The Vampire Bat (1933)

When the villagers of Klineschloss start dying of blood loss, the town fathers suspect a resurgence of vampirism. While police inspector Karl remains skeptical, scientist Dr. von Niemann cares for the vampire's victims one by one, and suspicion falls on simple-minded Herman Gleib because of his fondness for bats. A blood-thirsty mob hounds Gleib to his death, but the vampire attacks don't stop. Written by Sister Grimm - IMDB

The Vampire Bat is an American horror movie starring Lionel Atwill, Fay Wray, Melvyn Douglas, and Dwight Frye.  It was directed by Frank Strayer.  This movie was turned out by Majestic Pictures and had a pre-famous Fay Wray since King Kong had not yet been released.  It also has Dwight Frye, who basically plays Renfield throughout the movie.  He's very effective and creepy, but all I kept thinking while watching the movie was....that's Renfield.  His performance is fine, it's just a carbon copy of what he did in Dracula.  He is amusing though when he gives unsuspecting people bats as gifts...he's obsessed with bats you see.  Comic relief is provided by a hypochondriac aunt of the doctor's.

Bats are furry....like cats.

This is not a horror film in the traditional sense but is instead more of a murder mystery.  It's not an awful picture and it's certainly visually inspired by the Universal horror films. The characters aren't developed at all and the ending will leave you scratching your head as to what the hell was the purpose of all this. True horror fans will appreciate this film more than a casual viewer.  It's a fun little film and it's cool to see Fay Wray with her natural brown hair color. There are three things that make "The Vampire Bat" stand out from the other poverty row films - the cast, the direction, and the comedy.

Kevin Booker

Trivia:
Filmed at night on Universal's European village set. The interior of Lionel Atwill's house is the set from The Old Dark House.

Majestic Pictures cashed in on the success of Lionel Atwill and Fay Wray, who had been a sensation in the Technicolor thriller Doctor X and had already completed Mystery of the Wax Museum, which was also being heavily promoted at the time. Majestic was able to get this film into theaters over a month before the release of the latter one. 

Goodnight, gentlemen. Don't let the vampires get you.