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Vintage Horror Gem “The Vampire Bat” Flies Onto Special-Edition Blu-ray & DVD April 25

The Film Detective, in conjunction with UCLA Film & Television Archive, presents “The Vampire Bat” like never seen before – digitally mastered from new 35mm film elements preserved by the Archive – flying onto Blu-ray and DVD April 25th.

This stylized and macabre tale was directed by Frank R. Strayer, who spins a thrilling tale from Hugo-nominated screenwriter Edward T. Lowe (“House of Frankenstein,” “House of Dracula”), that will have you craving more films from the first Golden Age of Horror!

About The Vampire Bat …

When corpses drained of blood begin surfacing in the small European village of Kleines Schloss, town elders suspect a vampire is on the loose, but policeman Karl Brettschneider (Melvyn Douglas, “Ninotchka,” “Hud”) doubts the existence of blood-sucking creatures.

Arguing the contrary is mad scientist Dr. Otto von Niemann (Lionel Atwill, “Doctor X,” “Mystery of the Wax Museum”), who is caring for the patients—terrifying his lab assistant, Brettschneider’s love interest Ruth Bertin (Fay Wray, “King Kong,” “The Most Dangerous Game”).

Amid mass hysteria, fingers point at the village idiot, Herman Gleib (Dwight Frye, “Dracula,” “Frankenstein”), who has a creepy affinity for bats. But after local vigilantes eliminate him from the picture, the killings continue … and Brettschneider tries to keep a cool head as he reluctantly starts searching for supernatural answers.

“The Vampire Bat” is presented in full screen with an aspect ratio of 1.33 and Dolby Digital sound. Restored from a 35mm composite acetate fine grain master and a 35mm nitrate print, UCLA’s restoration recreates the sensational Gustav Brock color sequence, unacknowledged and unseen since first run.

Special Features:

  • A Melvyn Douglas featurette with his son, Gregory Hesselberg
  • Audio commentary by film historian Sam Sherman

Available on Special-Edition Blu-ray & DVD April 25th

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James McDonald

Originally from Dublin, Ireland, James is a Movie Critic with 40 years of experience in the film industry as an Award-Winning Filmmaker. He is also a member of the Critics Choice Association and the Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association.