House of Frankenstein (1944)

User Rating:

6.0/10   

Director:

Erle C. Kenton

Writers:

Curt Siodmak (story)
Edward T. Lowe Jr. (writer)

Release Date:

1 December 1944 (USA)

Genre:

Fantasy | Horror | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

FRANKENSTEIN'S MONSTER! WOLF MAN! DRACULA! HUNCHBACK! MAD DOCTOR!

Plot:

An evil scientist and a hunchback escape from prison and encounter Dracula, the Wolf Man and Frankenstein's Monster.

Plot Keywords:

Dracula | Monster | Hunchback | Frankenstein's Monster | Gypsy

Cast

Boris Karloff	...	Doctor Gustav Niemann
Lon Chaney Jr.	...	Lawrence Talbot (as Lon Chaney)
John Carradine	...	Dracula / Baron Latos
Anne Gwynne	...	Rita Hussman
Peter Coe	...	Karl Hussman
Lionel Atwill	...	Inspector Arnz
George Zucco	...	Professor Bruno Lampini
Elena Verdugo	...	Ilonka
Sig Ruman	...	Burgomeister Hussman
William Edmunds	...	Fejos
Charles F. Miller	...	Tobermann (as Charles Miller)
Philip Van Zandt	...	Muller
Julius Tannen	...	Hertz
Hans Herbert	...	Meier
Dick Dickinson	...	Born

Also Known As:

Chamber of Horrors (USA) (working title)
Doom of Dracula (USA) (working title)
The Devil's Brood (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

71 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Finland:(Banned) (1947) | Finland:K-11 (2004) | Spain:13 | Canada:G (Quebec) | Sweden:15 | USA:Unrated | Germany:12

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

The title "House of..." could refer to the ruins/house owned by Ludwig Frankenstein, the second son of Henry Frankenstein (portrayed by Cedric Hardwicke) in The Ghost of Frankenstein (1942). It's also the same "house" where Lawrence Talbot discovers the Monster in ice in Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943); and, of course, where Neiman discovers the Wolfman and the Monster in this film. (The castle is entirely washed away in the flood at the climax of "--Meets the Wolf Man," but is inexplicably semi-intact here.

Goofs:

Plot holes: While searching for Dr. Frankenstein's records beneath the ruins of his castle, Dr. Niemann and Daniel discover the Wolfman and the Monster frozen. After thawing out the Wolfman, he then changes back to Lawrence Talbot. Dr. Niemann tells him he can cure him if he obtains the records of Dr. Frankenstein, last observed being read by Dr. Mannering in "Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman" during a laboratory scene prior to the castle being destroyed. Talbot immediately proceeds to a another room where he reaches into the wall and miraculously pulls out the record book totally intact and undamaged.

Quotes:

Dr. Gustav Niemann: Fifteen thousand Marks. A thousand for every year I spent in a stinking, slimy dungeon. You bargain poorly, Herr Ulman.
Ullman: Don't kill me!
Dr. Gustav Niemann: Kill my trusted old assistant? Why, no. I'm going to repay you for betraying me; I'm going to give that brain of yours a new home in the skull of the Frankenstein monster. As for you Strauss, I'm going to give you the brain of the wolfman so that all your waking hours will be spent in untold agony awaiting the full of the moon... which will change you into a werewolf.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Creature Features: House of Frankenstein/The Vampire's Ghost (#1.21)" (1971)

The Gang Is All Here

House of Frankenstein was the first of the monster free for alls with all three Universal monster legends, the Frankenstein monster, the wolfman, and Dracula. It is not the most coherent story around, but you won't care because the film has a brisk pace, imaginative scenes, creative sets, and some first-rate acting. Boris Karloff plays a doctor in the Dr. Frankenstein tradition trying to resurrect the Monster and appease the wolfman by finding him a path to death. He is the epitome of evil and has no moral compass whatsoever. Karloff does a fine job in his role, and Lon Chaney, as ever saddened at his lunar plight, does a wonderful job again as Larry Talbot(his third time in the role). Glenn Strange plays the monster..and plays him well although really has little to do in the film till the last five minutes. Dracula is played by John Carradine. The shining stars of the cast, however, are J. Carroll Naish playing a poor murdering hunchback with low self-esteem, and the bubbly and beautiful Elena Verdugo as a gypsy girl. Naish gives a very poignant portrayal. Look for cameos by Lionel Atwill and George Zucco(wish his part had been larger). House of Frankenstein is a great film in the Universal tradition of its monsters and mayhem. One of its other outstanding virtues is its famous score.