The Return of Count Yorga *** (1971, Robert Quarry, Mariette Hartley, Roger Perry) – Classic Movie Review 9357

Director Bob Kelljan’s 1971 horror movie The Return of Count Yorga brings Robert Quarry back as the stylish modern-day vampire in this improved follow-up to the 1970 Count Yorga, Vampire, in which he grabs his object of desire Cynthia Nelson (Mariette Hartley), while her boyfriend (Roger Perry) tries to bring her back.

The Return of Count Yorga is a convincing and fast paced horror movie, with plenty of scary scenes, a decent budget and slick professionalism all round.

Quarry looked set to be the horror king of the 1970s, and was a good adversary for Vincent Price in the second Dr Phibes film, Dr Phibes Rises Again (1972), but surprisingly his career suddenly faded.

Also in the cast are Yvonne Wilder, George Macready, Tom Tona, Rudy DeLuca, Philip Frame, Walter Brooke, Edward Walsh and Craig T Nelson.

Quarry’s career was curtailed by a serious car accident, but he recovered and made a comeback in the mid-1980s. He died on 20 February 2009, aged 83.  He recalled: ‘I mean, I played Count Yorga straight. The best villains are the ones who are both protagonist and antagonist.’

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 9357

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