Too much of everything

SERIOUSLY. This is what the crap Hollywood still puts out?

This movie feels like it was made purely to piss off people who want good shows

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

The film is very loosely from John William Polidori's novel "The Vampyre." In Africa the natives are full of superstitions and, not surprisingly, they are afraid of the undead. There is a 400 year old Vampire among them, Webb Fallon, who has grown tired of "living" his life alone and seeks a bride.The book was written before Bram Stoker wrote 'Dracula'. So it's nice to see a film that is based on an earlier Vampire story - even if it is very loosely based on the book.This is not a film you hear talked about often and is hard to find a copy of... so if you love Vampires and get a chance to see the film you should grab the opportunity - it's not a bad film.7/10

Some good ideas in this Republic programmer, but the mix never really gels. A sort-of vampire, Fallon (Abbot), runs a seedy saloon in darkest Africa. Natives in the area keep turning up dead, partially drained of blood. Meanwhile, Fallon has other-worldly designs on delectable Julie (Stewart) if only he can get past her boyfriend Roy (Gordon) and hulking priest Father Gilchrist (Withers). Oddly, there's a hint of regret in Fallon's evil side that suggests a conflict in his divided make-up. Abbott can bug his eyes with the best, but there's nothing scary about his Fallon. Nor is he shown engaged in creepy depredations. Instead, his attacks are only implied in anonymous shadow. As a result, he's more like a unimposing lost soul trying to navigate two worlds. Thus the movie's fear factor is near zero. Neither is there much suspense to grab onto. Instead, the story simply unfolds in erratic fashion. Then too, that backdrop mountain painting that director Selander's camera emphasizes certainly doesn't help. Plus, poor lead actor Gordon tries, but is simply inept, driving a hole through much of the 59-minutes. (I agree- he does look like Buster Crabbe, maybe the best thing about his presence.) However, after that wild acrobatic dance, I'm on my way to see if Adele Mara's native girl left any female descendants.All in all it looks like Republic was trying to cut in on Universal's horror film monopoly. Except Universal was either lucky enough or good enough to get top-notch production crews for Dracula (1931) and Frankenstein (1931), to name two. The Vampire's Ghost gets a plus for trying to be different. Trouble is, it just doesn't come off.

I had never seen or heard of the Vampire's Ghost until I attended a Western film festival where Peggy Stewart was a guest star. She was a popular Western heroine at Republic, making films with Bill Elliott, Sunset Carson and Allan Lane. When they announced they were going to run it, she made a face and said, "Oh no, you're not." Peggy never attends screenings of her old films because it brings back memories that make her cry. She says she always recalls what went on behind the scenes and would rather talk with the fans. When I saw it, I recall one particular scene where she is supposedly walking in a trance. She had shoulder length hair and a beautiful face. It's no wonder her co-workers and fans love her. At the awards banquet, they presented her with a plaque which had the figure of a ghost on it. She got a big laugh out of that.

"The Vampire's Ghost" is an underrated film. Don't expect a lot of effects or Gothic settings-this film carries itself without it. That may be a drawback to some viewers. The acting is good and the jungle scenes add an interesting touch. Some genre expectations(i.e. inability to go out in the sun)are thrown out. John Abbott is fine in the lead role. He plays a sympathetic figure at the beginning but starts to show his sinister side. He runs a dive by the waterfront which covers his true identity. When murders are committed, the natives start to blame him. The manner in which he is killed is a change from most vampire movies and the ability to regain his strength via moonlight is an original one. "Vampire's Ghost" is a film that is worth a look. Note-Movies Unlimited has a very good copy of this film but it is on VHS only. You could always have it transferred to DVD.