The Vampire Bat (1933)

Absolutely brilliant

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

SYNOPSIS: A small German village is terrorized by an apparent plague of unseen "vampire bats" that suck their victims dry of blood. COMMENT: By the humble standards of Poverty Row, this entry indeed comes across as a remarkable little film. The cast clocks in as pretty wonderful for a starter: Lionel Atwill at his best in the movie's major role; Melvyn Dougas of all people as the baffled hero (which he plays with all his usual charisma); and-disappointingly as it happens because her role is not only small and pretty inconsequential (though she does have a key scene at the climax), and in addition she is none too flatteringly photographed-Fay Wray! Another cult favorite, Dwight Frye, excels in one of the largest parts of his career. Also good to see George E. Stone and Robert Frazer (although, oddly, the screenplay provides Frazer with neither entrance nor introduction. He just suddenly appears on the scene). Unfortunately, Maude Eburne, a ham of the first water, enjoys a disproportionate amount of deadly dull "comedy relief" footage. Not a director one usually associates with "class" (although he did handle many of the "Blondie" movies including the justly famous haunted-house entry, Blondie Has Servant Trouble), Frank Strayer really rises to the occasion here. Mind you, he is helped immeasurably by the movie's great production values, including the extensive sets designed and made over by Charles D. Hall (Dracula, Frankenstein, The Old Dark House, The Invisible Man, etc.) and the spooky photography and atmospheric lighting of Ira Morgan (The Great Gabbo, The Sea Bat, Washington Merry-Go-Round).

I have no idea what I have just seen.Some people decided that there must be a vampire killing people while another guy thinks it's a person.They spend most of this very short movie accusing the obvious suspect of being the vampire and it gets boring after a couple minutes.While I watched this, I had to rewind a dozen times and I still couldn't tell you who the vampire was or who lived and who died.It's just your basic "doctors with guns" movie.Not much story and even less action.But I must admit that it's better than I expected and I have seen much worse.I have seen so many bad movies that I feel like giving two stars means it was good.It wasn't.

And most of them belong to Dwight Frye as the town idiot who specializes in cuddling bats--much to the horror of the village inhabitants.However, the filming is on a very primitive scale. Sets and costumes have the proper Gothic mood but the production is obviously a cheapie made in a hurry to capitalize on other films featuring Lionel Atwill and Fay Wray which were decidedly more polished.Melvyn Douglas, looking very youthful, is studying the case and can't figure out who the real culprit is. By this time, the audience can guess that it's "the one you'd least suspect." Summing up: Watchable as a primitive horror film from Majestic Studio with a reasonably good cast. Has the necessary ingredients for classic horror films of this era.

Apparent vampire attacks arouse villagers, causing local doctor to come to the rescue-- or does he.The movie comes across like a combination Dracula and Frankenstein, except we never see the monster. Heavy low-key lighting lends eerie effect, but movie has its creepiest moments with the hunched-over Herman (Frye) whose demented IQ appears capable of darn near anything. Watching him creep around the edges, mumbling some infernal thought makes the usually villainous Atwill seem positively benign. In fact, Atwill hardly changes expression the whole time making us wonder just what his deadpan scientist is really up to. But what guy really cares when we've got the gorgeous Fay Wray to ogle, just a year or two before that big hairy critter kidnapped her to the top of New York. Anyhow, it's a decent enough horror flick that manages a few chills, without being anything special, along with a rather tepid climax that doesn't help. Nonetheless, the very last scene still has me wondering and chuckling-- Epsom salts! Really!