accept the existence of vampiric human bats, but soon their existence proves all too real.

This item is part of the collection: Sci-Fi / Horror

Director: Frank R. Strayer
Audio/Visual: Mono, Black and White
Keywords: Horror; Vampires
Contact Information: http://shortfilms.tk/

Creative Commons license: Public Domain

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Reviewer: XweAponX - - June 22, 2008
Subject: Not the best "Print"

But even the DVD releases of these Pre-Code "Majestic" films are not up to the audio quality of Douglas Shearer's MGM work.

Just how they got Fay Wray and Melvin Douglas to do this, I don't know, but that was probably their whole budget right there.

Regardless of the poor quality, a great flick, not really a horror movie, more like a science fiction film, the ending was fairly predictable.

I waited until 12:30 AM to run this onto my TV, and it was more effective that way.

Reviewer: Jekyll - - January 7, 2007
Subject: Nice little film...

Nice little film from the good ol' times... I enjoyed watching it but apparently there are some scenes missing. According to imdb.com the film runs 71 minutes. This version has only about 59 minutes... Does anybody know something about that? Is imdb.com wrong or is this a cut version of the film?

Reviewer: Eregwen - - January 1, 2007
Subject: Unexpectedly good, little-known horror film (long review)

After having read several reviews, I was actually surprised by how good this movie was. "The Vampire Bat" may not have obtained the reputation of "Dracula" or "Frankenstein" because it so obviously borrows elements from those two movies as well as others; that aside, however, it is remarkably well-made, if I do say so myself. Mystery/suspense/horror with a nice element of sonambulism. Beautiful moving camera work in some scenes, and AWESOME title credits music (but none for the rest of the film.)

Good acting overall - especially entertaining performances from Lionel Atwill, Maude Eburn, and Dwight Frye (can't go wrong with him). Melvyn Douglas and Fay Wray play their roles, but are sort of *blah* (I guess that's what normally comes from the romantic lead and his love interest.)

Overall, though, definitely check out "The Vampire Bat" to see a really good forgotten horror flick.

(Oh, BTW, this might not be the full version of the film - apparently there are some scenes in the middle that are missing? Nothing that is critical to the film, but would be interesting nonetheless.)

Reviewer: RM115 - - September 5, 2006
Subject: .Hoakey but effective.

nice vampire movie that scared the tobbacco juice out of me as a little kid.

Reviewer: Douglas fae Aiberdeen - - August 17, 2005
Subject: AKA Dracula's Cabinet of Doctor Frankenstein

Hmmm... so what we have here is a mad scientist out to create life, vampirism and a mind-controlled somnambulist - in other words, an amalgum of Dracula, Frankenstein and The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari (the latter of which can be downloaded from this very site.) Caligari has not worn well. The Vampire Bat, on the other hand, still stands up to modern viewing. As already noted, expect good performances from Dwight Frye (reprising his Renfield and Fritz roles in Dracula and Frankenstein respectively) and Melvin Douglas (as the brick-jawed and bone-brained hero - in the right, as it turns out, but obnoxious with it). Faye Wray is beautiful and transparent in that 1930's 'china doll' way, but doesn't have much of a part. Lionel Atwill is hammy enough to sit well next to eggs and toast. The true star, however, is Maude Eburn as the hypochondriac aunt (treated, by the doctor, with 'silasalic acid' and Epsom Salts, the latter of which definitely gets her on the move.) Eburn turns in a splending early 30's comedy turn which is in itself well worth the price of admission.

What? It's free? Even better.

Douglas

Oh! And there's a mob. With flaming torches. Lead by the Burgomaister...

Reviewer: Fred P. B. - - August 7, 2005
Subject: Love these old films

Melvyn Douglas...YOUNG. Fay Wray.
Good acting, good copy of film. Sound could be just a tad better.

Overall, worth watching. I was a little disappointed at the end. No gore though :( .

Somebody keeps sucking the blood out of the townspeople. Douglas plas a detective inspector who at first does not believe in the occult. Then there is the doctor, with his beautiful assistant. Of course, the town weirdo .. who is just a bit corny. Then there is the wacky old aunt who thinks she has every ailment in the doctors medical books.

Reviewer: moxey - - August 1, 2005
Subject: very good

this film stars Fay Wray of "king Kong" and Dwight Frye who played renfield in the lugosi classic "dracula".
this is a little known classic horror film of that era.
imbd page

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0024727/