Not as bad as you would expect. Lon was under the impression for part of the show, that it was a dress rehearsal. And having had a few drinks, he went thru the first half being careful not to break any props. Someone must have clued him in tho, by the 2nd half of the episode, because he plays it straight, and gives a good performance. Ignoring the first half, it's interesting to compare Lon's performance here with that from his earlier 1942 turn as the monster in GHOST OF FRANKENSTEIN. Lon is much more expressive in the TV role, and the makeup isn't bad at all. This episode has taken a lot of flak over the years, but it's not as bad as you would think for early TV. Definitely worth a look.
15 Reviews
While it's not as bad as you'd expect when you read the Trivia section on IMDb, it is not wonderful.
planktonrules4 September 2012
This is an updated Frankenstein story--set in the present day. While there is a castle (and a cheesy looking one at that--with obviously painted walls), the equipment, dress and language is circa the 1950s. However, while this is an interesting idea, the overall production is only fair. Now it is NOT because Lon Chaney Jr. (the monster) was noticeably drunk--he wasn't obvious despite the mention of it in the trivia section for the film. Instead, the most serious problem was the tiny time slot. The entire production came in at UNDER 25 minutes--a ridiculously rushed time slot to say the least! Because of that, it just lacks proper pacing and quality. It also seems a bit too 'nice'--with a monster who really isn't all that bad and fewer chills than you'd expect. Watchable but not especially inspired--and one of the weaker entries in this otherwise excellent series.
By the way, I know this sounds cruel, but if Chaney had been obviously drunk, the film probably would have been a lot more watchable. Also, I DID like the makeup job on him--quite nice and different from the usual Frankenstein monster.
By the way, I know this sounds cruel, but if Chaney had been obviously drunk, the film probably would have been a lot more watchable. Also, I DID like the makeup job on him--quite nice and different from the usual Frankenstein monster.
Worth watching only for Lon.
Coventry26 October 2010
I must admit I had never heard about "Tales of Tomorrow" before noticing this little episode as an extra feature on the Spanish DVD edition of the trash-classic "Frankenstein's Daughter". Quite frankly, I also don't really see the point of yet another re-telling of the famous Mary Shelley tale, except maybe to see Lon Chaney Jr. reprise the role of the monster as he did in "Ghost of Frankenstein". But apparently this little half hour Frankenstein tale is remotely notorious for an entirely different reason, namely a drunken Lon Chaney destroying the expensive props during rehearsal and looking like an idiot during the live recording. It's a rather funny sight to behold Chaney – nevertheless with terrifically eerie make up effects – stumbling, blundering and mumbling, but overall this feels very derivative and insignificant. Professor Frankenstein retired to a remote castle in the middle of a lake to accomplish his lifework, a manually manufactured but superior human being. It works fine, but the servants and his dumb little nephew hurt the creature's feelings by repeatedly yelling he's ugly. Obviously the creature goes bonkers and Frankenstein realizes he shouldn't have played God. In other words, a very rudimentary and straightforward re- telling of the Frankenstein story we all know.
Fun and Fine Job for What It is
Gluck-34 March 2014
I had a great time watching, keeping in mind the shortcomings other commenters have made sure to point out. When one watches something of this nature, in fairness, one must put oneself in the mindset of the limitations involved. Of course it's early television and, worse, it's a live production. Wary of these liabilities, I was actually impressed with, for example, what one called the "cheesy" set - created on their obvious low budget.
What would you do if you needed to tell an involved tale in twenty-four minutes? Corners need to be cut, and if we can accept this reality, we can see they did a pretty deliverable job.
Not to say the imperfections and inconsistencies don't exist - there are plenty. I especially liked how Dr. Frankenstein tells us how his creation has the strength of ten men, and then straps his creation onto the table using two feeble straps. I also enjoyed the absurdity of the doctor using his girlfriend and little-boy cousin as bait to lure the creature, near the end of the show (putting them in such danger), and how the professor tells Dr. Frankenstein, when the latter confesses as to what he had done, that the research would be invaluable for science and his work should not be done away with - as Dr. Frankenstein threatens to do. A minute later, the professor admonishes his former pupil for the wrong he has wrought. How sad too that everyone except for the butler (who carries a torch for his fellow servant) shrugged their shoulders when learning of the sad fate of the poor maid.
When Dr. Frankenstein realizes his creature has gone out of control, I enjoyed the line, "He Must Be Destroyed," a telling precursor for the Hammer film to follow in a couple of decades, with "Frankenstein" substituted for "He."
The actor who played our Americanized scientist hero (not John Ireland, as Reviewer Wes-Connors believed, but John Newland, whom I guess few of us have heard of) had a nice way about him. As for his girlfriend Elizabeth (who was not yet the "Bride of Frankenstein," it seemed - someone mistook her for the wife), was that a British accent she was attempting?
Lon Chaney Jr. is fantastic; I have a new admiration for his acting skills based on his performance here. Reviewer Hitchcoc wrote that Chaney mimicked Karloff, but Chaney took Karloff's lost-in-the-woods persona that was successful in creating such empathy, and made the role his own - with greater energy. I was warned by every other reviewer telling us how drunk he was, but I couldn't tell. My ears perked up in the scene where he picked up a chair while mumbling the prop needed to be saved, but I didn't hear anything. (Not to say it's not there; Chaney's lips move after the chair is put down, but the music - which is very good - was too loud for me to make out any words.) It could be consistent with the confused character for the creation not to go about smashing everything, so what if the chair is put back on the ground in less-crazed fashion? Lastly, I am in agreement with the consensus of opinion, that the make-up was very good - on a par, if not better than many low-budget horror feature films of its time, if not a little later.
I appreciated Reviewer Verbusen for giving the idea that this episode is for the having; the source he named still has it, and the production is available elsewhere as well (as YouTube, currently). If you can take this production in context and aren't too spoiled in expecting more polished pizzaazz, you won't find it lacking in entertainment value.
What would you do if you needed to tell an involved tale in twenty-four minutes? Corners need to be cut, and if we can accept this reality, we can see they did a pretty deliverable job.
Not to say the imperfections and inconsistencies don't exist - there are plenty. I especially liked how Dr. Frankenstein tells us how his creation has the strength of ten men, and then straps his creation onto the table using two feeble straps. I also enjoyed the absurdity of the doctor using his girlfriend and little-boy cousin as bait to lure the creature, near the end of the show (putting them in such danger), and how the professor tells Dr. Frankenstein, when the latter confesses as to what he had done, that the research would be invaluable for science and his work should not be done away with - as Dr. Frankenstein threatens to do. A minute later, the professor admonishes his former pupil for the wrong he has wrought. How sad too that everyone except for the butler (who carries a torch for his fellow servant) shrugged their shoulders when learning of the sad fate of the poor maid.
When Dr. Frankenstein realizes his creature has gone out of control, I enjoyed the line, "He Must Be Destroyed," a telling precursor for the Hammer film to follow in a couple of decades, with "Frankenstein" substituted for "He."
The actor who played our Americanized scientist hero (not John Ireland, as Reviewer Wes-Connors believed, but John Newland, whom I guess few of us have heard of) had a nice way about him. As for his girlfriend Elizabeth (who was not yet the "Bride of Frankenstein," it seemed - someone mistook her for the wife), was that a British accent she was attempting?
Lon Chaney Jr. is fantastic; I have a new admiration for his acting skills based on his performance here. Reviewer Hitchcoc wrote that Chaney mimicked Karloff, but Chaney took Karloff's lost-in-the-woods persona that was successful in creating such empathy, and made the role his own - with greater energy. I was warned by every other reviewer telling us how drunk he was, but I couldn't tell. My ears perked up in the scene where he picked up a chair while mumbling the prop needed to be saved, but I didn't hear anything. (Not to say it's not there; Chaney's lips move after the chair is put down, but the music - which is very good - was too loud for me to make out any words.) It could be consistent with the confused character for the creation not to go about smashing everything, so what if the chair is put back on the ground in less-crazed fashion? Lastly, I am in agreement with the consensus of opinion, that the make-up was very good - on a par, if not better than many low-budget horror feature films of its time, if not a little later.
I appreciated Reviewer Verbusen for giving the idea that this episode is for the having; the source he named still has it, and the production is available elsewhere as well (as YouTube, currently). If you can take this production in context and aren't too spoiled in expecting more polished pizzaazz, you won't find it lacking in entertainment value.
The perils of live TV!
fibbermac20 February 2007
This episode is infamous for a Lon Chaney Jr. gaff on live TV.
Near the end of his career, Chaney had developed quite a drinking problem. As a result, many of his later roles were for characters which had little or no dialog (e.g. "The Indestructible Man"). Although this episode of "Tales of Tomorrow" would be broadcast live, since the role of the Frankenstein monster had no lines, it was assumed that Chaney could still do the job. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case.
By broadcast time, Chaney was smashed. Although he is able to appear and hit his marks, careful viewing of his performance reveals that when the monster should be going on a rampage and destroying all of the furniture and props on the set, the monster/Chaney gingerly picks up each piece of furniture and gently sets it back in place, while mumbling "Save it for the show.",... just as he had done earlier in the day at rehearsal!!!
Fans of Chaney will want to seek this out just to see Chaney made up as the Frankenstein monster one last time, even though it's an embarrassing performance. There are no other redeeming qualities here. I'm giving this a 2, and that's being generous.
Near the end of his career, Chaney had developed quite a drinking problem. As a result, many of his later roles were for characters which had little or no dialog (e.g. "The Indestructible Man"). Although this episode of "Tales of Tomorrow" would be broadcast live, since the role of the Frankenstein monster had no lines, it was assumed that Chaney could still do the job. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case.
By broadcast time, Chaney was smashed. Although he is able to appear and hit his marks, careful viewing of his performance reveals that when the monster should be going on a rampage and destroying all of the furniture and props on the set, the monster/Chaney gingerly picks up each piece of furniture and gently sets it back in place, while mumbling "Save it for the show.",... just as he had done earlier in the day at rehearsal!!!
Fans of Chaney will want to seek this out just to see Chaney made up as the Frankenstein monster one last time, even though it's an embarrassing performance. There are no other redeeming qualities here. I'm giving this a 2, and that's being generous.
TALES OF TOMORROW: Frankenstein (TV) (Don Medford, 1952) **1/2
Bunuel197623 January 2010
The notoriety of this short adaptation of the Mary Shelley horror classic - in which an inebriated Lon Chaney Jr. thought that the live TV recording was a mere dress rehearsal! - far exceeds the actual ineptitude on display; only once during his murder of the maid - where he imitates the action of breaking a chair after safely putting the actual prop aside! - is it abundantly clear that he is estranged to the fact of it being the actual shoot. Actually, there had already been a couple of previous instances where Chaney lifts a chair in the air and carefully puts its back on the ground but I am not so sure that he was really supposed to vent his anger on the Frankenstein mansion's furniture! Chaney, reprising the role of the Frankenstein Monster once again ten years after his satisfactory turn in Universal's THE GHOST OF FRANKENSTEIN, is not bad (in the long run) sporting a bald, facially-scarred make-up redolent of the one worn by Freddie Jones in Hammer's FRANKENSTEIN MUST BE DESTROYED! (1969); the rest of the cast is both anonymous and unsympathetic but the whole shoddy and hurried affair is partially redeemed by an energetic scuffle between creator and creature in which the former throws the latter(!) from the tower window...even if Chaney clearly lands on a nearby mattress of some kind!!
Woooo, Thats Some Strong Cheese
verbusen9 May 2010
Warning: Spoilers
Well, you must be a horror buff if you ended up down this long road. So here we are. I caught this on Hulu.com, as I'm sure many others probably will now that its available there. And let me tell you something, As much as I like old movies, I cannot say the same for most old TV made before 1955. It is like watching a high school play with kids that are not related to you.The production standards are ultra low, like what you'll find in a dinner theater and that's usually the high points. Actually if you like old TV commercials you will probably like that part more then the show. I would not have guessed that a watch BAND company could sponsor a TV show, I've seen lots of Timex sponsored shows but never one sponsored by a watch band company and I'm not talking about Spiegel this is Krysler. So that was OK to watch. Everyone is raving about Lon Chaney Jr's botched role in this show but would you really have noticed much if no one said anything? Maybe but probably not, other then when he mumbles something about saving the chair for later, even then, would you care? Chaney's look is pretty good especially for a TV show, it's pretty graphic, so I'll give props where they are due. I'm a fan of Lon's and liked his cheap junk like Indestructible Man, so it was worth watching just for that, the rest is really bad and worth it only to see Lon in something really really cheaply done. I thought the funnier blunder was the hosts ending comments and people walking around in the background making noises, that and watch band commercials and a cool looking Lon as the monster, I give it a 3 of 10.
ADD-addled version of the classic story is barely watchable
lemon_magic16 December 2012
Warning: Spoilers
I first saw this on a public domain DVD horror collection and had no idea where it came from, and after watching its abbreviated 25 minute running time, had no idea what to make of it. Everything about the production values and the staging shouted "made for TV", and it had apparently been edited with a chainsaw -when the monster is destroyed at the end, the movie just stops as if it were a RoadRunner cartoon.
Fortunately, IMDb came to the rescue and now I know why this clunker was so odd and desultory.
It's not entirely bad. In its favor: decent (and horrific) makeup, and an orchestral backdrop that filled a lot of dull, static stage business with crescendos and arpeggios and wailing violins, etc, making this more watchable than it would have been otherwise. The story has some of its elemental power even in this watered down version. And Chaney isn't at his best here, but he's OK.
Against? Oh, every thing else. The script touches on the high points of the story in a purely mechanical fashion. It's like a "Little Golden Book" version of "Frankenstein." The characters (especially Franskenstein himself) are complete idiots. And the actors (including poor Chaney) are under rehearsed and under directed and have to shout out their lines to make up for the poor miking and the live TV format.
Just about the worst version of the Frankenstein myth I've seen recently, and I'm including "Lady Frankenstein" and "Jesse James Meets Frankenstein" in that category. Those latter two oddities were actually movie length stories (however cheesy and odd their scope and emphasis)and this poor abortion is just a bunch of people going through the motions and hoping our affection for the story and the actor will make us overlook the bare bones creakiness of the presentation.
Fortunately, IMDb came to the rescue and now I know why this clunker was so odd and desultory.
It's not entirely bad. In its favor: decent (and horrific) makeup, and an orchestral backdrop that filled a lot of dull, static stage business with crescendos and arpeggios and wailing violins, etc, making this more watchable than it would have been otherwise. The story has some of its elemental power even in this watered down version. And Chaney isn't at his best here, but he's OK.
Against? Oh, every thing else. The script touches on the high points of the story in a purely mechanical fashion. It's like a "Little Golden Book" version of "Frankenstein." The characters (especially Franskenstein himself) are complete idiots. And the actors (including poor Chaney) are under rehearsed and under directed and have to shout out their lines to make up for the poor miking and the live TV format.
Just about the worst version of the Frankenstein myth I've seen recently, and I'm including "Lady Frankenstein" and "Jesse James Meets Frankenstein" in that category. Those latter two oddities were actually movie length stories (however cheesy and odd their scope and emphasis)and this poor abortion is just a bunch of people going through the motions and hoping our affection for the story and the actor will make us overlook the bare bones creakiness of the presentation.
Why Did They Bother?
Hitchcoc1 August 2013
We all know the story, but can it be condensed into about twenty minutes. The answer to the question is "no" if we are to use this lame effort as a benchmark. Lon Chaney, Jr. plays the monster. He is not too bad. He mimics the Karloff creature with his plaintiff looks and his confusion, especially as he appears in Bride. The problem is Frankenstein himself. There is so little preparation for his creation and so little follow-up to his success, that the story falls flat. To make matters worse, he lives with a couple of old people and a young boy (one of those awful kid actors of the early fifties). The monster runs around screeching and growling. No effort is made to humanize him. He kills people but never confronts his master. This has to be one of the worst of all the Frankenstein canon.
very scary
jacobjohntaylor12 June 2015
I have only seen a few episodes of Tales of tomorrow. So far this is the scariest episode I have seen. It is based on the best horror story ever told. This is a very scary TV episode. It is very rare for 50's TV to be this scary. This episode of Tales of tomorrow has great acting. This episode also has great special effects. This episode also has great story line. If you want to see something really scary see this episode of Tales of tomorrow. This is TV at it's best. I need more line and I am running of thing to say. This short film has a lot of suspense. This a great short film. Great short film great short film great short film.
Save a Chair for Lon Chaney Jr.
wes-connors7 January 2011
Brilliant scientist John Ireland (as Victor Frankenstein) works in a remote old sixteenth century castle to create an artificial human being. After dining with family and friends, he goes to the laboratory and uses electricity to animate made-up monster Lon Chaney Jr. (as Frankenstein's Monster). Mr. Chaney turns out to be stronger than ten men, and madder than heck. Chaney grows more irritated when little Michael Mann (as William) tells him he's ugly. Mr. Ireland exclaims, "I created a monster!" Chaney kills hysterical maid Peggy Allenby (as Elsie) and threatens the entire household. Ireland decides he must trap Chaney and destroy him, with brave young Mann and blonde wife Mary Alice Moore (as Elizabeth) acting as a lure...
This very limited version of Mary Shelley's classic "Frankenstein" is most famous for a couple of scenes where Chaney carefully sets down some chairs, instead of tossing them; before the half-hour ended, somebody told him it wasn't a dress rehearsal.
*** Frankenstein (1/18/52) Don Medford ~ Lon Chaney Jr., John Newland, Mary Alice Moore, Michael Mann
This very limited version of Mary Shelley's classic "Frankenstein" is most famous for a couple of scenes where Chaney carefully sets down some chairs, instead of tossing them; before the half-hour ended, somebody told him it wasn't a dress rehearsal.
*** Frankenstein (1/18/52) Don Medford ~ Lon Chaney Jr., John Newland, Mary Alice Moore, Michael Mann
Lon Chaney reprises The Monster for the second and last time
kevinolzak10 July 2020
TALES OF TOMORROW stood out as a live half hour science fiction series on ABC from 1951 to 1953 done for adults rather than the usual targeted audience of children, and adapted stories from some of the premiere authors of the day. This 16th episode (out of 85) was broadcast Jan. 18, 1952, a severely truncated version of Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein," its sole casting coup being one time Monster Lon Chaney, donning a scarred and bald Vin Kehoe makeup that differs markedly from Jack Pierce's classic Universal design for 1942's "The Ghost of Frankenstein." It's a disastrous modern update set in a castle located in a lake, John Newland a nondescript Victor Frankenstein quickly getting down to monster making business, Chaney throwing off the sheet cover to stumble off the slab and confront his creator. This Creature may be mute but remains quite noisy with his sputtering growls, angry once he sees his reflection in a mirror, finally shot by Victor before plunging out a window into the off screen water, only to return for a final showdown crackling with electricity. The likelihood of Lon being inebriated during this live telecast would appear to be confirmed by the way he consistently handles prop furniture, at one point even mouthing "I'm saving the chair" as he gently sets it down, perhaps under the assumption that it was the final dress rehearsal; however, another reason could be that the furniture was not breakable but antique, in which case he was instead purposely careful and not 'under the influence.' If reportedly 'mortified' afterwards he was still able to continue uninterrupted in small screen roles in more than 100 broadcasts over the next 17 years, so it's likely he was entirely innocent of on set unprofessionalism (though never again called upon to play The Monster). John Newland would go on to host ALCOA PRESENTS ONE STEP BEYOND, as well as directing classic TV movies like 1973's "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark."
"HE MUST HAVE FALLEN OUT OF THE LAKE..."
lrrap22 November 2020
..."and climbed in another window!", says the hapless, pint-sized butler Matthew during one of the show's most gripping (?) moments.
I'm a big fan of live TV from the late 40's and 50's, and no one could be more forgiving and understanding of the extreme challenges involved in mounting a production such as this under the circumstances. But.....wow...
3 Stars for making the effort. LR
I'm a big fan of live TV from the late 40's and 50's, and no one could be more forgiving and understanding of the extreme challenges involved in mounting a production such as this under the circumstances. But.....wow...
3 Stars for making the effort. LR
Lives up to its bad reputation for the most part
jamesrupert201429 December 2021
A scientist brings a creature to life, to his regret. To cut costs, the producers of 'Tales of Tomorrow' picked a few stories that were in the public domain, but considering the limited budget, brief running time, and iconic status of Mary Shelly's tale (due primarily to the 1931 James Whale/Boris Karloff film version), Frankenstein was probably a bad choice. Not much happens and the episode is best known for production errors (usually blamed on star Lon Chaney Jr.). 'Tales of Tomorrow' was shot live and allegedly Chaney, who had been drinking on the set, occasionally forgot this and proceeded as though there would be other takes if necessary (the most cited example is the chair he was supposed to break but just lifts and sets back down). On the plus side, the 'creature's' make-up is well done (considering the teleplay's resources) and Chaney Jr was a natural at playing monsters. Worth watching for fans of the star and various life-listers and completists, but not one of the better 'Tales of Tomorrow'.
An early stapl(ing)...
poe42621 April 2014
Second only to Boris Karloff in the James Whale version, Lon Chaney, Jr. does a memorable Monster in this televersion of FRANKENSTEIN. The makeup is a close second only to the Jack Pierce look, and, inebriated or not, the fury Chaney brings to his portrayal of the Monster is impressive. I WAS surprised by his careful setting down of the chair during the Monster's rampage, but the fact that he thought they were rehearsing the scene makes it understandable; s*** happens, especially during Live television (which I've done). The shorter format leaves little room for filler, which is okay by me: all too often, fright films tend to run long (and bog down in their snail's-pace storytelling), with too little action and almost NEVER enough Monster for the True Connesieur.
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