Could Sally Hershberger Fix THIS?????????????????????

                            I doubt it, but, girls, have you heard about the 1957 trash classic, "The Vampire?"  

                           When this film first came out, it was on a second bill with "The Monster That Challenged The World." which "Svengoolie" showed recently.  Better had he shown this film, which is far more entertaining.

                              First, there is a doctor injecting himself with blood from vampire bats, and what he turns into is uglier than any vampire I have ever seen.  They are usually well groomed.  Also, this vampire can function day or night; no coffin for him!  He is played by John Beal, a scientist named Paul Beecher.  His nurse is played by Colleen Gray, a year or two before she became an icon with "The Leech Woman" and wait till you see her running through the forest in her nursing uniform, unruffled until her hair lets down at the end.  My mother was a nurse, but I doubt she could have done this.

                                Then there is Lydia Reed, as Besty, Dr. Beecher's pubescent daughter, who has a ballet barre, where she practices in leotards right in the waiting room!  Like the song says, "Everything is beautiful, at the ballet," but come on!!!!!!!!!!!  Fortunately, for her own good, Beecher, when he realizes he turns into this monster, packs Betsy off to Aunt Sally, who is never seen, but who, I presume will take care of Betsy, after he is killed.

                                  There is no surprise here.  Except the opening is quite arresting.  A young boy is riding a bicycle, delivering something to a doctor, Matt Campbell, played by Wood Romoff.  He is near death and asks the boy to get Dr. Beecher.  As the boy complies, hurriedly riding his bicycle, the film's title, "The Vampire" appears on the screen.  When I first saw this film on TV, via "Chiller Theater," the title was "Mark Of The Vampire," which disappointed me, because I thought that title meant the 1935 MGM Tod Browning classic, starring Bela Lugosi, and Carol Borland, as Luna, the mysterious Lunar Lady.  It also happened to be the talking screen version of a film now considered lost, Lon Chaney's 1927 "London After Midnight."

                                     So, my initial viewing was a disappointment.

                          Seeing this film as an adult allowed me to appreciate it more, since my expectations were lowered, and its campiness was quite high.

                                       Despite the gorgeous design of this poster--the art of the film poster has gone the way of all flesh, by the way--the second feature should be the one on top.  Let us hope "Svengoolie" shows it in the future.

                                           For those who can't wait, and need a trash distraction, it is on You Tube, and can be seen in its entirety.

                                             Have yourselves a good laugh, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                              One last thing. Louise Lewis, wonderful as repressed lesbian Miss Branding in "Blood Of Dracula," also from 1957, plays the uncredited role of Mrs. Miller.  Maybe that is why I did not recognize her.

                                                  Now I will have to watch this damn thing again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                  

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