Sunday, December 30, 2012

The Return Of Count Yorga (1971)


Count Yorga continues to prey on the local community while living by a nearby orphanage. He also intends to take a new wife, while feeding his bevy of female vampires. 

He's back!!!  However we're not sure why or how.  Considering that he was killed in the first film. (Count Yorga, Vampire)  He shows up here with no explanation as to how he was resurrected.
  
The film features Robert Quarry returning as the infamous vampire Count Yorga, along with his servant Brudah. (Both of whom died in the previous film) To further complicate matters, actor Roger Perry, who had a lead role in the first film and was also killed off, appears in this film as a different character.  The lovely maiden that catches the Count's eye in this film is Mariette Hartley, whom I remember from The Incredible Hulk TV series in the classic episode "Married".  Unfortunately she's not dealing here with a simple puny super strong creature that can turn over cars.....she's dealing with bad ass mother fucking Count Yorga. 

Humor is certainly on display during the film and several times it caught me off guard and I chuckled out loud. For some reason the Count shows up at an orphanage costume party and loses the "Most Convincing Costume" award to some clown dressed as a vampire. And a priest phones a mute woman, Jennifer, to find out what's going on.  Huh? The same mute woman flies off the handle at one point and starts smacking this kid, Tommy, all in the face.  But the humor reaches it's crescendo with the two wise cracking cops at the climax of the film. 

Director Bob Kelijan actually does a pretty good job delivering some  creepy atmosphere with just a couple of locations and some unique shots. The vampire attack on the family is still a bit disturbing even 40 years later.  The film certainly didn't break any new ground in the vampire genre and has pretty much been forgotten or overlooked from the early 70's.  But on a slow Saturday night with a bag of microwave popcorn, you certainly could do worse for entertainment. At times you'll shake your head, such as when Yorga is chilling and watching an Italian speaking vampire movie, but overall it's a fun movie. I mean, how many other movies have their lead vampire trick a priest into sinking in quicksand.

Kevin Booker

When you see this coming at you.....that's your ass.
  Trivia:
The film that Yorga watches on television is Hammer Films' The Vampire Lovers.  A "foreign" language soundtrack has been added to this English-language film for this purpose.

Craig T. Nelson's film debut. 

This was the final film of George Macready, whose movie career had begun in 1942. His stage experience went all the way back to 1926. His son, Michael Macready, produced both "Count Yorga" films.

Quotes:

Mrs. Nelson: Where are your fangs?
Count Yorga: Where are your manners?

Rev. Thomas: At a time like this even Jesus Christ would fabricate his intentions.

Professor Rightstat: [having a senior moment] Yoga? Yoga? Oh, no,no,no,no,no, I don't believe in Yoga. Oh, sheer poppycock! Tried it once about 40 years ago. Got stuck in one of those locus positions. Took three men to unwind my body. Well, what's that got to do with vampires? You haven't read my book.

Rev. Thomas: [Rev. Thomas is sinking into the quicksand] You... you... you lead me to this, this was your purpose! In the name of God, man, please. You devil! You vampire! You never intended donating that money! You sick, tormented monster. You'll never get away with this.
[produces crucifix]
Rev. Thomas: There. There, you madman! How do you like that? *Gurgle* 

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