![The Vampire Bat - Special Edition (The Film Detective Restored Version) [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51XUHO4sc8L._SX300_SY300_QL70_ML2_.jpg)
![The Bat: Special Edition [Blu-ray]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81Ht66rG5+L._AC_UL160_SR160,160_.jpg)
"The Vampire Bat" (1933) is a B-Movie from Majestic Pictures that looks like an A-Movie.
The producer, Phil Goldstone, was an independently wealthy real estate tycoon with financial ties to the major studios.
Because of this, he was able to borrow actors and sets.
For "The Vampire Bat", he borrowed:
-- Lionel Atwill and Fay Wray, who had just teamed for two horror films at Warner Brothers: "Doctor X" (1932) and "Mystery of the Wax Museum" (1933), both filmed in early Technicolor.
"The Vampire Bat" was filmed after, but released before "Mystery of the Wax Museum",
allowing Majestic to piggyback on Warner's publicity campaign.
-- Melvyn Douglas had just appeared as Greta Garbo's husband in MGM's "As You Desire Me" (1932)
-- Universal Studios provided the German village and the mad scientist's gothic mansion.
-- More importantly, Universal loaned actor Dwight Frye to Majestic. He is even creepier here than in "Dracula" and "Frankenstein".
Almost a co-production of Warner, MGM and Universal.
Unfortunately "The Vampire Bat" was not directed by Todd Browning or James Whale, but by B-Movie director James Strayer, whose major claim to fame was directing the "Blondie" movies for Columbia in the 1940s.
Still an impressive movie, despite being an obvious rip-off of Universal's "Dracula" from two year's earlier.
The identity of the "Vampire Bat" is kept secret until about twenty minutes before the end of the film.
I hope this isn't a spoiler, but filmgoers entering a movie theater in 1933 would have already guessed from the poster and lobby cards that Lionel Atwill is not the kindly physician he pretends to be.
Plus he had a history with Fay Wray (in the movies).
The BD-R Blu-Ray from Film Detective is very well done:
-- Restored by UCLA Film & Television Archive. Not perfect, but the picture and sound are certainly cleaner than on my old Alpha Video DVD.
-- The print they used had hand-tinted sequences which were restored to dramatic effect.
-- English SDH subtitles.
-- Audio commentary by film historian Sam Sherman (a bit meandering)
-- Melvyn Douglas featurette (8 minutes)
My only complaint is that it's expensive for a 63 minute film, but based on experience, the price will come down in time.
B-MOVIE HORROR FILMS ON BLU-RAY
Until recently, if you wanted to watch these films, you had to settle for bare-bones DVDs from companies like Alpha Video.
Recently several of these films have found their way onto Blu-Ray from companies like Film Detective, Kino, VCI, Olive Films, and even the prestigious Criterion Collection.
Improved picture quality and a reasonable selection of bonus features, not usually associated with cheap Public Domain B-Movies.
For a list of Amazon links to these Blu-Rays, see Comment One (dated May 3, 2017). Click on "sort by oldest"
PHOTO 1: Lionel Atwill menacing Fay Wray in "Mystery of the Wax Museum"
PHOTO 2: Lionel Atwill menacing Fay Wray in "The Vampire Bat"
PHOTO 3: Dwight Frye menacing everybody.
PHOTO 4: Fay Wray, Melvin Douglas and Lionel Atwill.
PHOTO 5: Original poster.
Similar items that may ship from close to you
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
Reviews with images
All Photos
Almost a Co-Production of Warner, MGM and Universal + B-Movie Horror Films on Blu-Ray
"The Vampire Bat" (1933) is a B-Movie from Majestic Pictures that looks like an A-Movie.The producer, Phil Goldstone, was an independently wealthy real estate tycoon with financial ties to the major studios.Because of this, he was able to borrow actors and sets.For "The Vampire Bat", he borrowed:-- Lionel Atwill and Fay Wray, who had just teamed for two horror films at Warner Brothers: "Doctor X" (1932) and "Mystery of the Wax Museum" (1933), both filmed in early Technicolor."The Vampire Bat" was filmed after, but released before "Mystery of the Wax Museum",allowing Majestic to piggyback on Warner's publicity campaign.-- Melvyn Douglas had just appeared as Greta Garbo's husband in MGM's "As You Desire Me" (1932)-- Universal Studios provided the German village and the mad scientist's gothic mansion.-- More importantly, Universal loaned actor Dwight Frye to Majestic. He is even creepier here than in "Dracula" and "Frankenstein".Almost a co-production of Warner, MGM and Universal.Unfortunately "The Vampire Bat" was not directed by Todd Browning or James Whale, but by B-Movie director James Strayer, whose major claim to fame was directing the "Blondie" movies for Columbia in the 1940s.Still an impressive movie, despite being an obvious rip-off of Universal's "Dracula" from two year's earlier.The identity of the "Vampire Bat" is kept secret until about twenty minutes before the end of the film.I hope this isn't a spoiler, but filmgoers entering a movie theater in 1933 would have already guessed from the poster and lobby cards that Lionel Atwill is not the kindly physician he pretends to be.Plus he had a history with Fay Wray (in the movies).The BD-R Blu-Ray from Film Detective is very well done:-- Restored by UCLA Film & Television Archive. Not perfect, but the picture and sound are certainly cleaner than on my old Alpha Video DVD.-- The print they used had hand-tinted sequences which were restored to dramatic effect.-- English SDH subtitles.-- Audio commentary by film historian Sam Sherman (a bit meandering)-- Melvyn Douglas featurette (8 minutes)My only complaint is that it's expensive for a 63 minute film, but based on experience, the price will come down in time.B-MOVIE HORROR FILMS ON BLU-RAYUntil recently, if you wanted to watch these films, you had to settle for bare-bones DVDs from companies like Alpha Video.Recently several of these films have found their way onto Blu-Ray from companies like Film Detective, Kino, VCI, Olive Films, and even the prestigious Criterion Collection.Improved picture quality and a reasonable selection of bonus features, not usually associated with cheap Public Domain B-Movies.For a list of Amazon links to these Blu-Rays, see Comment One (dated May 3, 2017). Click on "sort by oldest"PHOTO 1: Lionel Atwill menacing Fay Wray in "Mystery of the Wax Museum"PHOTO 2: Lionel Atwill menacing Fay Wray in "The Vampire Bat"PHOTO 3: Dwight Frye menacing everybody.PHOTO 4: Fay Wray, Melvin Douglas and Lionel Atwill.PHOTO 5: Original poster.
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2017
The producer, Phil Goldstone, was an independently wealthy real estate tycoon with financial ties to the major studios.
Because of this, he was able to borrow actors and sets.
For "The Vampire Bat", he borrowed:
-- Lionel Atwill and Fay Wray, who had just teamed for two horror films at Warner Brothers: "Doctor X" (1932) and "Mystery of the Wax Museum" (1933), both filmed in early Technicolor.
"The Vampire Bat" was filmed after, but released before "Mystery of the Wax Museum",
allowing Majestic to piggyback on Warner's publicity campaign.
-- Melvyn Douglas had just appeared as Greta Garbo's husband in MGM's "As You Desire Me" (1932)
-- Universal Studios provided the German village and the mad scientist's gothic mansion.
-- More importantly, Universal loaned actor Dwight Frye to Majestic. He is even creepier here than in "Dracula" and "Frankenstein".
Almost a co-production of Warner, MGM and Universal.
Unfortunately "The Vampire Bat" was not directed by Todd Browning or James Whale, but by B-Movie director James Strayer, whose major claim to fame was directing the "Blondie" movies for Columbia in the 1940s.
Still an impressive movie, despite being an obvious rip-off of Universal's "Dracula" from two year's earlier.
The identity of the "Vampire Bat" is kept secret until about twenty minutes before the end of the film.
I hope this isn't a spoiler, but filmgoers entering a movie theater in 1933 would have already guessed from the poster and lobby cards that Lionel Atwill is not the kindly physician he pretends to be.
Plus he had a history with Fay Wray (in the movies).
The BD-R Blu-Ray from Film Detective is very well done:
-- Restored by UCLA Film & Television Archive. Not perfect, but the picture and sound are certainly cleaner than on my old Alpha Video DVD.
-- The print they used had hand-tinted sequences which were restored to dramatic effect.
-- English SDH subtitles.
-- Audio commentary by film historian Sam Sherman (a bit meandering)
-- Melvyn Douglas featurette (8 minutes)
My only complaint is that it's expensive for a 63 minute film, but based on experience, the price will come down in time.
B-MOVIE HORROR FILMS ON BLU-RAY
Until recently, if you wanted to watch these films, you had to settle for bare-bones DVDs from companies like Alpha Video.
Recently several of these films have found their way onto Blu-Ray from companies like Film Detective, Kino, VCI, Olive Films, and even the prestigious Criterion Collection.
Improved picture quality and a reasonable selection of bonus features, not usually associated with cheap Public Domain B-Movies.
For a list of Amazon links to these Blu-Rays, see Comment One (dated May 3, 2017). Click on "sort by oldest"
PHOTO 1: Lionel Atwill menacing Fay Wray in "Mystery of the Wax Museum"
PHOTO 2: Lionel Atwill menacing Fay Wray in "The Vampire Bat"
PHOTO 3: Dwight Frye menacing everybody.
PHOTO 4: Fay Wray, Melvin Douglas and Lionel Atwill.
PHOTO 5: Original poster.
Almost a Co-Production of Warner, MGM and Universal + B-Movie Horror Films on Blu-Ray
Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2017
"The Vampire Bat" (1933) is a B-Movie from Majestic Pictures that looks like an A-Movie.Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2017
The producer, Phil Goldstone, was an independently wealthy real estate tycoon with financial ties to the major studios.
Because of this, he was able to borrow actors and sets.
For "The Vampire Bat", he borrowed:
-- Lionel Atwill and Fay Wray, who had just teamed for two horror films at Warner Brothers: "Doctor X" (1932) and "Mystery of the Wax Museum" (1933), both filmed in early Technicolor.
"The Vampire Bat" was filmed after, but released before "Mystery of the Wax Museum",
allowing Majestic to piggyback on Warner's publicity campaign.
-- Melvyn Douglas had just appeared as Greta Garbo's husband in MGM's "As You Desire Me" (1932)
-- Universal Studios provided the German village and the mad scientist's gothic mansion.
-- More importantly, Universal loaned actor Dwight Frye to Majestic. He is even creepier here than in "Dracula" and "Frankenstein".
Almost a co-production of Warner, MGM and Universal.
Unfortunately "The Vampire Bat" was not directed by Todd Browning or James Whale, but by B-Movie director James Strayer, whose major claim to fame was directing the "Blondie" movies for Columbia in the 1940s.
Still an impressive movie, despite being an obvious rip-off of Universal's "Dracula" from two year's earlier.
The identity of the "Vampire Bat" is kept secret until about twenty minutes before the end of the film.
I hope this isn't a spoiler, but filmgoers entering a movie theater in 1933 would have already guessed from the poster and lobby cards that Lionel Atwill is not the kindly physician he pretends to be.
Plus he had a history with Fay Wray (in the movies).
The BD-R Blu-Ray from Film Detective is very well done:
-- Restored by UCLA Film & Television Archive. Not perfect, but the picture and sound are certainly cleaner than on my old Alpha Video DVD.
-- The print they used had hand-tinted sequences which were restored to dramatic effect.
-- English SDH subtitles.
-- Audio commentary by film historian Sam Sherman (a bit meandering)
-- Melvyn Douglas featurette (8 minutes)
My only complaint is that it's expensive for a 63 minute film, but based on experience, the price will come down in time.
B-MOVIE HORROR FILMS ON BLU-RAY
Until recently, if you wanted to watch these films, you had to settle for bare-bones DVDs from companies like Alpha Video.
Recently several of these films have found their way onto Blu-Ray from companies like Film Detective, Kino, VCI, Olive Films, and even the prestigious Criterion Collection.
Improved picture quality and a reasonable selection of bonus features, not usually associated with cheap Public Domain B-Movies.
For a list of Amazon links to these Blu-Rays, see Comment One (dated May 3, 2017). Click on "sort by oldest"
PHOTO 1: Lionel Atwill menacing Fay Wray in "Mystery of the Wax Museum"
PHOTO 2: Lionel Atwill menacing Fay Wray in "The Vampire Bat"
PHOTO 3: Dwight Frye menacing everybody.
PHOTO 4: Fay Wray, Melvin Douglas and Lionel Atwill.
PHOTO 5: Original poster.
Images in this review
Reviewed in the United States on July 18, 2017
Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2018
Reviewed in the United States on December 13, 2017
Top reviews from other countries
Paul
Hollywood's Original Scream Queen
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 26, 2017Blain Covert
the Film Detective's DVD of The Vampire Bat is a terrible transfer
Reviewed in Canada on August 4, 2021Amazon Customer
Product comparison between Film Detective and Alpha Video
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 27, 2018