Movie review - "The Corpse Vanishes" (1942) **

One of a series of low budget star vehicles Bela Lugosi made for minor studios after the horror movie was restored to popularity with Son of Frankenstein. This one is very obviously influenced by vampire films - Lugosi plays a doctor who kills of brides to extract their "essence" for his sick wife a la that Baroness who killed virgins. He and his wife also sleep in coffins and they have some weird assistants: a dwarf and a hunchback moron and his mother. The hunchback could have been a bit better cast but the dwarf is spot on - played by Angelo Rossitto, a popular dwarf who played Master in Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome. Luana Walters is likeable as the spunky 40s investigative reporter determined to get to the bottom of the dying brides. The male doctor hero is bland. There are some poor performances from some of the supporting cast and awkward handling, but some strong scenes, such as where Walters pokes around Lugosi's house one night, and a good story. Lugosi is in fine form again, though one wishes the action focused more on him rather than the reporter.