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

Lon Chaney finished "The Wolf Man" on November 27, 1941, then started this film on December 15, finishing on January 15, 1942. Release took place on April 3.

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Goofs

When Elsa is reading Dr. Frankenstein's notes, we see flashbacks of the monster being created, superimposed on the screen over the notes. When Elsa gets to the part of the notes that reads, "And now to find a brain", the flashbacks have shown the monster charged with electricity and brought to life and although in proper history, the brain was put in first the flashbacks are meant to be Elsa imagining the creation of the monster. Having never known about the monster she would not have known that the brain was first.

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Quotes

Ygor: Better death... than a life like this.

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Connections

Featured in Creature Features: The Ghost of Frankenstein/Mark of the Vampire (1970)

User Reviews

Good and certainly enjoyable enough.

Poor people of Vasaria. When will they ever be left alone? Once again the Frankenstein monster is resurrected and creates chaos and mayhem to the people of Vasaria and once more a son of THE Dr. Frankenstein continues his father's work. No as a part of the Universal Frankenstein franchise this movie of course isn't terribly original but still the movie its story is brought good and original enough to make this movie an enjoyable one to watch.

Lots of 'Frankenstein regulars' show up once again in this movie. Bela Lugosi reprises his role of the deformed Ygor. Lugosi is terribly overacting in most of the scene's but at least its fun to watch. Lionel Atwill this time doesn't play a police inspector like he did so many times before in Frankenstein movie's. This time he plays a doctor/professor that used to be Dr. Ludwig Frankenstein's mentor. The Frankenstein monster himself is this time played be Lon Chaney Jr. and the make-up makes him look like a believable Frankenstein monster.

If you're a fan of Universal monster movies you'll find plenty to enjoy in this movie. It's one of the better/more enjoyable movies that is part of the official Frankenstein franchise and it certainly doesn't have a bad ending.

There isn't an awful lot wrong with this movie but it simply isn't original or refreshing enough to consider this a classic horror-movie. Of course this movie is best and probably only truly watchable and recommendable to those that are fan of the Universal Frankenstein franchise and classic Universal monster movies in general.

7/10

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