House of Frankenstein (1944)

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

Director:

Erle C. Kenton

Writers:

Edward T. Lowe Jr. (screenplay), Curt Siodmak (story)

Stars:

Boris Karloff, Lon Chaney Jr., John Carradine

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Boris Karloff	...	Doctor Niemann
Lon Chaney Jr.	...	Larry Talbot (as Lon Chaney)
John Carradine	...	Dracula
Anne Gwynne	...	Rita
Peter Coe	...	Carl Hussman
Lionel Atwill	...	Arnz
George Zucco	...	Lampini
Elena Verdugo	...	Ilonka
Sig Ruman	...	Russman
William Edmunds	...	Fejos
Charles Miller	...	Toberman
Philip Van Zandt	...	Muller
Julius Tannen	...	Hertz
Hans Herbert	...	Meier
Dick Dickinson	...	Born

Storyline

After escaping from an asylum the mad Dr. Niemann and his hunch back assistant revive Count Dracula, the Wolf Man and the Frankenstein monster in order to extract revenge upon their many enemies.

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Plot Keywords:

dracula | monster | hunchback | brain | gypsy | 

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Taglines:

THE DEVIL'S BROOD!

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Genres:

Fantasy | Horror | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 December 1944 (USA)

Also Known As:

Chamber of Horrors

Filming Locations:

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

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

71 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Of the 5 'Wolf Man' films featuring Lon Chaney Jr; this is the only entry that does NOT feature the Wolf Man's growl or howl. It may be there but, if it is, it's drowned out by Hans J Salter's music score.

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Goofs

Just after the scene where Dracula dissolves in the sunlight, we see the wagons driven by Doctor Niemann and Daniel pass a sign reading "Frankenstein-1km". If you look past the sign, in the distance you can see a pile of film equipment cases and crates, and even bits of scaffolding used for lighting.

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Quotes

Dr. Gustav Niemann: Do you doubt me?
Professor Bruno Lampini: It's a doubting world, kind sir!

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Connections

Featured in Monster Mania (1997)

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Soundtracks

"Gypsy Tantrums"
(uncredited)
Music by 'Max Rapp' and Milton Rosen

User Reviews

Great Cast Makes Film Better Than It Should Be

"House of Frankenstein" is salvaged by a great cast of seasoned performers who make this movie better than it should be, given it's split "B" movie story. In a move to re-generate interest in its fading horror series, Universal gives us Dracula, the Frankenstein monster, the Wolf Man, the Hunchback and the Mad Doctor all in the same film. But where's the Mummy? It is essentially divided into two parts.

We begin with the notorious Dr. Gustav Niemann (Boris Karloff) and his hunchback assistant Daniel (J. Carroll Naish) escaping from the prison in which they have been held for the past 15 years. They come upon a traveling Chamber of Horrors that supposedly includes the remains of the infamous Count Dracula, run by a Professor Lampini (George Zucco). Neimann wants to return to his home and resume his work of creating life from dead bodies and take revenge upon his accusers. The unfortunate Professor is quickly dispatched and Neimann takes his place.

It turns out that the remains of Dracula are genuine and Neimann brings him back to life in the form of John Carradine. Neimann plans to use Dracula as the instrument of his revenge. He is sent to murder the local Burgomeister (Sig Ruman) and is attracted to his grand daughter Rita (Anne Gwynne). When Rita is abducted by Dracula, her husband (Peter Coe) and the local police Inspector (Lionel Atwill) give chase and .....

Meanwhile Neimann plans to go to the ruins of Frankenstein's castle to seek out the scientist's notes on the creation of his creature. Along the way they stop at a gypsy camp and Daniel becomes infatuated with a gypsy girl Ilonka (Elena Verdugo). At the castle Daniel falls into a frozen cave where they find the Wolf Man (Lon Chaney Jr.) and the Frankenstein monster (Glenn Strange). The Wolf Man changes back into Lawrence Talbot and pleads with Neimann to help rid him of his werewolf curse.

Neimann takes them both back to his laboratory but becomes pre-occupied with restoring the monster rather than helping Talbot. Ilonka begins to fall in love with Talbot but is warned of Talbot's curse. The full moon comes up and you know what happens next. Daniel attacks Neimann because of his broken promises to him. The monster suddenly awakens and.....

The teaming of Karloff and Chaney makes this film work. Karloff is great as the mad doctor and Chaney brings pathos and sympathy to his portrayal of the doomed Talbot. Carradine makes a surprisingly good Dracula in an all too brief appearance. Naish almost steals the film as the tragic Daniel whose love for the gypsy girl is doomed from the start. Cowboy actor and former stuntman Glenn Strange takes over as the monster but has little to do until the last reel. Atwill and Zucco sadly, make only brief appearances in minor roles.

Followed by "House of Dracula" (1945) a similar but inferior film.