Film Review
The Devil Bat marked the start
of Bela Lugosi's decline as the actor failed to evade the curse of
typecasting and became a sad parody of his former self. Within a year
of his appearance in the prestigious Lubitsch comedy
Ninotchka
(1939), the film that should have led to bigger and better things,
Lugosi was working for a poverty row studio (Producers Releasing
Corporation) on this low budget B-movie, one that would set the pattern
for much of his remaining career.
The Devil Bat is by no means
Lugosi's worst film, but it is a significant drop from the giddy
heights of his former horror triumphs, which of course included
Universal Pictures' iconic Dracula. Once you start falling, it
is hard to pick yourself up again, and few actors of Lugosi's standing
would fall as low as this great icon of horror.
Without Lugosi's mesmeric presence,
The
Devil Bat would have little to commend it.
The script, direction and acting may all be above poverty row standard
but none of these is good enough to make the film a classic by itself.
It is the ever-charismatic Lugosi who makes the film so weirdly memorable, looking
creepier than ever in a pair of demonic goggles.
The horror content is next to none (the special effects are
predictably risible) but, as the mad scientist
masquerading as a saintly doctor (of just about every science under the
sun), Lugosi is as spine-chilling as ever, and loving every minute of
it.
With nothing remotely sympathetic in the supporting cast, it is Lugosi
we side with right from the start - it helps that his character as a
genuine grievance, although having his employers bitten to death by a
giant bat he has knocked up in the firm's time does seem a tad
unjust. The plot may be bonkers, but Lugosi handles it with the
utmost seriousness, a manic fervour creeping into his performance as he
slips into mad scientist mode.
The
Devil Bat is certainly not the most distinguished entry on
Lugosi's CV but the actor acquits himself marvellously with another
spellbinding portrayal, unaware that his glory days were fast slipping
away from him.
© James Travers 2014
The above content is owned by filmsdefrance.com and must not be copied.
Film Synopsis
For years Dr Paul Carruthers has been the most diligent of research
scientists for a leading cosmetics company. His creations have
made his employers insanely wealthy, but he appears to be content with
his modest stipend. In truth, Carruthers nurtures an intense
loathing for his employers and intends to exact the cruellest of
revenges, with the help of a giant bat he has created in his
laboratory. An aftershave lotion he has devised will lure the bat
to each of its intended victims, who will all die from a severed
jugular. At first, the plan works and Carruthers delights in the
demise of three of his enemies. But when a meddlesome journalist
starts to put two and two together Carruthers finds another use for his
hungry Devil Bat...
© James Travers
The above content is owned by filmsdefrance.com and must not be copied.