The second half of this videotaped version of "Frankenstein" bears all the same weaknesses as part 1, a script written to order for a low budget that makes use of drab, cramped sets and a refusal to open up the story. Bo Svenson as 'The Giant' escapes from Frankenstein's laboratory after squeezing the life out of his hapless assistant, then spends weeks learning to speak by watching a blind girl teach English to her brother's Spanish bride. His fearful appearance prevents him from making his presence felt until he trusts the girl's blindness to not reveal his secret (here, it's not a sightless old man but his young daughter), only to be disappointed when she reaches out to touch his face as a way to 'see' him, caught in the act by her returning family (her brother is injured but no one gets killed). Victor Frankenstein (Robert Foxworth) takes this opportunity to track down and shoot his creation, his younger brother William (Willie Aames) offering to help the wounded monster before it accidentally breaks his neck. We finally see them come face to face for the first time, The Giant inquiring why Victor tried to kill him, his creator admitting his guilt and agreeing to provide a manmade mate to ease its loneliness. Just as in Shelley's novel, Victor nearly succeeds but allows it to perish before the stunned creature, who vows that his creator will never find peace so long as he lives: "you will not be happy while I am wretched." Susan Strasberg as Elizabeth gets more to do in this chapter, but none of the human characters are developed to any significant degree, Frankenstein too insufferably arrogant toward those he loves, leaving only Bo Svenson to shoulder the burden of humanity that makes his monster stand out as an innocent more sinned against than sinning, in the classic tradition of Boris Karloff.
2 Reviews
Great!
BandSAboutMovies28 March 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Written by Sam Hall and producer Dan Curtis, this made-for-TV Frankenstein adaption was directed by Glenn Jordan, who would also be in charge of Curtis' The Portrait of Dorian Gray.
Originally airing on January 16, 1973 on ABC, this show was forgotten due to another more expensive TV film, Frankenstein: The True Story.
Robert Foxworth, who was Questor in The Questor Tapes, stars here as Dr. Frankenstein, determined to give life to dead tissue. He's also in the TV movie The Devil's Daughter with Johnathan Frid and Shelley Winters.
Bo Svensen makes for a great monster that you both feel for and are afraid of at the appropriate times in the script. He's joined by Susan Strasberg (Sweet Sixteen), Robert Gentry (Dear Dead Delilah) and Curtis favorite John Karlen (who is in just about every TV movie that Curtis would produce).
You may or may not like the shot on video look of so many of Curtis' productions. I personally love them and make me wistful for an era of TV that is long gone.
Originally airing on January 16, 1973 on ABC, this show was forgotten due to another more expensive TV film, Frankenstein: The True Story.
Robert Foxworth, who was Questor in The Questor Tapes, stars here as Dr. Frankenstein, determined to give life to dead tissue. He's also in the TV movie The Devil's Daughter with Johnathan Frid and Shelley Winters.
Bo Svensen makes for a great monster that you both feel for and are afraid of at the appropriate times in the script. He's joined by Susan Strasberg (Sweet Sixteen), Robert Gentry (Dear Dead Delilah) and Curtis favorite John Karlen (who is in just about every TV movie that Curtis would produce).
You may or may not like the shot on video look of so many of Curtis' productions. I personally love them and make me wistful for an era of TV that is long gone.
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