“Summertime BOOs” Begin with “Son of Dracula”- Tonight!

As our theme this month states- "There ain't no cure for the Summertime BOOs!"-as we fill the final full month of summer with some favorites from the Universal monster roster- beginning with Lon Chaney Jr.'s only turn as the vampire count known as "Son of Dracula"!

This 1943 film- considered the third in the Universal Dracula series- brings us to a plantation way down south-where one of the daughters of a wealthy plantation owner , spurred by her interest in the occult , has invited a count she met overseas to visit the family home- in spite of the fact that her sister Claire and boyfriend Frank dislike her concentrating on  "the morbid".

When a greeting party meets the train the Count should be arriving on- he isn't there- but some large boxes with his family crest are delivered- and what about that name? "Alucard"?  Regardless of his non-arrival, a big party goes on at the plantation- and the sudden passing of the wealthy father of the girls coincides with the arrival of the tardy Count Alucard. When the old man's will is read- an updated version just found- all the money goes to Claire, but the "Dark Oaks" mansion and grounds go to Catherine. Soon her involvement with the Count is revealed, and when Frank tries to take action- tragedy strikes. When an expert is called in, and the suspicion of what the Count really might be is confirmed by undeniable evidence-the remaining family and friends fight to protect their loved ones from control of the Count and destroy the vampire!

This is a controversial movie, with some saying Lon Chaney Jr seems ill-cast as the Count  (by the way- there is speculation that, though he's dubbed "Son of Dracula", that the Count is actually the original!)- but his characterization and suave manner sets this performance apart from his role as the anguished Larry Talbot. We also get Lon's occasional co-star (a lady he didn't get along with very well) Evelyn Ankers, along with Louise Allbritton as the lady who would be Countess! We'll go over the cast list on the show, and point out a few facts about the film- and maybe an error that goes against the classic vampire lore we have learned from the movies! Plus, some Sven fun, of course...

"Son of Dracula" rises tonight on Me-TV at 10 pm eastern/pacific, 9 pm central, or, just check the local listings in your area. In Chicago,viewers  can see the wind-up of the Gill Man trilogy, as we encore "Creature Walks Among Us" on WCIU, the U, at 11 am!

Don't forget- the Flashback Weekend fun starts at the end of next week- I'll be hosting "Friday Night Frights"- the live on-stage talk show featuring Robert Englund in full Freddy make-up  on that evening for the guests who signed up for the special Englund VIP package- and , of course, Saturday will be our usual  autograph signing, followed by the traditional hosting of the Flashback Costume Contest! You'll find all the info on this site under "appearances".

Join us for "Son of Dracula" tonight- as we start to scare up a full month of Summertime BOOs!