Could This Have Foreshadowed Anne Rice?????????????

                                       When it comes to Universal's "Dracula" franchise, "Son Of Dracula," which "Svengoolie" is showing tonight at 8PM, happens to be the most unusual.  For starters, Lon Chaney, Jr. plays Count Alucard ("Dracula" spelled backwards) but the action takes place on a Southern Gothic plantation.  Not Tara, to be sure, but something worthy of Faulkner or McCullers. The art direction and set design do a superb job of evoking this atmosphere.

                                        Added to this is the tragic love story between Frank Stanley (Robert Paige) and Kay Caldwell (Louise Allbritton), with her sister Claire (the great Evelyn Ankers) looking on, and the heartbreaking steps Frank must take to preserve his and Kay's love.

                                          This is not only the only time Chaney played a Dracula character, but also the only film in which he looks reasonably good, almost handsome.  This film might have opened up another career path for him, but it did not happen.  Maybe due to his drinking problem.

                                            In any case, "Son Of Dracula" is wonderfully atmospheric, and fun in a bizarre way. Its setting and tragic ending made me think of Anne Rice.

                                               Don't be fooled by a vampire, girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!