-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 I+87fepqzzGHA3Ihh5xwlgvWCoxtn7yN5cG+qDvwPOKKcKQq/wzJAcQsGrm7xPzC
 r5m5PKmK5YUxmeEucyQASA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000950123-07-016174.txt : 20071130
<SEC-HEADER>0000950123-07-016174.hdr.sgml : 20071130
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20071130162414
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000950123-07-016174
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	POS 8C
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
FILED AS OF DATE:		20071130
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20071130

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ZWEIG TOTAL RETURN FUND INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000836412
		IRS NUMBER:				133474242
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		POS 8C
		SEC ACT:		1940 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-05620
		FILM NUMBER:		071278145

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		900 THIRD AVE., 31ST FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10022
		BUSINESS PHONE:		212 451-1100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		900 THIRD AVE., 31ST FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10022

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ZWEIG TOTAL RETURN FUND INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000836412
		IRS NUMBER:				133474242
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		POS 8C
		SEC ACT:		1933 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	333-139605
		FILM NUMBER:		071278146

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		900 THIRD AVE., 31ST FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10022
		BUSINESS PHONE:		212 451-1100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		900 THIRD AVE., 31ST FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10022
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>POS 8C
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>y42995pos8c.htm
<DESCRIPTION>POS 8C
<TEXT>
<HTML>
<HEAD>
<TITLE>POS 8C</TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always">&nbsp;</H5><P>
<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt"><B>As
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November&nbsp;30, 2007</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="right" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt">Investment Company Act File No.&nbsp;811-05620<BR>
Securities Act File No.&nbsp;333-139605
</DIV>

<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 2pt solid black; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 1pt solid black; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 14pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 12pt"><B>WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="center">
<DIV style="font-size: 3pt; margin-top: 16pt; width: 110; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV>



<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 18pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>FORM N-2</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="center">
<DIV style="font-size: 3pt; margin-top: 16pt; width: 110; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV>



<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="96%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="left" valign="top"><B><FONT style="font-family: Wingdings">&#111;</FONT></B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px"><B>REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933</B></DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="left" valign="top"><B><FONT style="font-family: Wingdings">&#111;</FONT></B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px"><B>Pre-effective Amendment No.</B></DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="left" valign="top"><B><FONT style="font-family: Wingdings">&#120;</FONT></B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px"><B>Post-Effective Amendment No.&nbsp;1</B></DIV></TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>


<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>and/or</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="96%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="left" valign="top"><B><FONT style="font-family: Wingdings">&#111;</FONT></B>
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px"><B>REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940</B></DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="left" valign="top"><B><FONT style="font-family: Wingdings">&#120;</FONT></B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px"><B>Amendment No.&nbsp;12</B></DIV></TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>


<DIV align="center">
<DIV style="font-size: 3pt; margin-top: 16pt; width: 110; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV>



<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 24pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>THE ZWEIG TOTAL RETURN FUND, INC.</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>(Exact name of Registrant as specified in charter)</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>900 Third Avenue<BR>
New York, New York 10022</B><BR>
<B><I>(Address of Principal Executive Offices)</I></B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="center">
<DIV style="font-size: 3pt; margin-top: 16pt; width: 110; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV>




<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B><I>Registrant&#146;s Telephone Number, including Area Code:<BR>
212-451-1100</I></B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="center">
<DIV style="font-size: 3pt; margin-top: 16pt; width: 110; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV>




<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>George R. Aylward<BR>
President<BR>
The Zweig Total Return Fund, Inc.<BR>
900 Third Avenue<BR>
New York, New York 10022</B><BR>
<B><I>(Name and Address of Agent for Service)</I></B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>With Copies to:</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>Robert E. Smith, Esq.</B><BR>
Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP<BR>
575 Madison Avenue<BR>
New York, New York 10022
</DIV>


<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>Approximate date of proposed public offering:<BR>
From time to time after the effective date of the Registration Statement</B>.
</DIV>


<DIV align="center">
<DIV style="font-size: 3pt; margin-top: 16pt; width: 110; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV>



<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">If any securities being registered on this form will be offered on a delayed or continuous
basis in reliance on Rule&nbsp;415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered in
connection with a dividend reinvestment plan, check the following box. <FONT style="font-family: Wingdings">&#111;</FONT>
</DIV>


<DIV align="center">
<DIV style="font-size: 3pt; margin-top: 16pt; width: 110; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV>



<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box):
</DIV>

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="94%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top"><B><FONT style="font-family: Wingdings">&#120;</FONT></B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">when declared effective pursuant to Section&nbsp;8(c).</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top"><FONT style="font-family: Wingdings">&#111;</FONT>
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant
to Rule&nbsp;462(b) under the Securities Act, and the Securities Act registration statement
number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering is <U>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</U>-<U>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</U>.</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>


<DIV align="center">
<DIV style="font-size: 3pt; margin-top: 16pt; width: 110; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV>




<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 1pt solid black; margin-top: 10pt; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 2pt solid black; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>







<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->&nbsp;<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always">&nbsp;</H5><P>
<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>DEREGISTRATION OF SECURITIES</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;This Post-Effective Amendment No.&nbsp;1 to the registration statement on Form N-2 under the
Securities Act of 1933 (File No.&nbsp;333-139605) (the &#147;<I>Post-Effective Amendment No.&nbsp;1</I>,&#148; such
registration statement, as amended and supplemented, the &#147;<I>Registration Statement</I>&#148;) is being filed
by The Zweig Total Return Fund, Inc. (the &#147;<I>Registrant</I>&#148;), a Maryland corporation, for the purpose of
removing from registration the securities registered thereon which remain unsold at the termination
of its rights offering. As reflected in Pre-Effective Amendment No.&nbsp;1 to the Registration Statement
(&#147;<I>Pre-Effective Amendment No.&nbsp;1</I>&#148;), which was filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission (the &#147;<I>Commission</I>&#148;) on March&nbsp;28, 2007, the Registration Statement registered the offering
of 23,400,000 shares of the Registrant&#146;s common stock, $0.001 par value (&#147;<I>Shares</I>&#148;).
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Registration Statement was declared effective by the Commission on April&nbsp;19, 2007. Using
the definitive Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information dated April&nbsp;23, 2007, the
Registrant sold 20,730,142 Shares pursuant to its rights offering, which expired on May&nbsp;18, 2007.
No Shares have been offered, sold, or otherwise distributed pursuant to the Registration Statement
subsequently.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Registrant hereby removes from registration the 2,669,858 Shares that remain unsold as of
the date of filing hereof.
</DIV>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->&nbsp;<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>
<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always">&nbsp;</H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>SIGNATURES</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of
1940, the Registrant has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment No.&nbsp;1 to the Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of
New York and State of New York on the 15<sup>th</sup> day of November, 2007.
</DIV>

<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
<TR>
    <TD width="48%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="35%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="15%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
    <TD valign="top" align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="3" align="left">THE ZWEIG TOTAL RETURN FUND, INC.<BR>
&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">By:&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000" align="left">/s/ George R. Aylward</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2" align="left">George R. Aylward&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2" align="left"><I>President</I>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
    <TD colspan="5">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has
been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated:
</DIV>
<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="28%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="40%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="28%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="center" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">Signature</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">Title</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">Date</TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->

<TR style="font-size: 6pt" valign="bottom">
<TD colspan="5">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">/s/ George R. Aylward</DIV>
George R. Aylward</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Director, Chairman of the Board and President</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">November&nbsp;15, 2007</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">/s/ N. Curtiss POA</DIV>
Charles H. Brunie</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Director</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">November&nbsp;15, 2007</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">/s/ N. Curtiss POA</DIV>
Wendy Luscombe</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Director</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">November&nbsp;15, 2007</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">/s/ N. Curtiss POA</DIV>
Alden C. Olson</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Director</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">November&nbsp;15, 2007</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">/s/ N. Curtiss POA</DIV>
James B. Rogers, Jr.</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Director</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">November&nbsp;15, 2007</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">/s/ N. Curtiss POA</DIV>
R. Keith Walton</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Director</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">November&nbsp;15, 2007</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->&nbsp;<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>
</BODY>
</HTML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
