<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99.CERT
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>dex99cert.txt
<DESCRIPTION>CERTIFICATIONS
<TEXT>
<PAGE>

                                 CERTIFICATIONS

I, Daniel T. Geraci, certify that:

1.      I have reviewed this report on Form N-Q of The Zweig Total Return Fund,
        Inc.;

2.      Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement
        of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make
        the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such
        statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered
        by this report;

3.      Based on my knowledge, the schedules of investments included in this
        report fairly present in all material respects the investments of the
        registrant as of the end of the fiscal quarter for which the report is
        filed;

4.      The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for
        establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as
        defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) for
        the registrant and have:

        (a)     Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such
                disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our
                supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the
                registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made
                known to us by others within those entities, particularly during
                the period in which this report is being prepared;

        (b)     [Omitted]

        (c)     Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal
                control over financial reporting that occurred during the
                registrant's most recent fiscal quarter that has materially
                affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the
                registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

5.      The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed to the
        registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board
        of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

        (a)     All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the
                design or operation of internal control over financial reporting
                which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's
                ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial
                information; and

        (b)     Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or
                other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's
                internal control over financial reporting.

        Date: November 29, 2004

                                                  /s/ Daniel T. Geraci
                                          --------------------------------------
                                                    Daniel T. Geraci
                                                       President

<PAGE>

                                 CERTIFICATIONS

I, Nancy Curtiss, certify that:

1.      I have reviewed this report on Form N-Q of The Zweig Total Return Fund,
        Inc.;

2.      Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement
        of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make
        the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such
        statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered
        by this report;

3.      Based on my knowledge, the schedules of investments included in this
        report fairly present in all material respects the investments of the
        registrant as of the end of the fiscal quarter for which the report is
        filed;

4.      The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for
        establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as
        defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) for
        the registrant and have:

        (a)     Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such
                disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our
                supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the
                registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made
                known to us by others within those entities, particularly during
                the period in which this report is being prepared;

        (b)     [Omitted]

        (c)     Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal
                control over financial reporting that occurred during the
                registrant's most recent fiscal quarter that has materially
                affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the
                registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

5.      The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed to the
        registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board
        of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

        (a)     All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the
                design or operation of internal control over financial reporting
                which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's
                ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial
                information; and

        (b)     Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or
                other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's
                internal control over financial reporting.

        Date: November 29, 2004

                                                  /s/ Nancy Curtiss
                                          --------------------------------------
                                                    Nancy Curtiss
                                                      Treasurer

</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
