51. SON OF FRANKENSTEIN
51. SON OF FRANKENSTEIN
(1939)
Directed by Rowland V. Lee
Now here's a sequel that is definitely worth mentioning. "Son of Frankenstein" was released to a fright hungry public after a two year ban on horror movies (yes, shocking but true) and stands as a fitting climax to the great 1930's Universal cycle of such films. It's many assets include the marvelous set designs (consistent in quality with the two James Whale directed Frankenstein movies that came before) of gloomy dead trees, rolling fog and shadowy interiors. Karloff plays the monster for the last time opposite Bela Lugosi as the maniacal hunchback Ygor who still bears the gruesome neck scar from an unsuccessful hanging. Ygor befriends the monster for less than admirable reasons but their manipulative relationship is heart rending in it's way. Two outcasts bonding on the far side of the grave against the world that wants nothing to do with them. If only all buddy films were like this... Basil Rathbone plays the son of Dr. Frankenstein employed by Ygor to get the monster back to lumbering about scaring the shit out of people and he's solid but the show stopper is Lionel Atwill as the mutilated inspector who had his arm ripped out by the monster when he was a child. During the climax, just for old time's sake, the monster tears his arm (now a fake) out of the socket again. Karloff would continue to make some interesting movies through the 1940's and beyond but poor Bela, as all monster kids know, wasn't so lucky
(1939)
Directed by Rowland V. Lee
Now here's a sequel that is definitely worth mentioning. "Son of Frankenstein" was released to a fright hungry public after a two year ban on horror movies (yes, shocking but true) and stands as a fitting climax to the great 1930's Universal cycle of such films. It's many assets include the marvelous set designs (consistent in quality with the two James Whale directed Frankenstein movies that came before) of gloomy dead trees, rolling fog and shadowy interiors. Karloff plays the monster for the last time opposite Bela Lugosi as the maniacal hunchback Ygor who still bears the gruesome neck scar from an unsuccessful hanging. Ygor befriends the monster for less than admirable reasons but their manipulative relationship is heart rending in it's way. Two outcasts bonding on the far side of the grave against the world that wants nothing to do with them. If only all buddy films were like this... Basil Rathbone plays the son of Dr. Frankenstein employed by Ygor to get the monster back to lumbering about scaring the shit out of people and he's solid but the show stopper is Lionel Atwill as the mutilated inspector who had his arm ripped out by the monster when he was a child. During the climax, just for old time's sake, the monster tears his arm (now a fake) out of the socket again. Karloff would continue to make some interesting movies through the 1940's and beyond but poor Bela, as all monster kids know, wasn't so lucky
posted by scottra at 12:00 AM
1 Comments:
Mr. Refund, your insights and opinions are hearty food for thought. I will see these movies you praise - though it may take me years to do so - and will have you to thank for whatever joys they bring me. Son of Frankenstein will be at the top of that list. There is perhaps no theme in the history of either cinema or stage more compelling to me personally than the comraderie of outcasts.
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