The Count's Offspring Has Dad's Old Habits- "Dracula's Daughter" Appears Tonight!

Tonight on MeTV- it's back to an early Universal horror classic- featuring the female offspring of an infamous count we know well! She takes after her father in a way she regrets- and yet, is unable to fight the irresistible thirst she has inherited by being- “Dracula’s Daughter”!

Working as a follow-up to the wildly popular “Dracula”- this film picks up right where the original  ended- in the dungeon of Carfax Abbey, with Van Helsing (named VON Helsing in this film) ,standing over the inert body of Count Dracula – which is sporting a wooden stake through its heart! The police burst in upon him, observe that he has a stake-driving weapon in hand, and take him into custody for murder. Dracula's body is locked up in the local police department-where a mysterious woman drops by, and ,using a strange hypnotic power over the lone policeman on duty, makes off with the Count's body. She spirits it away, and then engulfs it in a funeral pyre that she thinks may free her of her family curse (Leaving us viewers to ponder how,  after this fiery final rest the Count managed to return in future films!) Her salvation is not to be- as her odd "assistant" Sandor underlines that her behavior still indicates that she has not lost her desire for human blood!

Meanwhile, the incarcerated  Von/ Van Helsing contacts his brilliant, but somewhat skeptical former student, Jeffery Garth, asking him to help prove that he is sane- and that vampires do exist. While trying to decide how he can help, Garth attends a society party, and encounters a stranger who has arrived -a visiting artist, Countess Marya Zaleska (in reality, the daughter of the Count that Von Helsing slew!) Jeffrey converses with other guests about his work in curing his patients' cravings, which the Countess overhears- and , thinking he may be on to something, she inquires if he might help her to defeat an unnamed craving. He agrees to help her, although he has no clue as to what her affliction might be.

However, a rash of attacks, with victims drained of blood brings about suspicions. Jeffrey’s secretary (who hopes to be promoted to the station of girlfriend as well) takes an instant dislike of the Countess- for good reason- as the story continues, striving to confirm suspicions that a vampire does exist-and that said menace will do anything to remove any threats to its existence- taking us back to the Transylvania castle where the original vampire story began - and where lives may end!

This 1936 film was made 5 year after the original “Dracula”- and boasts a truly  eerie atmosphere , in no small part due to the unearthly presence of Gloria Holden’s Countess. Edward Van Sloan makes his second appearance as Dracula’s nemesis, Von Helsing, and Otto Krueger, last seen on our show as yet another reanimator of the ape woman, Paula Dupree, stars as psychologist hero Jeffrey. We’ll talk about the cast, and provide Sven shtick- including an often-requested interview with another Dracula “relative”- some costume contest highlights from the last Flashback Weekend horror convention and - due to many requests, after the clip of a live performance last week – our original celebrity- saturated music video of the "Svengoolie Stomp"!

Meet “Dracula’s Daughter” tonight on MeTV at 8 pm eastern/pacific, 7 central, or check your local listings (or www.metv.com) for time and channel where you can watch in your area. In the Chicago area, our viewers get one more visit to the goofy “Village of the Giants” at 11 am on WCIU, the U! For those who may be wondering- that show had huge viewership- pardon the pun.

The first Sven public appearance of the year is just two weeks away- and, in of all places- Berwyn! Watch for details under our “appearances” tab on our site here soon. You can still order the latest Sven action figure in our store, as well- please do so while the supply holds out!

Our Sven administrator has asked me to remind you of our rules, which a few of you are pushing- no sexual innuendo- no mention of other networks or that you’re switching to something else- no over-doing the negativity (if you dislike the movie, you can state it – but harping on it over and over in posts is not appreciated). We really don’t want to- to use the popular term in these comments- “send you to the cornfield”.

Meanwhile, pop some corn tonight and visit with daddy’s little ghoul on MeTV!