Edited December of 2004 for corrections.  Thank you, Bruce.

After the disaster that was Dead Men Walk, I waited very expectantly for this movie to come in the mail.  My expectancy was not in vain.  Although not brilliant by any stretch of the imagination, The Vampire Bat is a fun little walk on the budget less side.  The film stars Fay Wray and Melvyn Douglas who are just fun to watch.  They play the romantic leads and are actually believable.

A series of murders have occurred in the town of Kleinschloss (Little River) and a detective is on the case.  His girlfriend is the lab assistant to the local doctor/scientist/psychologist*.   I swear, that guy knew way too much for just one discipline.  The doctor visits Martha the Apple Woman who has fallen ill.  Herman Gleib, the village idiot, comes to pay his respects to the lady who gives him apples.  It's a really sweet and funny little scene that makes you want to take Dwight home and give him soup.  Anyway, later that night Martha dies, adding another victim to the long list.

The Detective-Boyfriend searches for a human killer; despite his increasing frustration and the fact that all the villagers are convinced it's a vampire.  Who do they blame?  Herman, the guy who loves bats and has the IQ of burnt toast.  Stupid villagers.  The next evening, the entire town turns up for Martha's autopsy.  Herman stumbles into the operating room, uncovers the body and freaks out.  The Cranky Old Watchmen declares that Herman's a vampire and that he will be the next victim since he knows the truth about Herman.  Detective-Boyfriend tells the watchman he's a wanker and continues investigating. 

The next day, the watchman dies.  Things are getting nuts.  A warrant is put out for Herman's arrest and Ye Old Angry Mob makes another appearance.  While Ye Old Angry Mob runs around, Herman stumbles into the doctor's garden.  Herman decides to steal the fruit and goodies Fay Wray's Old Biddy Aunt has put out.  Old Biddy Aunt catches Herman and he cuts himself.  Being a hypochondriac, Old Biddy Aunt goes into the house to get bandages and iodine.  Herman, while he's waiting, steals more food.

Old Biddy Aunt discovers her patient is the guy everyone is looking for and tries not to freak out.  Herman, not understanding, thinks that Old Biddy Aunt is a great friend for having fixed up his cut and given him food.  He tries to repay her in the only way he knows, he hands her a bat.  She faints.  Confused, Herman shoves the bat back in his jacket.  The whole sequence is just hysterical.  I actually liked Old Biddy Aunt and her hysterics paired with Herman's simplicity.  Great stuff.

The end soon comes for Herman when Ye Old Angry Mob catches up to him in a cave.  Not comprehending the mob's violence, he jumps into a pit and dies.  The village is satisfied that they have their vampire, until Detective-Boyfriend discovers another murder committed after Herman's death.  The doctor suggests that Herman might have risen from the dead.  Just one problem, the villagers drove a stake through his heart!  The Herman matter is closed and the Detective-Boyfriend demands that Herman get a proper burial since the town's full of dumbasses. 

Who is the real murderer?  Turns out it's the Doctor who hypnotizes one of his patients to kidnap people so the Doctor can drain out their blood for his Frankenstein experiments.  What's with Germanic towns and mad scientists who want to cheat death?  Anyway, Detective-Boyfriend, Fay Wray and Hypno-Paitent save the day.

The only thing that upset me about the movie was the fact that I rented this one and bought Dead Men Walk.  I wish the situation had been the other way around.  As you can probably tell, I really enjoyed this cheapy horror film. 

Here's a quickie bonus:  I've heard that Dwight gets tied up in The Crime of Dr. Crespi and I'm probably going to rave like a demented fangirl on the Crespi page.  So to make things fair to my male readers, here's Fay Wray tied up.  Enjoy.

Herman Enters the Room
"Let Herman Do It"
Herman Opens the Window for Martha
Herman Wondering, "Hey!"
"Bats Good.  Bat's Soft."
Herman Horrified at COW Smacktalking Bats
Herman Shoves a Bat in His Jacket
Cranky Old Watchman
Checking Out the Autopsy
Herman in the Bushes
Herman Stealing Paper (I don't get it either)
Herman Imitating Renfield
Run Away, Run Away
Herman Being Chased
Herman Terrified of Mob

*Lionel Atwill played said doctor.  He was an actor, like Frye who found himself frequently typecast.

Back to Dwight Frye

Back to The Frankenstein Films

Back to Something to Sing About

Back to Dead Men Walk

On to Cameo Roles

On to The Crime of Dr. Crespi

On to The Wayne Murder Case

Send feedback to joeanne_b@hotmail.com

The Vampire Bat belongs to National Film Museum Incorporated and Majestic Pictures.  No infringement of copyright is intended or inferred.  No money has or ever will exchange hands.  All screencaptures made by me, please ask permission before using them.