The Thursday Horror Picture Show will screen The Devil Bat Thursday, June 2, at 7:30 p.m. at the Grail Moviehouse, hosted by Xpress movie critics Ken Hanke and Scott Douglas.
![](https://mountainx.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/devil_bat_02-1100x816.jpg)
The Devil Bat
Movie Information
In Brief: The Devil Bat (1940) marks the only time that Bela Lugosi worked for PRC Pictures. Whether once was enough (Lugosi had worked, and would work, at worse places) or whether his deal with Sam Katzman over at Monogram precluded further films is unknown. PRC was the lowest of the "real" studios, but it had kind-of-passable production values — though those values didn’t extend to a believable giant bat. Lugosi is Dr. Paul Carruthers (never mind that his accent hardly suggests that name), whose “formoola” for a cold cream is the source for the immense wealth of the Heath Cosmetics Company. The film makes it clear that it’s his own damn fault for having insisted on a lump sum rather than a piece of the company, but he’s worked himself into a vengeance-crazed tizzy over it anyway. So he does what any reasonable person would. He creates giant bats that are drawn to kill anyone wearing a special aftershave of his own devising. (“Now rub it on the tender part of your throat.”) Wouldn’t you? Yeah, it’s pretty funny. I mean we’re talking about a movie with a hero (Dave O’Brien) who says, “It’s not so funny when it’s your jugular vein, is it?” At the same time, you’ve got Lugosi giving it his all as if he believes he can hold this nonsense together by the sheer force of his will. And, in some ways, he nearly does. PRC liked it enough that they immediately reworked the story for George Zucco in 1942's The Mad Monster, and then remade it outright with Zucco again as The Flying Serpent in 1946.
Score: | |
Genre: | Horror |
Director: | Jean Yarborough |
Starring: | Bela Lugosi, Suzanne Kaaren, Dave O'Brien, Guy Usher, Donald Kerr, Yolande Donlan |
Rated: | NR |
Before you comment
The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.