Double Frankenstein Weekend

Hello there groovie ghoulies!

Sat at the drive-in last night with a double helping of Frankenstein monster from Universal and Hammer, It was a fun ride.

I started out with Frankenstein meets the Wolfman. Lon Chenay Jr. really is a master at the tormented soul of poor Larry Talbot. He justs wants to be rid of his curse, and he is not having any luck. He stumbles across Victor Frankenstein's creation and hopes the notes of the Frankenstein family can help him end it all.

I thought Bela Lugosi did well with what the director allowed us to see of his performance. From what I understand, for whatever reason, all of the monster's dialouge was cut. But, the monster doesn't talk you ask? Apparently, Ygor who was played by Bela in the previous Frankenstein film had his brain transferred into the monster. They have been much said about Bela's performances over the years, and it has been a mixed bag. He was 60 when he played the monster here.

I was disappointed after doing some investigating for this movie that much of Bela's performance was replaced with two stunt men. So, we are left with some close ups and light work by Bela. I guess I was hoping for more from him, but I understand his health was detoriating at this point. It felt very much like a Wolfman movie with the monster as a plot device. This would be the role for the Frankenstein monster in the next two Universal entries, House of Frankenstein and House of Dracula too.

I enjoyed the last half of the film when the two monsters throw down in the laboratory a real lot. There is this one scene where Lon is perched atop some machinary and ready to pounce down, and I swear, he really looks like a wolf waiting to attack! Cool stuff, I look forward to more from the Universal Monster collection as the months go by.

Hammer's entry, The Curse of Frankenstein showcased a monster of a different kind. In this film, Peter Cushing portrayed Baron Victor Frankenstein. And over the course of the movie, you see his descent into madness as he struggles to recreate life. And I think the Baron is the actual monster in this movie. He graverobs, buys black market hands and eyes, kills a professor for his brain, and even has the maid killed by his creation when he discovers she is pregnant and is threatening to expose Frankenstein.

Christopher Lee played the creature, and it was just an indication of what was to come for him. His tall, lanky frame fit the role well. He plays a very convincing, clumbsy monster not sure of how all his parts work. There is one scene where Victor and Paul are hunting the creature and it emerges from the woods, shambling towards them. It's just eerie and still creepy to this day. Love that part.

I love horror in a gothic setting. And this was Hammer's niche for about the next twenty years or so.

Well, time to close up the drive-in for now. Get lots of rest because you'll be needing it for this coming week's features. Till then, watch the skies!