Mark of the Vampire **** (1935, Lionel Barrymore, Elizabeth Allan, Bela Lugosi, Lionel Atwill, Donald Meek, Jean Hersholt) – Classic Movie Review 2685

Director Tod Browning’s astute 1935 horror thriller has an engaging spoofy, parodic tone and a trick ending. A succulent Lionel Barrymore entertains as the eminent demonology expert Professor Zelin and the invaluable Bela Lugosi is on top form as the head vampire, Count Mora.

In the screenplay by Guy Endore and Bernard Schubert, nobleman Sir Karell Borotyn (Holmes Herbert) is found dead in his study, drained of his blood. A year later, his daughter is attacked and bite marks are found on her throat. Then a police inspector (Lionel Atwill), a doctor (Donald Meek) and the local baron (Jean Hersholt) take on the vampires terrorising a Czech village with the aid of a troupe of travelling players.

Remaking his 1927 silent movie London After Midnight, Browning, the director of Dracula and Freaks, keeps the pace taut, the atmosphere creepy and the horror friendly.

The particularly good cast and ace cinematographer James Wong Howe’s fine images ensure real quality in a splendid little chiller that motors as much on its effective tongue-in-cheek humorous tone as its horror.

© Derek Winnert 2015 Classic Movie Review 2685

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