Certification Pursuant to Rule 30a-2(b) under the 1940 Act and Section 906 of
                            the Sarbanes-Oxley Act

I, George R. Aylward, President of The Zweig Total Return Fund, Inc. (the
"Registrant"), certify that:

     1.  The Form N-CSR of the Registrant containing the financial statements
         (the "Report") fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a)
         or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

     2.  The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all
         material respects, the financial condition and results of operations
         of the Registrant.

Date:  September 3, 2009         /s/ George R. Aylward
                                 -------------------------------
                                 George R. Aylward, President
                                 (principal executive officer)

I, Nancy G. Curtiss, Treasurer of The Zweig Total Return Fund, Inc. (the
"Registrant"), certify that:

     1.  The Form N-CSR of the Registrant containing the financial statements
         (the "Report") fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a)
         or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

     2.  The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all
         material respects, the financial condition and results of operations
         of the Registrant.

Date:  September 3, 2009         /s/ Nancy G. Curtiss
                                 -------------------------------
                                 Nancy G. Curtiss, Treasurer
                                 (principal financial officer)