The Vampire Bat (1933) – Lionel Atwill Pre-Code Horror

The Vampire Bat (1933) is an American Pre‑Code horror film directed by Frank R. Strayer and produced by Majestic Pictures. Set in the German village of Kleinschloss, the story follows a series of mysterious deaths in which victims are found drained of blood. While frightened villagers suspect vampirism, Police Inspector Karl Brettschneider remains skeptical, believing a human killer is responsible.

Meanwhile, the eccentric Herman Gleib — who adores bats and behaves strangely — becomes the prime suspect in the villagers’ eyes. As panic spreads, Dr. Otto von Niemann conducts his own investigations, which ultimately reveal a scientific, rather than supernatural, explanation behind the killings. The film is notable for its atmospheric sets (some reused from Frankenstein and The Old Dark House) and its strong cast, including Fay Wray and Lionel Atwill, making it one of the standout Poverty Row horror films of the early 1930s.

Film Details
Title: The Vampire Bat
Year: 1933
Genre: Horror / Mystery / Pre‑Code
Director: Frank R. Strayer
Writer: Edward T. Lowe Jr.
Producers: Phil Goldstone, Larry Darmour
Starring:
Lionel Atwill as Dr. Otto von Niemann
Fay Wray as Ruth Bertin
Melvyn Douglas as Karl Brettschneider
Dwight Frye as Herman Gleib
Maude Eburne as Aunt Gussie Schnappmann
Cinematography: Ira H. Morgan
Edited by: Otis Garrett
Music: Charles Dunworth
Studio: Majestic Pictures
Release Date: January 10, 1933
Runtime: 63 minutes
Country: United States
Language: English

#TheVampireBat1933 #FayWray #LionelAtwill #MelvynDouglas #DwightFrye #FrankRStrayer #PreCodeHorror #PovertyRow #ClassicHorror #1930sCinema