A mad scientist known as ‘the Vampire’ (Bela Lugosi) comes to England to complete experiments in his mad plan for world domination using an army of robots. Unfortunately, the radar-controlled robot (Tom Macaulay) which he has had shipped to him is delivered instead to Mother Riley (Arthur Lucan).
Using radar control, the Vampire has the Robot transport itself to the correct destination – taking Old Mother Riley with it!
The old lady goes into a whirl of side-splitting action in a determined effort to frustrate the plans of the sinister Vampire. Most of the comedy involves groan-worthy slapstick, pratfalls and music hall-era gags.
Bela Lugosi had been on a theatre tour of England in Dracula when the production abruptly ended because the producers declared bankruptcy and absconded without paying anyone.
Lugosi found himself stranded in London with no money and no way to get back to the US.
Producer Richard Gordon, a friend of Lugosi’s who was based in England, heard about his plight and arranged for him to appear in this, the latest – and, as it turned out, the last – in the ‘Old Mother Riley’ series of comedies (which had been running since the 1930s), for which Lugosi was paid $5,000.
There are some interesting cameos from Dora Bryan, Hattie Jacques, John Le Mesurier and Laurence Naismith.
Released in some markets as Vampire Over London and My Son, The Vampire.
Mother Riley
Arthur Lucan The Vampire
Bela Lugosi Tilly
Dora Bryan Anton
Philip Leaver PC Freddie
Richard Wattis The Yokel
Graham Moffatt Julia
María Mercedes Douglas
Roderick Lovell Mugsy
David Hurst Mugsy’s Assistant
Bill Shine Freda
Judith Furse Hitchcock
Ian Wilson Mrs Jenks
Hattie Jacques Mrs Mott
Dandy Nichols Nasty Boy
David Hannaford Sir Joshua Bing
Charles Lloyd Pack BBC Announcer
Peter Bathurst Robot Mark 1
Tom Macaulay Police Brass
Cyril Smith Scotland Yard Man
John Le Mesurier Police Sergeant
George Benson Police Sergeant at Desk
Laurence Naismith
Director
John Gilling
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