Equitorial Africa, 1945, not exactly the spot where you would expect to see a vampire story, but that is the setting of The Vampire’s Ghost.
Republic Pictures was a small studio that specialized in Westerns, Adventure serials and other low budget fare for the movie houses of the 1940s. I can’t remember ever seeing any horror films from Republic, but if we can judge from The Vampire’s Ghost, that’s too bad, because The Vampire’s Ghost is a pretty decent little vampire flick. Like most Republic films, it’s short, meant to fill the second spot of a double feature. Leigh Brackett, a well respected science fiction writer, penned the script. The story seems to be based on John Polidori’s short story, “The Vampyre,” although that story is not credited as the source.
The vampire is well played by John Abbott, a veteran Shakespearean actor. Abbott’s vampire abandons the tropes of the typical movie vampire he is able to move about freely during the day, though bright sunlight bothers his eyes. The vampire is world weary and self-pitying, but not at all sympathetic as he toys with his victims. The only time this monster seems to come alive is when he is about to commit some terrible cruelty.
The rest of the cast is so-so with the exception of Adele Mara who plays the gypsy dancer, Lisa. Mara is gorgeous and she gives a solid performance in her small part.
Check The Vampire’s Ghost on Netflix Watch Instantly. This is head and shoulders above any of the Twilight flicks.
