The Bayou Goes Batty- “Son of Dracula” Tonight!

 The parts of the country currently feeling humid and swampy will feel right at home with tonight's movie-when a vampire count hits the bayou  and brings the family curse upon another unsuspecting family- there's devastation 'round the plantation when they get a visit from the  “Son of Dracula”!

What film fans call the third film in the Universal Dracula series-after "Dracula's daughter"-invites us to a party on a plantation down south-held to welcome a count  met overseas by one of the daughters of the wealthy plantation owner -  a young woman named Catherine, who has what  her sister Claire and boyfriend Frank feel is  a rather morbid interest in the occult!

The train the Count is arriving on come in- but- he isn’t on board! The frieght does include some heavy boxes with his family crest - and his family name- “Alucard”. Hmm - run that one by us again, backwards... in spite of his non-arrival, the big party goes on at the plantation, regardless- but tragedy strikes-the wealthy father of the girls  suddenly passes way- coinciding with the very late-night arrival of  Count Alucard.

At the reading of the father's will- Catherine suddenly produces an updated version - that provides for all the money to go to Claire, and the “Dark Oaks” mansion and grounds  to Catherine. Things get stranger when Catherine reveals that she and the Count are together, shocking poor Frank - and, in his confrontation with the newcomer- tragedy strikes again! Things become more baffling- an expert is called in- and soon,the Count's true identity proves to be a shocking reality- as the Count tries to take control of his "new" homeland, his "bride"-and the remaining family and friends who stand in his way!

You may not agree with Lon Jr's being cast as the Count  (and- though he's called the son- some theorize that he is actually  the original Count?! )- but you have to agree- his character this time out definitely has some differences from his role as the tortured Larry Talbot- with the air of aristocracy and his more  suave manner. The cast also includes Evelyn Ankers, who's been a Chaney co-star several times (and supposedly wasn';t always treated very well by Lon Jr!)- and the lovely Louise Allbritton as her sister who yearns for the dark side! We’ll present some info about the cast, and a little background material about the film- including an error that most people who have learned their vampire lore from these movies will easily spot! Add in some Sven shtick, and you have a fun night ahead of you!

1943's “Son of Dracula” visits tonight on Me-TV at 10 pm eastern/pacific, 9 pm central, or, just check the local listings in your area. In Chicago,viewers get a second look at the Hammer thriller "Shadow of the Cat" on WCIU, the U, at 11 am!

Let me remind you that there's twice the Goolie at  Flashback Weekend this year, coming up in a couple weeks-Saturday the 8th, I'll do my  usual  2 hour autograph signing, followed by me hosting of the Flashback "Sinister Visions" Costume Contest- but then, on Sunday, I’ll return to host a special screening of the Rankin-Bass fun family stop-motion monster mash, "Mad Monster Party"! We'll have Rankin- Bass historian Rick Goldschmidt give us a little information about the film, which features the voices of Boris Karloff and ...Phyllis Diller?! - and- have some audience participation- that could bring you and a family member up on stage with me for some fun! It all comes up August 8th and 9th-for more info, check here  on this site under “appearances”.

Make sure you tune in tonight to see Lon Jr. in his only appearance as  a member of the Dracula family- whether you spell it forward or backwards!