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IMDbPro

Son of Frankenstein

  • 19391939
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 39m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
10K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
19,020
479
Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, and Basil Rathbone in Son of Frankenstein (1939)
Watch Trailer
Play trailer1:36
1 Video
99+ Photos
DramaHorrorSci-Fi
Returning to the ancestral castle long after the death of the monster, the son of Dr. Frankenstein meets a mad shepherd who is hiding the comatose creature. To clear the family name, he revi... Read allReturning to the ancestral castle long after the death of the monster, the son of Dr. Frankenstein meets a mad shepherd who is hiding the comatose creature. To clear the family name, he revives the creature and tries to rehabilitate him.Returning to the ancestral castle long after the death of the monster, the son of Dr. Frankenstein meets a mad shepherd who is hiding the comatose creature. To clear the family name, he revives the creature and tries to rehabilitate him.
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
10K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
19,020
479
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Rowland V. Lee
    • Writers
      • Mary Shelley(suggested by the story written in 1816)
      • Wyllis Cooper(screenplay)
    • Stars
      • Boris Karloff
      • Basil Rathbone
      • Bela Lugosi
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Rowland V. Lee
    • Writers
      • Mary Shelley(suggested by the story written in 1816)
      • Wyllis Cooper(screenplay)
    • Stars
      • Boris Karloff
      • Basil Rathbone
      • Bela Lugosi
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 137User reviews
    • 78Critic reviews
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 1 nomination

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:36
    Trailer

    Photos136

    Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi in Son of Frankenstein (1939)
    "Son of Frankenstein" Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, 1939, Universal, **I.V.
    "Son of Frankenstein" Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi 1939 Universal **I.V.
    "Son of Frankenstein" Bela Lugosi, 1939, Universal, **I.V.
    Son of Frankenstein (1939)
    Son of Frankenstein (1939)
    Son of Frankenstein (1939)
    Lionel Atwill, Josephine Hutchinson, and Perry Ivins in Son of Frankenstein (1939)
    Bela Lugosi in Son of Frankenstein (1939)
    Basil Rathbone, Donnie Dunagan, and Emma Dunn in Son of Frankenstein (1939)
    Lionel Atwill, Donnie Dunagan, and Emma Dunn in Son of Frankenstein (1939)
    Basil Rathbone and Lionel Atwill in Son of Frankenstein (1939)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Boris Karloff
    Boris Karloff
    • The Monster
    Basil Rathbone
    Basil Rathbone
    • Baron Wolf von Frankenstein
    Bela Lugosi
    Bela Lugosi
    • Ygor
    Lionel Atwill
    Lionel Atwill
    • Inspector Krogh
    Josephine Hutchinson
    Josephine Hutchinson
    • Elsa von Frankenstein
    Donnie Dunagan
    Donnie Dunagan
    • Peter von Frankenstein
    Emma Dunn
    Emma Dunn
    • Amelia
    Edgar Norton
    Edgar Norton
    • Thomas Benson
    Perry Ivins
    • Fritz
    Lawrence Grant
    Lawrence Grant
    • Burgomaster
    Lionel Belmore
    Lionel Belmore
    • Emil Lang
    Michael Mark
    Michael Mark
    • Ewald Neumüller
    Caroline Frances Cooke
    Caroline Frances Cooke
    • Frau Neumüller
    • (as Caroline Cooke)
    Gustav von Seyffertitz
    Gustav von Seyffertitz
    • Burgher
    Lorimer Johnston
    Lorimer Johnston
    • Burgher
    • (as Lorimer Johnson)
    Tom Ricketts
    Tom Ricketts
    • Burgher
    Dwight Frye
    Dwight Frye
    • Villager
    • (unconfirmed)
    Ward Bond
    Ward Bond
    • Policeman
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Rowland V. Lee
    • Writers
      • Mary Shelley(suggested by the story written in 1816)
      • Wyllis Cooper(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Due to the lack of a prepared script, much of the picture was written just moments before the actors were to shoot their scenes. This was how director Rowland V. Lee was able to keep Bela Lugosi working throughout filming, and built up the role of Ygor, which never appeared in the original Wyllis Cooper screenplay. Lugosi was forever grateful to Lee for allowing him to create what turned out to be one of his very best characterizations. After many delays, shooting finally started November 9, 1938, finishing January 5, 1939, just days before its prescribed release date of January 13. Boris Karloff's daughter, Sara Karloff was born on his 51st birthday, November 23, 1938.
    • Goofs
      When Wolf (and the audience) see the sulfur pit for the first time, you can see the body of The Monster sinking to the bottom. (Obviously an unused shot recycled from the end of the film.)
    • Quotes

      Ewald Neumüller: Hey! You, you spit on me!

      Ygor: [pointing to his broken neck] I am sorry. I cough. You see, bone get stuck in my throat!

    • Crazy credits
      Writer Wyllis Cooper's name is spelled "Willis" in the opening credits.
    • Alternate versions
      The British release print runs approximately two minutes longer.
    • Connections
      Edited into Lost City of the Jungle (1946)
    • Soundtracks
      Sailing, Sailing, Over the Bounding Main
      (uncredited)

      Written by Godfrey Marks

      Sung a cappella by Donnie Dunagan

    User reviews137

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    Karloff, Lugosi and Rathbone in one movie? Someone please pinch me.
    What a delightful sight, seeing Basil Rathbone, Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi all together in this movie. Seeing the three of them in one shot gave me a special feeling, these three guys are among the biggest screen legends of all time.

    Basil Rathbone is always a big pleasure to watch in a movie, he was a true great 'classic' actor. Bela Lugosi was almost unrecognizable in his role as Ygor and he played his character with lots of passion. Unfortunately the age was showing for Karloff. He was well over 50 years old when he played the Frankenstein monster for the last time in this movie. His 'old' age is truly notable, even through his make-up. I think it was a good thing that he never played the famous classic horror character again after this movie.

    The story is still interesting enough to make this movie original, even though the depth and emotions of the previous two Frankenstein movies is missing.

    It's a bit strange that the first two Frankenstein movies with Karloff are very well known but this movie is not. This movie is truly excellent and should deserve so more recognition and appreciation. The atmosphere is just as good as from the previous two movies and the monster is still one powerful horror character, even though his role is rather limited compared to the first two movies. This time the real main part is Baron Wolf von Frankenstein played by Basil Rathbone. Some people might be disappointed by this but being a fan of Rathbone I'm not complaining about this.

    The movie has enough originality and the story is surely interesting enough to call this movie a worthy addition to the Frankenstein movie legacy. But what made this movie truly interesting and amazing to me, were the three main actors of the movie Rathbone, Karloff and Lugosi.

    9/10

    http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/
    helpful•25
    5
    • Boba_Fett1138
    • Jul 7, 2005

    FAQ8

    • Is "Son of Frankenstein" based on a book?
    • How much time has elapsed between "Bride of Frankenstein" and "Son of Frankenstein"?
    • What has the Frankenstein monster been doing all those years?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 13, 1939 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Frankensteins Sohn
    • Filming locations
      • Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Universal Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 39 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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