 |
|
 | |
 | |
|
|
| |
| |
During and after World War II, Arthur Lucan transferred the successful music hall role of Old Mother Riley to film. He played an old and truculent woman in a comic parody of everyday life. It most certainly hasn't aged well, if it ever was really funny. Yet the ridiculous facial contortions, odd logic, and harridan character did attract fame and fortune in those far-off times.
Lucan was usually partnered in films and on the stage by his wife, Kitty McShane, who played Mother Riley's daughter, but they had separated by the time this film was made and she didn't appear in it. Old Mother Riley was usually a charwoman or something similar, but in this film she was positively middle-class, in running a shop.
Bela Lugosi plays a mad scientist in a plot that makes some references to the standard Dracula plot. Lugosi seems to have more lines in this film than in Dracula, where he made his name. A science fiction element is introduced into the plot as well, keeping abreast of the current interest in "science".
Lucan looks tired in this, the last of his Mother Riley outings, and the plot and humour are both weak. But the film is significantly better made than the previous pieces, even containing a song-and-dance sequence led by Mother Riley. More money was evidently spent on scenery, script and supporting actors; many of the latter were to become the mainstay of British light comedy in succeeding years.
The film was also released as Vampire over London and My Son the Vampire.
HF March 2002
 |
This Page: Old Mother Riley Meets the VampireReturn to Alphabetical Index PageReturn to Home Page |
Hazel Freeman's |
 |
Jenni Olson |
and hosted at |
|
Visitors from the US and Canada can help support this site by shopping for LGBT DVDs using this WolfeVideo.com affiliate link. The commission we earn from your purchases will directly support the continued existence of this website. Thank you!
