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Whistle Stopper - Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman
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List Price: $9.98
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Your Save: $ 9.98 ( 100% )
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Manufacturer: Universal Studios
Starring: Lon Chaney Jr., Ilona Massey, Patric Knowles, Lionel Atwill, Bela Lugosi
Directed By: Roy William Neill
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: VHS Tape
EAN: 9786300185449
Format: Black & White
ISBN: 6300185443
Label: Universal Studios
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Universal Studios
Release Date: 1992-03-01
Running Time: 74
Studio: Universal Studios
Theatrical Release Date: 1943-03-05
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: A fun movie despite the flaws
Comment: Before there was Freddy Vs Jason there was Frankenstein Meets The Wolf Man. I suppose it was only fitting this would happen sooner or later seeing as Universal was behind the Monster movies so why not take advantage of it? This was the first of the crossover movies and quite possibly the best although this movie is far from perfect and does have its fair share of flaws.
Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein are two of the greatest horror flicks ever made due to the brilliant performance by Boris Karloff and the direction by James Whale, but after Whale left the series Son of Frankenstein just didn't fully work, while I think the movie was overall good and Karloff was solid he wasn't used the way he was in the past two and he was wise to leave the series afterwards and that's where it all went downhill in my opinion; no James Whale or Karloff and the series just wasn't the same.
And that's where my problem lies with this movie if it's not Karloff it just isn't the Frankenstein Monster; no actor has come anywhere near the level of brilliance Karloff did. This time around Bela Lugosi steps into the role and Lugosi was always in Karloff's shadow and as much as I love Lugosi he was in Karloff's shadow for good reason. The interesting thing about Lugosi playing the Monster was he was the original choice to play the role in the original. One report has Lugosi turning it down seeing as an insult coming off Dracula, while other reports are it was James Whale that didn't want Lugosi; which ever one is true doesn't matter now since Lugosi would end up playing the role.
The first half of Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man was very well done, but around the middle of the movie it begins to run out of some steam. The script was written by Curt Siodmak who wrote The Wolf Man and overall his script was solid if not a bit flawed. Not as well written as The Wolf Man, but the script is good, but only really suffers from being a sequel. It doesn't really add anything new to the Frankenstein or Wolf Man series, but it still gets the job done. Curt Siodmak was an excellent writer and also wrote the classic I Walked with a Zombie, if you like Siodmak's work you'll probably enjoy this one. It's not easy taking these two Iconic characters in the Frankenstein Monster and The Wolf Man together, but Siodmak works it well.
Director Roy William Neil does well with the Wolf Man scenes, but there are some problems with the Monster. Like I said after Whale left the series the Monster was miss-used. A lot of people see the Monster as a walking idiot and those who say that obviously never saw the first 2 in the series, but after Whale left the Monster did sort of become that cliché that he's seen as. If not for Karloff in Son of Frankenstein the Monster would be a walking idiot, which he became afterwards. The pacing is solid early on, but does drag in some spots in the 2nd half, but Roy William Neil is able to keep the movie above float and never lets things get too slow except for a scene or two. The first half is the better half when the story is only on Larry Talbot, and there are some fairly creepy scenes as well.
Lon Chaney Jr. is great once again in the sympathetic role of Larry Talbot who becomes the Wolf Man when the moon is full. Chaney Jr. despite having a great career and playing one of the most Iconic film monsters of all time was never really able to live up to his full potential and I suppose a lot of that has to do with who his father was, but I personally prefer Jr. over Sr. and once again Chaney Jr. delivers a brilliant performance.
As much as I love Bela Lugosi I didn't really like his take on the Monster. While not as horrible as some make him out to be he really wasn't all that great either. In fairness he isn't playing the same Monster made famous by Karloff. In Ghost of Frankenstein, Ygor played by Lugosi had his brain transplanted into the Monsters so you can I suppose make a case for why Lugosi was good, but none of that is brought up in this one and the Monster just stumbles around sort of like he's drunk. It's not easy to play this character due to how brilliant Karloff was, but while not horrible Lugosi just wasn't all that good either.
Frankenstein Meets The Wolf Man is a fun if not flawed movie; seeing these two Iconic characters in the same movie is a real treat for the fans, but it would have been better off with Karloff, but what's done is done and for what it's worth it's a fun movie flaws and all. This was probably the best of the crossover movies well with the exception of Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein, which trumps all the crossover movies.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Universal's First Monster Mash
Comment: Slickly produced, "Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man" was the first of Universal's monster pairings. This 1943 sequel remains a memorable showcase for Lon Chaney Jr.'s tragic werewolf - highlighted by excellent transformation sequences. Due to post-production tampering, Bela Lugosi's portrayal of the Frankenstein Monster proved less effective (the studio eliminated all references to his blindness). Nevertheless, Bela has a priceless moment when the Monster displays a wicked smile after regaining his full power. The long-awaited "rumble in the castle" is a horror-movie classic. "Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man" may not represent great art, but it's nostalgic fun.
Customer Rating:
Summary: THE FIRST MONSTER TEAM UP IN THE HISTORY OF FILM MAKING!
Comment: I'm sure when this film hit theaters, kids couldn't wait to go see this! Although it doesn't deliver that much in the way of the two monsters meeting, it has one of the most memorable beginnings in any of the Universal horror films. This film is actually the sequel to two films 'The Ghost Of Frankenstein' and 'The Wolfman' and the beginning of this film deals with the Wolfman. A very atmospheric graveyard scene with two grave robbers finding their way to the Talbot mausoleum. They break in and find the seemingly final resting place of Larry Talbot A.K.A. The Wolfman. This is a very chilling scene and it one of the finest moments in the entire franchise's history. Exit Chaney as the monster as he wanted to keep the Wolfman as "his baby" so, the studio brings in poor old Bela Lugosi to play the monster who has become a walking zombie at this point. Lugosi was not all that young anymore so, they had to have a stunt man play the monster in some scenes adding to the confusion. In the last installment Igor's brain was put in the monster's skull and the monster talked with Igor's voice. This was carried over to this film but, the end result was too ridiculous(even for Universal's standards!)so, the dialogue was cut leaving the film an incoherent mess and Lugosi wondering around like a dolt! It's a mixed bag to say the least and this could be next to the worst film in the 'Frankenstein' series. Even with all these flaws and problems, I do enjoy watching this film from time to time. This is available on DVD on the Frankenstein Legacy collection and in a double bill with 'House of Frankenstein' The DVD transfer is very good for both films. I wish somehow they could find that cut footage with Lugosi talking, it would be most interesting to see the film the way it was intended originally. ;-( I rate this film 3 1/4 stars.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Releasing the Monster Again
Comment: There is a full moon over a graveyard. Two men approach the TALBOT mausoleum and break in. They find the casket of Lawrence Talbot and search for a gold ring. Things go awry! Next a constable finds an injured man in the street. Taken to a hospital he quickly revives. But a full moon brings out a new side to his character, and the result is an anti-social act. Would psychoanalysis cure him? Can medical science prevent recurring bad times? The doctor consults a thick book and finds a definition that covers his delusion. The police Inspector and the doctor visit the mausoleum and find the empty casket. How can that be?
Lawrence Talbot escapes from the hospital, and find the old gypsy woman who can help him. They travel to a rural village to find Dr. Frankenstein, only to learn he has died! The villagers hated him and his monster. Another full moon transforms Talbot into a werewolf. Soon a dead girl is found, and the villagers form a well-armed posse to hunt the wolf at night. Talbot flees, and falls into an icy chamber. The next morning he finds a body encased in ice. Frankenstein's Monster has survived! Alive, he leads Talbot to Dr. Frankenstein's secret store of documents, but do not find what is sought. Talbot gets to meet the daughter Baroness Frankenstein by posing as a buyer for the lands and ruined castle, a unique location. But she has no records, she says.
Outside the peasants of Vasaria are celebrating the Festival of New Wine. [Did they know the secret of drinking red wine to counteract fats?] "Life is short and death is long, so drink up." The more oppressed a people, the wilder their celebrations. Doctor Mannering find Talbot and wants to bring him back to England to cure him. The happy festival is disturbed by the appearance of the Monster in the town square, like a stock market crash bringing an end to exuberant times. The people gather together and resolve to put an end to the Monster and its terrorism. The Baroness and Doctor Mannering go to the castle to search for Frankenstein's diary and the Secret of Life and Death. Doctor Mannering decides to repair the machines in order to put an end to the Monster that periodically creates havoc among the people. His intentions are good.
But Mannering is seduced by dreams of power, and decides to increase the power of the Monster! The Baroness intervenes and pulls a switch, causing the machinery to fail. But the Monster breaks loose and attacks Mannering and the Baroness. The wolfman breaks loose to attack the Monster, letting the Doctor and the Baroness escape. One of the peasants blows up the dam and the flood flushes away the castle, the wolfman, and the Monster. Is this the end? The moral to this fable is to beware of creating a powerful monster that will escape from control and oppress the people. [This story in this film is not as good as some others in this series.]
Customer Rating:
Summary: FRANKENSTEIN MEETS THE WOLFMAN PROMISES MUCH ----- BUT DOES IT DELIVER?
Comment: IN AN NUTSHELL: THIS FILM IS INCLUDED IN THE 'WOLFMAN LEGACY COLL' on DVD!
Frankenstein Meets The Wolfman, Directed by Roy William Neill stars both Lon Chaney Jr. as the Wolfman and Bela Lugosi as Frankenstein. Screenwriter Curt Siodmak, who wrote the original Wolfman with Lon Chaney the year before, gave life back to both deceased monsters and the result was interesting and promising.
The visuals are provided mostly via the use of miniatures and remnants of the old Frankenstein set with Universal's european village backlot set thrown in for atmosphere. Though the plot is hardly ground-breaking it does move fast and hold the interest of the audience. Some scenes in the village were so classically overplayed that they were reinvented by Mel Brooks in 'Young Frankenstein' to great effect.
WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT: OK FOR YOUNGSTERS TOO!
The 73 minute monster mash builds to a stunning climax which includes a wrestling match between the Wolfman and a recharged Frankenstein who once again leaves the scene believed to be dead. Of course we all know these monsters have at least 9 lives and we are grateful for each one of them.
Naturally, the film takes an ominous turn after Dr. Mannering [Patric Knowles] suddenly and without any motive turns into a mad scientist [after all his first name is Frank] and decides to give the monsters added strength rather than drain the life from them. He says he wants to see what they can do?! It was only about 8 minutes before the end of the film, so this really does not fit the story very well, but it looks and plays well.
Despite the dark tone the film is NOT full of gore or violence that would preclude it from being shown to youngsters.
BOTTOM LINE: A BETTER WOLFMAN FILM THAN A FRANKENSTEIN FILM
Essentially, Bela Lugosi just does not seem to be Frankenstein. If there is a big flaw in the film, this is it. In fact, all his dialogue and the reasoning for his appearing to be blind are deleted from the final version of the film. Apparently, a talking Frankenstein that sounded like Dracula was simply NOT believable. Also, there is a much darker tone to this film than the earlier Wolfman film as Lawrence Talbot has just 1 goal -- to die! As a fan, naturally I want our monsters to live forever, so this motivation is rather disturbing to me but the film is still rather worthwhile and interesting.
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Editorial Reviews:
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Over 10 years after first turning down the role, Bela Lugosi donned the neck bolts and platform boots to play Frankenstein's monster for the first and only time in Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman. Larry Talbot (Lon Chaney Jr., reprising his most famous role), killed at the end of The Wolf Man, is inexplicably alive and searching for the brilliant Dr. Frankenstein but instead finds the Monster, frozen in ice beneath the castle, and an ambitious scientist (Patric Knowles) who revives the creature and promises to cure Larry. Lugosi is lurching and clumsy as the Monster, while Chaney is appropriately tortured as Larry but stiff and snarly as the Wolf Man, more man than wolf. Last-minute cuts by the studio renders much of the film incomprehensible: the monster was left blind and vocal at the end of Ghost of Frankenstein, but all references to either were deleted (which partly accounts for Lugosi's performance) and he's now sighted but mute. Roy William Neill, a talented B-movie director best known for his Sherlock Holmes films with Basil Rathbone, can't do much with the perfunctory script, but he does deliver a highly entertaining conclusion: the Wolf Man battles the Monster while a spectacular disaster (accomplished with obvious but charming models) wipes the castle off the face of the earth... at least until House of Frankenstein the next year. --Sean Axmaker
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