Flesh for Frankenstein (1973)

Directors:

Paul Morrissey
Antonio Margheriti

Writers:

Tonino Guerra (writer)
Paul Morrissey (writer)

Release Date:

17 March 1974 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

We dare you to see...

Plot:

In Serbia, Baron Frankenstein lives with the Baroness and their two children. He dreams of a super-race...

Plot Keywords:

Frankenstein | Lust | Laboratory | Nudity | Sex With Servant

Cast

Joe Dallesandro	...	Nicholas, the stableboy
Monique van Vooren	...	Baroness Katrin Frankenstein
Udo Kier	...	Baron Frankenstein
Arno Juerging	...	Otto, the Baron's assistant
Dalila Di Lazzaro	...	Female Monster
Srdjan Zelenovic	...	Sacha / Male Monster
Nicoletta Elmi	...	Monica, the Baron's daughter
Marco Liofredi	...	Erik, the Baron's son
Liu Bosisio	...	Olga, the maid
Fiorella Masselli	...	Large prostitute
Cristina Gaioni	...	Farmer, Nicholas' girlfriend
Rosita Torosh	...	Sonia, the prostitute
Carla Mancini	...	Farmer
Imelde Marani	...	Blonde prostitute

Also Known As:

Andy Warhol's Frankenstein (USA)
Andy Warhol's Young Frankenstein
Carne per Frankenstein (Italy)
De la chair pour Frankenstein (France)
Flesh for Frankenstein (UK)
Frankenstein
Il mostro è in tavola barone Frankenstein (Italy)
Il mostro è in tavola barone Frankstein (Italy) (poster title)
The Devil and Dr. Frankenstein
The Frankenstein Experiment (USA) (pre-release title)
Up Frankenstein

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA | Italy | France

Language:

French | English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

France:-16 | Finland:(Banned) (1975) (uncut) | Finland:K-16 (1995) (cut) | Sweden:15 (uncut: dvd release) | New Zealand:R18 | Argentina:X (original rating) | Argentina:16 (re-rating) | USA:X | Australia:R | Norway:(Banned) (1980-1989) | Norway:18 (re-rating) (1989) | Sweden:15 (heavily cut) | UK:18 | USA:R (cut) (1975) | USA:R (re-release: 1992) | USA:X (original rating) | West Germany:18

Filming Locations:

Vojvodina, Serbia

Company:

Compagnia Cinematografica Champion

Trivia:

Originally filmed in 3D, although most presentations found today are in 2D.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Frankenstein "shocks" life into his creatures, him and Otto are touching the bodies with bare hands, yet they do not seem to be receiving any of the electricity.

Quotes:

Baron Frankenstein: Make him unconscious, but don't kill him, or damage his head in any way. I need his brain for my zombie! I am sure it has the right instincts we want!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Memories of a Young Pianist (2009) (V)

Good Clean Fun!

This was the first of 2 films made in quick succession by Paul Morrissey in Italy in 1973. Blood for Dracula was the other.

Flesh for Frankenstein was obviously made with it's tongue firmly in it's cheek. It's a step beyond anything Hammer attempted in this genre, especially regarding gore and dodgy accents!

Udo Kier and Arno Juerging are possibly the best comic duo to hit the screens since Abbot & Costello as the Baron and faithful sidekick Otto! Whether fooling around in the lab or scouting for suitable organs they never fail to raise a smile. Kier gets all the best lines, letting us know his views on gall bladders and his plans for the new race he is ..ehm.. putting together.

Monique Van Vooren is more sinister as the Baroness, who initially appears relatively normal, in comparison to her "husband" at least. However her eccentricities become apparent as the film goes on.

Joe Dallesandro is on screen a lot but his character doesn't contribute much to the plot. Presumably his name was used to garner publicity for the film in the US.

The Frankenstein kids take after their parents and are crucial to the twist at the end of the film. The young actors playing the kids do a good job.

The actors playing the Baron's works in progress don't have much to do, even when their characters are brought to life.

Certainly the film will not be to everybody's taste. There is plenty of gore and some dodgy sex scene sound effects. The scene showing the Baron's "interest" in the female creation and her innards pushes the boundaries a bit but it is too over the top to be anything more than comical. So sit back and enjoy this piece of 70's schlock horror.