The Return Of The Vampire (1943)

A 200 year old vampire (Bela Lugosi) prowls the English countryside until his reign of terror is stopped by a pair of scientists (Frieda Inescort, Gilbert Emery) when a stake is put through his heart. But two decades later, the impact of a Nazi bomb during WWII accidentally resurrects him. Directed by Lew Landers, this is a middling vampire tale but not without its compensations. This film was produced by Columbia but the atmosphere is pure Universal horror as it purloins both the Dracula and Wolf Man characters but without naming them as such. For all intents and purposes and especially with Lugosi as the vampire, it feels like a Dracula movie. The film is notable in the casting of a woman, Frieda Inescort as the vampire hunter instead of a male protagonist. Fans of classic horror should be pleasantly entertained. With Nina Foch, Roland Varno, Miles Mander and Matt Willis, very sympathetic as the vampire's wolf like minion.