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Re: The Return of Dracula

Posted: September 24th, 2014, 1:45 pm
by Joe Macclesfield
$50 (£30) for a night out at the movies--that's pretty extortionate. That would almost pay for my week's beer ration! W.G., Erik, RR: How do you view movies, mostly ; DVD, PC, or Cable?

Re: The Return of Dracula

Posted: September 24th, 2014, 2:03 pm
by Western Guy
Actually Joe, it's the snack bar that really gouges you. Two large buttered popcorn and two large sodas and you're looking at over twenty bucks. It's really a ripoff, especially when the movie is disappointing - which most are.

What I really dislike are these contemporary action movies: loud, obnoxious, generally poorly acted with plots that stretch credibility to the breaking point. Like how the "hero" will single handedly take on whole armies and emerge victorious with maybe only a bullet crease in his shoulder for his troubles.

Reckon I'm more into realism than escapism.

I prefer the vulnerability of James Cagney (THE FIGHTING 69th and CAPTAINS OF THE CLOUDS) or Errol Flynn (CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE and THE DAWN PATROL) or even Robert Taylor (BATAAN) or Bogart (PASSAGE TO MARSEILLES). It's not that I'm a fatalist; I just prefer honesty over stupidity.

Here endeth the sermon.

Re: The Return of Dracula

Posted: September 24th, 2014, 2:11 pm
by Rita Hayworth
Joe and Others,

I'm a TCM Junkie - I watch about 10-20 hours of movies a week from this Channel and I constantly using my DVR to watch movies from that channel. I also watch movies from 3 Public Broadcasting Channels - 1 from Seattle, 1 from Vancouver B.C., and 1 from Portland Oregon on an occasional basis.

I also have well over 500 DVD's to choose from - so I watch about 4-6 hours a week - about 75 percent of them is from movies from the 30's to the 70's. Plus 33 of them are Rita Hayworth's Movies ...

I rarely watch NETWORK TV that much ... and I do watch Documentaries too.

Re: The Return of Dracula

Posted: September 24th, 2014, 4:40 pm
by Western Guy
That's pretty much my TV fare, as well. The only commercial programs I watch are "Pawn Stars" (actually have learned a lot about the west from that show that I've incorporated into some of my books) and "Shark's Tank." The latter is a guilty pleasure.

Re: The Return of Dracula

Posted: September 24th, 2014, 5:45 pm
by Joe Macclesfield
I don't have a digital TV (because I don't want to pay the BBC £145 a year). I have an old analog TV. I just watch DVDs and VHS tapes. My brother, Jim, taped THE FIGHTING 69TH a few years ago. He's been trying to find the tape so we can see it again, but, so far, without success. BATAAN is one great film. Great characters. And those hand-to-hand combat scenes at the end! Jim did find the Universal horror movies he taped some time back, including: SON OF DRACULA, HOUSE OF FRANKENSTEIN, and HOUSE OF DRACULA. This weekend we'll have our own vampire fest!

Re: The Return of Dracula

Posted: September 25th, 2014, 10:58 am
by RedRiver
SON OF DRACULA, HOUSE OF FRANKENSTEIN, and HOUSE OF DRACULA. This weekend we'll have our own vampire fest!

Those are delightful movies! Maybe not great cinema, but brimming with fun.

How do you view movies, mostly ; DVD, PC, or Cable?

Only DVD (except for Svengoolie)! I watch plenty of nonsense on commercial TV. But not movies! My video sources? The library for classics; Red Box for new releases!

Re: The Return of Dracula

Posted: September 25th, 2014, 11:26 pm
by Joe Macclesfield
"I too, thought I heard a noise in the cellar." I've stated this before, but, I still think Chaney (Jr.) does a better job as Count Dracula than he's usually given credit for. The above line comes from one of the best scenes in SON OF DRACULA: the Count's confrontation with "Dr. Brewster" (Frank Craven). An annoying character who's not above trespass, and breaking into people's luggage. Chaney's Count puts him in his place, and cuts quite a commanding figure in the process. There's a delicious undercurrent of menace, which he brings off nicely. By the way W.G., as his coffin burns, the Count exorts Frank (Robert Paige) to: "Put it out, d'you hear me?" And not: "Put it out, will yuh?"

Re: The Return of Dracula

Posted: September 26th, 2014, 8:31 am
by Western Guy
Joe, I knew it was something that sounded more truck driver-ish than aristocratic. Been a while since I saw SON OF DRACULA. Should pull out my DVD and give it a look.

BTW: October is always the month that I go heavy with horror films (the classics, anyway).

Re: The Return of Dracula

Posted: September 26th, 2014, 2:33 pm
by Joe Macclesfield
Then, W.G., I hope to enjoy more cordial exchanges. I find I enjoy posting about classic horror movies; perhaps more than any other topic. I am glad that Chaney Jr. wasn't given another crack at the role. He was miscast. I like Chaney, however, and can see some positive aspects to his portrayal. But, as you say: "Lugosi or Carradine he Aint!"

Re: The Return of Dracula

Posted: September 26th, 2014, 3:52 pm
by Western Guy
Ditto, Joe. And I certainly can see by your words concerning RETURN OF DRACULA and your avatar that you're a big Francis Lederer fan. I like him, too, though I'm not overly familiar with his resume. But I did recently see him in CONFESSIONS OF A NAZI SPY.

Re: The Return of Dracula

Posted: September 26th, 2014, 8:05 pm
by Joe Macclesfield
To be honest W.G., I'm not overly familiar with Mr. Lederer's resumé myself. Just before kicking this thread off, I got out my DVD copy of Return of Dracula (it's coupled with THE VAMPIRE, which I've never bothered to watch). I enjoyed it so much (after a few years gap) I've seen it three times since! Each time, spotting some little touch not noticed before. It's actually a clever re-interpretation of the original yarn; based (quite deliberately, I think) on SHADOW OF A DOUBT. If I can communicate just a little of the enthusiasm I feel for this, all but forgotten, gem--I'll be satisfied! Oh, and I will, definitely, explore Mr. Lederer's ouvre some more.

Re: The Return of Dracula

Posted: September 26th, 2014, 9:56 pm
by Western Guy
Yes, I recall the similarities between RETURN OF DRACULA and Hitchcock's SHADOW OF A DOUBT. I know TCM played RETURN OF DRACULA some time ago, but I missed that showing and retain memories of the film only as a young'un.

By the way, THE VAMPIRE is a fun film. John Beal, Coleen Gray, Kenneth Tobey. I'd suggest you give it a look.

Re: The Return of Dracula

Posted: September 27th, 2014, 10:20 am
by Rita Hayworth
Western Guy wrote:Ditto, Joe. And I certainly can see by your words concerning RETURN OF DRACULA and your avatar that you're a big Francis Lederer fan. I like him, too, though I'm not overly familiar with his resume. But I did recently see him in CONFESSIONS OF A NAZI SPY.
CONFESSIONS OF A NAZI SPY is one of my favorites as well ... one of Francis better films and I like the way he works with Edward G. Robinson in this movie.

Re: The Return of Dracula

Posted: September 27th, 2014, 2:10 pm
by Joe Macclesfield
CONFESSIONS OF A NAZI SPY is now on my shopping list Erik. By the way, I've just started Barbara Leaming's If This Was Happiness.

Re: The Return of Dracula

Posted: September 28th, 2014, 1:58 am
by Joe Macclesfield
An interesting aspect about Francis Lederer, is his sense of Personal style. It has been suggested (in some sources) that the draping of an overcoat, over his suit (in THE RETURN OF DRACULA) cleverly suggests a cloak. It does. But reference to photos from previous Lederer films, show that this was part of his style. In Jean Renoir's DIARY OF A CHAMBERMAID (and plenty of contemporary photos) Lederer cuts the same, immaculately tailored figure; short-waisted jacket and all.