The Film Detective Tabs Oct. 25 For A Special Edition Blu-ray Of Vincent Price Starring In Director Wilbur Cranes' 1959 Film Release Of The Bat

When the bat flies … someone dies!!  

The Film Detective announced this past week that Oct. 25 has been carved-out as the street date for a special edition of writer/director Wilbur Crane’s 1959 film adaption of the Mary Roberts Rinehart and Avery Hopwood’s 1920 stage play, The Bat.

It was originally adapted for the screen in 1926 by writer/director Roland West, and then again in by West as a sound version titled The Bat Whispers in 1930.  While both were wildly popular at the time, it was this 1959 production starring Vincent Price that has really stood the test of time.  

Price had scored well as Prof. Henry Jarrod in André De Toth’s 1953 horror film, House of Wax, but didn’t follow it up with additional genre work until The Fly in 1958, which was quickly followed by House on Haunted Hill, Return of the Fly, The Tingler and then The Bat in August of 1959.   As if by magic — screen magic — he had become a horror icon, which would come to full blossom in the 1960s with a series of seven film collaborations with Roger Corman.

Here he plays Dr. Malcolm Wells, who has come into a piece of information that sets everything in motion.   He is, yes, a murderer, but is he the mysterious serial killer that has been on the prowl in the quaint country town of Zenith?  

Author Cornelia Van Gorder (Agnes Moorehead) and her assistant Lizzie Allen (Lenita Lane) have taken up residence in “The Oaks,” which is owned by the local bank president, John Fleming (Harvey Stephens).   The bank VP, Victor Bailey (Mike Steele), finds that to be something of a mystery, but he has bigger issues at hand … it seems that the bank is short a cool million dollars and he confides this bit of information to one of the board members, who just happens to be with the local police, Lieutenant Andy Anderson (Gavin Gordon).

Meanwhile, Fleming and the good doctor, are up at the lake fishing and there is a proposal, Fleming confesses that he has robbed the bank and is willing to split the money with the doctor if he can fake his death.   Shocked, Dr. Wells seems to find such a scheme reprehensible, that is until he picks up the hunting rifle and blows Fleming away.

One problem, where’s the money?   Before you know it, Bailey is arrested for the theft and Cornelia and Lizzie are suddenly living in a haunted house, which appears to be the lair of The Bat, the serial killer.   WOW, what a great opportunity for Cornelia, she’s going to write about the mystery and murders … and be an amateur detective while she’s at it!!  

Murder, another murder … and then … no, no, no, we are not giving away all of the surprises; the twists and turns in this wicked mystery/horror gem.   Check it out on Blu-ray or DVD from the Film Detective on Oct. 25.

Bonus goodies include commentary by professor and film scholar, Jason A. Ney, as well as the featurette titled “Ballyhoo Motion Pictures on Director: Crane Wilbur.”