The Ghost of Frankenstein (1942)

When Ygor brings the monster to Dr. Ludwig Frankenstein for care, Ludwig gets the idea of replacing the monster's current criminal brain, with a normal brain.

Director:

Erle C. Kenton

Writers:

Scott Darling (screenplay), Eric Taylor (original story)

Stars:

Lon Chaney Jr., Cedric Hardwicke, Ralph Bellamy

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Lon Chaney Jr.	...	The Monster (as Lon Chaney)
Cedric Hardwicke	...	Ludwig Frankenstein (as Sir Cedric Hardwicke)
Ralph Bellamy	...	Erik
Lionel Atwill	...	Doctor Bohmer
Bela Lugosi	...	Ygor
Evelyn Ankers	...	Elsa Frankenstein
Janet Ann Gallow	...	Cloestine
Barton Yarborough	...	Dr. Kettering
Doris Lloyd	...	Martha
Leyland Hodgson	...	Chief Constable
Olaf Hytten	...	Hussman
Holmes Herbert	...	Magistrate

Storyline

Ygor resurrects Frankenstein's monster and brings him to the original doctor's son, Ludwig, for help. Ludwig, obsessed with the idea of restoring the monster to full power, is unaware that his various associates all have different ideas about whose brain is to be transplanted into the monster's skull.

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Plot Keywords:

brain | villager | frankenstein's monster | scientific research | poison gas | 

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Taglines:

NEW TOWERING TERROR! (original print ad - all caps)

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Genres:

Drama | Horror | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 March 1942 (USA)

Also Known As:

Frankenstein kehrt wieder

Filming Locations:

Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

67 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Chaney would play the Monster a number of times later: footage from this film appears as stock shots in House of Dracula; he doubled Glenn Strange for three shots in Bud Abbott Lou Costello Meet Frankenstein when Strange twisted his ankle; he played the role in a half-hour version of "Frankenstein" on TV's Tales of Tomorrow; and he appeared (masked) in two comedy sketches with Bud Abbott and Lou Costello on a 1952 The Colgate Comedy Hour show.

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Goofs

The first time we see the close-up for the wall plaque for "Dr. Frankenstein - Diseases of the Mind" outside his "mansion", it is hardly in such a place. If you look close to the left of the sign you'll see a ladder, wires on the ground, palm trees and a station wagon type of car.

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Quotes

Dr. Ludwig Frankenstein: [the Monster taps the child's forehead, then his own] He wants the brain of that child!

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Connections

Features Frankenstein (1931)

User Reviews

Breezy, Enjoyable Universal Fun!

OK, we all know that "Frankenstein" was the trend setter. "The Bride Of Frankenstein" was the superior follow-up and "Son Of Frankenstein" was the most literate. But of all the Universal Studios "Frankenstein" movies, my favorite is 1942's "The Ghost Of Frankenstein". I really don't know why, perhaps because this is the film I caught most often at midnight on "Fright Night" on WOR-TV. The movie itself is standard fare, but to me it is so breezy and so much fun I just enjoy watching it over and over again. Lugosi is great a Ygor the hunch back servant who is the monsters guiding light. Chaney Jr. is not the ideal frankenstein but he pulls it off here. Some great lines like Lugosi's "Look at the lightning, the lightning is your mother" he says to the creature. All in all, a lot of fun with a heavy dose of Universal charm and atmosphere!