Son of Frankenstein (1939)

One of the sons of Frankenstein finds his father's monster in a coma and revives him, only to find out he is controlled by Ygor who is bent on revenge.

Director:

Rowland V. Lee

Writers:

Mary Shelley (suggested by the story written in 1816) (as Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley), Wyllis Cooper (screenplay) (as Willis Cooper)

Stars:

Boris Karloff, Basil Rathbone, Bela Lugosi

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Basil Rathbone	...	Baron Wolf von Frankenstein
Boris Karloff	...	The Monster
Bela Lugosi	...	Ygor
Lionel Atwill	...	Inspector Krogh
Josephine Hutchinson	...	Elsa von Frankenstein
Donnie Dunagan	...	Peter von Frankenstein
Emma Dunn	...	Amelia
Edgar Norton	...	Thomas Benson
Perry Ivins	...	Fritz
Lawrence Grant	...	Burgomaster
Lionel Belmore	...	Emil Lang
Michael Mark	...	Ewald Neumüller
Caroline Frances Cooke	...	Frau Neumüller (as Caroline Cooke)
Gustav von Seyffertitz	...	Burgher
Lorimer Johnston	...	Burgher (as Lorimer Johnson)

Storyline

Wolf von Frankenstein returns to the Baronial manor from the United States with his wife Elsa and son Peter. He not made welcome by the locals who are still terrified of his father's works and the monster he created. The local Burgomaster gives him a sealed briefcase left by his father and inside, Wolf finds his father's scientific notes. At the manor house he meets his father's assistant Igor who has a surprise for him: the monster his father created is still alive, though in some sort of coma. Wolf's initial attempts to re-animate the creature seem to fail but when Peter says he saw a giant in the woods, it appears he's met success. When people are mysteriously killed in the village there is little doubt that the monster is responsible.

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Plot Keywords:

sequel | shot to death | scientist | castle | broken neck | 

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Taglines:

New TERROR Loosed Upoon a Startled World!

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Genres:

Drama | Horror | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 January 1939 (USA)

Also Known As:

El hijo de Frankenstein

Filming Locations:

Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film marked Bela Lugosi's first appearance in Universal's Frankenstein franchise, but it would not be his last. Lugosi reprised his role as Ygor in The Ghost of Frankenstein (1942) and portrayed the monster himself in Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943). Lugosi also had a run-in with Frankenstein's monster while in character as Dracula in the more-humorous monster-flick, Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948). So this film marked the first of three appearances by Lugosi in Universal's Frankenstein films (four appearances if you count Abbot and Costello Meet Frankenstein).

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Goofs

When Wolf von Frankenstein is arguing with Krogh in the castle lobby (73 minutes), he removes his hat and throws it at the high-backed chair to the left of the fireplace. It lands on the floor in front of and to the left of the chair. Later in the scene, the hat switches to the right of and behind the chair. Later still, in the same location, the hat has now flipped upside down. Frankenstein's coat, which was thrown on the floor to the left of the chair also shifts position (to the seat of the chair, in this case).

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Quotes

[first lines]
[a child picks up a rock to throw at Ygor's window]
Younger Brother: Ain't you afraid?
Older Brother: Of old Ygor? No!
[Ygor stares from the window]
Older Brother: Oh!

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Connections

Referenced in The Angry Video Game Nerd: Alien³ (2013)

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Soundtracks

Sailing, Sailing, Over the Bounding Main
(uncredited)
Written by Godfrey Marks
Sung a cappella by Donnie Dunagan

User Reviews

Memorable

A strong cast (including Boris Karloff in his last screen appearance as the Monster) makes the second sequel to Frankenstein memorable. This time Henry Frankenstein's son, Wolf (Basil Rathbone) revives the dormant monster with the help of Ygor (Bela Lugosi, in his most underrated performance). This is an impressive, intelligent production that scores highly in all departments. 9/10