How to Make a Monster (1958)

Director:

Herbert L. Strock

Writers:

Aben Kandel (original story) and
Herman Cohen (original story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

1 July 1958 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

See the Ghastly Ghouls in Flaming Color!

Plot:

When master monster make-up man Pete is sacked by the new bosses of American International studios he uses his creations to exact revenge.

Plot Keywords:

Monster | Vengeance | Mind Control | Revenge | Werewolf

Cast

Robert H. Harris	...	Pete Dumond
Paul Brinegar	...	Rivero
Gary Conway	...	Tony Mantell (Teenage Frankenstein)
Gary Clarke	...	Larry Drake (Teenage Werewolf)
Malcolm Atterbury	...	Security Guard Richards
Dennis Cross	...	Security Guard Monahan
Morris Ankrum	...	Police Capt. Hancock
Walter Reed	...	Detective Thompson
Paul Maxwell	...	Jeffrey Clayton
Eddie Marr	...	John Nixon
Heather Ames	...	Arlene Dow
Robert Shayne	...	Gary Droz
Rod Dana	...	Lab Technician
Jacqueline Ebeier	...	Jane
Joan Chandler	...	Marilyn
Thomas Browne Henry	...	Martin Brace - director of 'Werewolf Meets Frankenstein'
John Phillips	...	Detective Jones
Paulene Myers	...	Millie, the pedestrian
John Ashley	...	Himself
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Herman Cohen	...	Banks, Director in Projection Room (uncredited)
Frank Richards	...	Studio Groundskeeper (uncredited)

Directed by
Herbert L. Strock

Writing credits
Aben Kandel		(original story) (as Kenneth Langtry) and
Herman Cohen		(original story)
Aben Kandel		(screenplay) (as Kenneth Langtry) and
Herman Cohen		(screenplay)

Produced by
Herman Cohen	....	producer
James H. Nicholson	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Paul Dunlap

Cinematography by
Maury Gertsman		(as Maury Gertzman)

Film Editing by
Jerry Young

Art Direction by
A. Leslie Thomas		(as Leslie Thomas)

Set Decoration by
Morris Hoffman

Makeup Department
Phillip Scheer	....	makeup artist (as Philip Scheer)

Production Management
Herbert E. Mendelson	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Herbert E. Mendelson	....	assistant director (as Herb Mendelson)

Art Department
Sam Gordon	....	property master

Sound Department
Verna Fields	....	sound effects editor
Herman Lewis	....	sound supervisor

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Oscar Rodriguez	....	wardrobe supervisor

Music Department
George Brand	....	music editor
Paul Dunlap	....	conductor

Other crew
Mary Gibsone	....	script supervisor
Lee Scott	....	choreographer
Barbara Lee Strite	....	production secretary
Paul Blaisdell	....	monster suits (uncredited)

Production Companies

• American International Pictures (AIP)

Distributors

• American International Pictures (AIP) (1958) (USA) (theatrical)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (1991) (USA) (VHS)
• Video Film Express (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Lions Gate Films Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD) (double-billed with 'Blood of Dracula')

Other Companies

• Cinram Digital Media Services  video transfer

Also Known As:

Runtime:

73 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:PG | USA:Unrated | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

ZIV Studios - 7950 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood, California, USA

Company:

American International Pictures (AIP)

Trivia:

Samuel Z. Arkoff wanted Bela Lugosi for the lead in this film. Lugosi was an influence to Arkoff years before. Unfortunately, Lugosi had died in 1956.

Goofs:

Factual errors: The visitors to the studio are told they are about to visit the set of Horrors of the Black Museum (1959). That film, which was also produced and written by Herman Cohen, was actually shot in England, not at the U.S. studio.

Quotes:

Pete Dumond:[Trying to justify horror films] Why, even psychiatrists say that in all these monster pictures there's not only entertainment, but for some people there's therapy. Well, you know, we never get over our childhood fears of the sinister - those terrifying faces we see in our nightmares. Well, through these pictures we can live out our hidden fears. It helps.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Monsterama Sci-Fi Late Night Creature Feature Show Vol. 1 (1996) (V)

Soundtrack:

You Gotta Have Ee-Ooo

One of the most amusing horror films of the 50s

Amusing third sequel to "I Was a Teenage Werewolf" combines the Teenage Werewolf and Teenage Frankenstein. Under fear of termination, a film studio makeup wizard (possibly modelled on one of the family Westmore?) applies "a special fixing agent" to his teenage actor's monster makeup that turns them into real monsters. Given such an unusual, original premise, the results of the film are not too disappointing: several brutal killings, lots of monsters, and even John Ashley's B-grade Elvis impersonation (surely done for laughs, let's hope). the film supposes the existence of "American International Studios" -- a nice thought, but filmmaking had already changed a lot, and AIP was never able to rent a steady digs, so this one just has to stay a fantasy. Did anyone else notice how heavily homoerotic the makeup guy's relationship to the boys was? He always called them "my boys" and talked at one point about having them "in his hands". Plus, note their uncomfortable reaction when he wants them to come to his house for some drinks. Funny stuff, certainly holding up to Herman Cohen's other AIP productions, which were among their best early efforts.