Riding on the success of 'Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man', Universal came up with a script 'Wolf Man vs Dracula' that, on paper, was exciting (but no Frankenstein Monster). It included a great sequence toward the end where Dracula, as a giant bat, battles the Wolf Man inside the walls of Castle Dracula (some of that premise survived in the closing scenes of 'Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein'). And it was violent enough for the censors to raise a fuss that caused delays in re-writes (apparently from the Wolf Man's carnage on half of the village gendarmes at the climax). So it was shelved. Then Karloff returned to Universal Studios from Broadway's roadshow 'Arsenic and Old Lace'; and 'House of Frankenstein' was born.
Within the year, the same producer, writer and director were reunited for this follow-up. Chaney, Carrradine and Strange returned for their respected reprisals of the Wolf Man, Dracula and Frankenstein's Monster and were shoved in the background in favor of Onslow Steven's (excellent) portrayal of Dr Edelmann's 'Jekyll/Hyde type' character. And that's part of the problem because the writer(s) apparently felt that they had milked the 3 main Monsters dry, so the emphasis is put back on the (mad) scientist, along with (female) hunchback Jane Adams.
But it's still a fun ride! The settings are atmospheric and creepy, the music is appropriate (many themes rehashed from previous entries) and the acting is good considering the same inane dialogue the actors were required to deliver. Unfortunately the powers-to-be made such drastic cuts in the budget that footage from the ending of 'Ghost of Frankenstein' was stolen to fill in the final closing seconds (the original ending, as written, was staged in the catacombs beneath the laboratory, with the floor giving way to engulf Edelmann and the Monster). The only saving grace is that Universal made up for it by concluding the saga with 'Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein'.
Some nice moments makes a good 2nd feature to 'House of Frankenstein'.
5.5 out of 10! I still like it overall!
Within the year, the same producer, writer and director were reunited for this follow-up. Chaney, Carrradine and Strange returned for their respected reprisals of the Wolf Man, Dracula and Frankenstein's Monster and were shoved in the background in favor of Onslow Steven's (excellent) portrayal of Dr Edelmann's 'Jekyll/Hyde type' character. And that's part of the problem because the writer(s) apparently felt that they had milked the 3 main Monsters dry, so the emphasis is put back on the (mad) scientist, along with (female) hunchback Jane Adams.
But it's still a fun ride! The settings are atmospheric and creepy, the music is appropriate (many themes rehashed from previous entries) and the acting is good considering the same inane dialogue the actors were required to deliver. Unfortunately the powers-to-be made such drastic cuts in the budget that footage from the ending of 'Ghost of Frankenstein' was stolen to fill in the final closing seconds (the original ending, as written, was staged in the catacombs beneath the laboratory, with the floor giving way to engulf Edelmann and the Monster). The only saving grace is that Universal made up for it by concluding the saga with 'Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein'.
Some nice moments makes a good 2nd feature to 'House of Frankenstein'.
5.5 out of 10! I still like it overall!