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The Vampire Bat (1933) - Frank R. Strayer


The Vampire Bat is not at all scary. Not by any sense of the word. It is, however, actually pretty boring. I've seen a lot of horror movies from the thirties now and this one is the bottom of the heap. There are very few positives about this movie, one of them being Dwight Frye. This man is a horror legend from the 30's. He single-handedly makes this movie bearable. I thought the inclusion of Fay Wray and Lionel Atwill would help things out but they actually came off as pretty bland and basic. Not really one of THEIR best movies. The copy that I watched was very well preserved. I had an easy time understanding it and the picture is pretty decent, albeit from the thirties.

The story is pretty straightforward. People in a small town start showing up with their blood being drained from their bodies. No one knows what's going on, so they instinctively attack the one that is different. They go after the dimwitted town pitty case Glieb. Glieb being portrayed to perfection by Dwight Frye. They throw in some mystery and then slap it in front of you. Is it Glieb? Is it something more sinister?

Director: Frank R. Strayer
Producer: Phil Goldstone and Larry Darmour
Starring: Lionel Atwill, Fay Wray, Melvyn Douglas, Dwight Frye and Maude Eburne
Studio: Majestic Pictures
Release date: January 10, 1933
Country: USA 
Did ya Know: Film is one of many made during the American Great Depression. Filmed at night on Universal's European village set. The interior of Lionel Atwill's house is the set from The Old Dark House.












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