Tales of Frankenstein (TV 1958)

In this pilot for a series that was never picked up, Dr. Frankenstein has just finished rebuilding his creation, but the monster is unresponsive. He needs to try something different to make... See full summary »

Director:

Curt Siodmak

Writers:

Henry Kuttner (teleplay), C.L. Moore (teleplay),

Stars:

Anton Diffring, Helen Westcott, Don Megowan

Cast

Cast overview:
Anton Diffring	...	Baron Frankenstein
Helen Westcott	...	Christine Halpert
Don Megowan	...	The Monster
Ludwig Stössel	...	Wilhelm
Richard Bull	...	Paul Halpert
Raymond Greenleaf	...	Doctor
Peter Brocco	...	Gottfried--Cemetery Caretaker
Sydney Mason	...	Police Chief

Storyline

In this pilot for a series that was never picked up, Dr. Frankenstein has just finished rebuilding his creation, but the monster is unresponsive. He needs to try something different to make it work, perhaps some new parts. Enter a terminally ill sculptor and his assertive wife....

---

Plot Keywords:

creator creation relationship | tv series pilot | married couple | frankenstein's monster | mad scientist | 

---

Genres:

Short | Horror | Sci-Fi

---

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation, Columbia Pictures Television, Hammer Film Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

28 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The introduction contains stock footage from some of the Universal horror series, including the brides from Dracula. The face in the crystal ball, who is supposed doing the narration, is actually footage that was used at the beginning of all of Universal's "Inner Sanctum" features.

---

Goofs

The introductory narration does not come close to matching the lip movements of the face in the crystal ball. The face in the crystal ball had actually been shot about 15 years earlier for the introductions to Universal's "Inner Sanctum" series of features.

---

Connections

Featured in 100 Years of Horror: Baron Frankenstein (1996)

User Reviews

Good Atmospheric Episode

A very ill man and his wife approach Baron Frankenstein to help keep the man alive through whatever means. He refuses, fearing that this may be a lot of trouble. It works for him because the man dies in the village and, through a bribe, Frankenstein uses this man's brain and modifies a failed experiment. As is always the case, things don't go so well. The village is always cognizant of what goes on in that house, and this is no exception. What I am most interested in is what the next episode would have produced. What has happened to the "monster," who is now an intellectual, and what will the Baron do for an encore. At one point I noticed for a brief moment, the brides from the Lugosi "Dracula" movie. The laboratory was also, apparently, at least in part a reconstruction of the Karloff films. The print I have is very bold. This must have been a bold venture for the makers of this pilot. I suppose the powers that be just didn't see any heroes in this venue. Most of the fifties was dominated by gunslingers. Maybe James Arness could have reprised his carrot man from the thing and played one of the monsters that Frankenstein produced.