Blackenstein (1973)

Director:

William A. Levey

Writer:

Frank R. Saletri (writer)

Genre:

Horror

Tagline:

Warning! To people with weak hearts... No doctors or nurses in attendance.

Plot:

Eddie is a Vietnam veteran who loses his arms and legs when he steps on a land mine, but a brilliant surgeon is able to attach new limbs...

Plot Keywords:

Vietnam Veteran | Experiment | Frankenstein's Monster | Blaxploitation | African American

Cast

John Hart	...	Dr. Stein
Ivory Stone	...	Dr. Winifred Walker
Joe De Sue	...	Eddie Turner
Roosevelt Jackson	...	Malcomb, the servant
Andrea King	...	Eleanor, a patient
Nick Bolin	...	Bruno Strager, patient
Karin Lind	...	Mrs. Wayne, Hospital Supervisor
Yvonne Robinson	...	Hospital Receptionist
Bob Brophy	...	Hospital Attendant
Liz Renay	...	Nelson's Bed-mate
Gerald Soucie	...	Nelson (as Jerry Soucie)
Beverly Haggerty	...	Beth
Daniel Fauré	...	Beth's Date
Andy-C	...	Nightclub Comedian
Cardella Di Milo	...	Nightclub Singer (as Cardella De Milo)

Also Known As:

Black Frankenstein
Return of Blackenstein

Runtime:

87 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:R | USA:R

Company:

Frisco Productions Limited

Trivia:

The set used for Dr. Stein's lab uses items from Universal's original Frankenstein (1931).

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Though Eddie is supposed to have had both arms and legs blown off by a land mine, when he arrives at Dr. Stein's home, both legs and feet are clearly visible underneath the sheet as he is removed from the ambulance.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Robot Chicken: The Black Cherry (#1.20)" (2005)

Pimp My Mary Shelley!

Nothing's sacred in the world of exploitation cinema, not even Mary Shelley's legendary novel or the classic Universal make-up effects on Boris Karloff. And thank the heavens for that, otherwise we never would have seen this wondrously demented Blaxploitation interpretation of Frankenstein. "Blackenstein" is a delightfully inept movie, some would even categorize it under so-bad-it's-great, and the script goes far beyond simply copying the original Shelley tale. There are even flashes of "The Island of Dr. Moreau" to be found here and there's another mini sub-plot about a rejuvenation serum. The actual Frankenstein plot is moderately altered as well, since the mad doctors (yes, two in this case, black & white brotherly messing with Mother Nature and God's creation together!) don't intend to re-insert life into dead body parts, but supply a wounded Vietnam veteran with new arms and legs. The procedure doesn't go as planned, due to the sabotaging of a jealous assistant, and a monstrous creation arises from the operating table. The genetically altered Brutha goes on a murder rampage but his endearing wife still doesn't give up on him. "Blackenstein" is original and funny because of its ineptness, but after a while it nearly becomes unendurable to sit through. The pace slows down fast and the story reverts to boredom, the dialogs are horrible, the make-up effects are miserable and the acting performances are lamentable. Especially Roosevelt Jackson, as Malcomb the assistant, is the hammiest performer I've seen in a long time. The DVD states that the operating sequences were shot with the same and carefully persevered scenery and sets of the original Frankenstein film. That's quite difficult to believe but, as said, everything's possible in the 70's exploitation industry. "Blackenstein" is definitely not a good film, but nevertheless recommended to people with a morbid & insatiable curiosity for weird film-making.