- Universal Pictures' Dracula's Daughter is perhaps most notable for its remarkable continuity with the original Dracula. In fact, it may be the most direct sequel I have ever seen in that the film picks up immediately after Professor Von Helsing (Edward Van Sloan) has driven a stake through Dracula's heart. Two nearby police constables (E. E. Clive, Billy Bevan) are understandably curious about this apparent murder and drag Von Helsing to Scotland Yard to explain himself. There, the professor finds a somewhat sympathetic ear in Sir Basil Humphrey (Gilbert Emery), but Von Helsing believes he'll need the testimony of psychiatrist Dr. Jeffrey Garth (Otto Kruger) to clear him of any criminal charges.
- In fact, Dracula's Daughter quickly shifts its focus to Dr. Garth and the eerie European countess, Marya Zaleska (Gloria Holden), newly arrived to London. Countess Zaleska seeks Dr. Garth's assistance in curing her condition, which we assume has something to do with vampirism after watching her and her weird assistant Sandor (Irving Pichel) burn Dracula's corpse into ashes and abduct a young woman (Nan Grey). Although Dr. Garth begins to suspect that the countess may be involved with the recent spate of unexplained deaths, it takes the abduction of his rebellious assistant Janet (Marguerite Churchill) to finally spur him into action.
- Incidentally, Janet is a surprisingly amusing character by the standards of 1930's horror films. She's obviously in love with Dr. Garth, but expresses this affection by placing prank calls, casting all manner of aspersions toward Countess Zaleska, and just generally playing the brat. The film's best scenes all involve either Janet or the countess, the latter of whom takes a surprisingly subversive interest in undressing young women before she dines. (Like her father, the countess never drinks...wine.) Kruger proves convincing in a rare heroic role, and director Lambert Hillyer is just good enough, even if he isn't quite a match for Tod Browning or James Whale.
- Also featuring Hedda Hopper.
- They changed Van Helsing to Von Helsing for some reason.
