DEVIL BAT’S DAUGHTER (director: Frank Wisbar; screenwriters: Griffin Jay/story by Ernst Jager & Leo J. McCarthy; cinematographer: James S. Brown Jr.; editor: Douglas W. Bagier; music: Alexander Steinert; cast: Rosemary LePlanche (Nina MacCarron), John James (Ted Masters), Michael Hale (Dr. Clifton Morris ), Monica Mars (Myra Arnold), Edward Cassidy (Sheriff), Nolan Leary (Dr. Elliot), Eddie Kane (George, Apartment House Manager), Molly Lamont (Ellen Masters Morris); Runtime: 66; MPAA Rating: NR; producer: Frank Wisbar; PRC; 1946)
“Decent horror pic.”

Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz

Rising star German director Frank Wisbar(“Commando”/”Sharks and Little Fish”/”Lighthouse“) came to Hollywood in the early ’40s after fleeing the Nazis and made cheapie but interesting films for PRC Pictures. This decent horror pic is a strange follow-up to his Strangler of the Swamp (1946).

Nina (Rosemary La Planche, former Miss America) is found unconscious on the road to New York. The police investigate and realize she’s the daughter of Dr. Carruthers, the vampire murderer played by Bela Lugosi in Devil Bat (1940). At the hospital, the doctors gradually revive her. That night she has nightmarish dreams of bats, and becomes fearful. This leads her to flee from the hospital. She gets permission to stay at the home of the slimy psychiatrist Dr. Morris (Michael Hale), until she recovers, through the approval of his wealthy wife (Molly Lamont). But Nina’s still haunted by bad bat dreams and believes she’s going batty. When Mrs. Morris is found murdered, Nina believes she’s possessed by her dad’s evil nature and that she’s the killer. Luckily for Nina, the dead woman’s hunky son, Ted (John James), falls in love with her and believes she’s innocent.In the end, the protective Ted comes up with proof that his cheating step-father was responsible for his mother’s death.

The pic suffers because of poor dialogue, wooden acting and a confusing story-line. It doesn’t help matters that it veers back and forth between Devil Bat and this film, not seeming to make things clear enough for those who never saw that film about what’s going down and suggesting that this film’s inane ending should be accepted over that film’s superior presentation.

REVIEWED ON 8/12/2015 GRADE: B-

Dennis Schwartz: “Ozus’ World Movie Reviews”

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