The Film: Devil Bat, a.k.a. Killer Bat, Devil Bats, etc. (Producers Releasing Corporation, 1940). Directed by Jean Yarbrough. Screenplay by John T. Neville. Starring Bela Lugosi, Suzanne Kaaren, Dave O'Brien, Guy Usher, Donald Kerr. Running time: 68 minutes.
The Brief Lowdown: Hardcore Bela Lugosi fans, such as yours truly, savor this classic B-movie from the Golden Age of Bela's film career. Lugosi plays Dr. Paul Carruthers, who genetically engineers a gigantic mutant bat in his kick-ass secret laboratory (what the hell are those buzzing electrode thingies, anyhow, and what exactly do they do?). The bat goes after anybody wearing a special after-shave lotion invented by -- you guessed it -- the same Dr. Paul Carruthers responsible for the genetically-engineered giant mutant bat. This film is one of my favorite poverty-row quickies (it's not quite as much of a masterpiece as Edgar G. Ulmer's 1945 film noir Detour, which I'll also review here at some point -- but it's up there). Remember Dave O'Brien, from Reefer Madness? ("MAE! BRING ME SOME REEFERS!") He's in this sucker, as a newspaper journalist. O'Brien was one of Hollywood's great underrated B-actors. But Lugosi steals the show as the mad scientist living in an idyllic small town who gets unceremoniously screwed over by a local cosmetics firm. The people who tried to stick it to Lugosi get their comeuppance, thanks to his giant killer bat. Unfortunately, when O'Brien and his dopey photographer pal (Donald Kerr) come snooping around the town, it's the beginning of the end for Lugosi. The film is easily accessible on DVD. Here is a scene from it (below). Enjoy!!!
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