How to Make a Monster (1958)

When a master monster make-up artist is sacked by the new bosses of American International studios, he uses his creations to exact revenge.

Director:

Herbert L. Strock

Writers:

Aben Kandel (original story) (as Kenneth Langtry), Herman Cohen (original story)

Stars:

Robert H. Harris, Paul Brinegar, Gary Conway

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robert H. Harris	...	Pete Dumond
Paul Brinegar	...	Rivero
Gary Conway	...	Tony Mantell--Teenage Frankenstein
Gary Clarke	...	Larry Drake--Teenage Werewolf
Malcolm Atterbury	...	Richards
Dennis Cross	...	Monahan
Morris Ankrum	...	Police Capt. Hancock
Walter Reed	...	Detective Thompson
Paul Maxwell	...	Jeff Clayton
Eddie Marr	...	John Nixon
Heather Ames	...	Arlene Dow
Robert Shayne	...	Gary Droz
Rod Dana	...	Lab Technician
Jaclyn Hellman	...	Jane (as Jacqueline Ebeier)
Joan Chandler	...	Marilyn

Storyline

Accomplished but eccentric movie make-up artist Pete Dumond has been with the studio for decades and is totally devoted to his art especially in the creation of screen monsters. His world ends abruptly when new management acquires the company and arbitrarily decides that the horror cycle has run its course, and the studio will now concentrate on escapist musicals. When Dumond hears he will be pink-slipped, the neurotic but usually affable Pete turns psychotic and vows vengeance on the two movie executives responsible. Using a combination of hypnosis and a newly developed chemical formula, Dumond is able to use mind control to compel the young actors playing the teenage Frankenstein and werewolf to exact vengeance for him.

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Plot Keywords:

psychotronic film | fired | frankenstein's monster | stabbed in the stomach | dailies | 

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Taglines:

It will SCARE the living yell out of you!

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Genres:

Horror | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

Unrated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Gary Conway reprized his role as the monster from "I Was a Teenage Frankenstein."

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Goofs

The visitors to the studio are told they are about to visit the set of Horrors of the Black Museum. That film, which was also produced and written by Herman Cohen, was actually shot in England, not at the U.S. studio.

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Quotes

Larry Drake: [Looking at the horrific heads on the walls] What are those?
Pete Dumond: My family... my children!

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Connections

Featured in Aweful Movies with Deadly Earnest: How to Make a Monster (1971)

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Soundtracks

You've Got to Have Ee-Ooo
Lyrics by Skip Redwine
Music by Paul Dunlap
Sung by John Ashley

User Reviews

Nobody Appreciates The Makeup Artists

It can never be said that American International Pictures doesn't have a sense of humor. The studio that gave us such classics as I Was A Teenage Frankenstein and I Was A Teenage Werewolf joins the two teen monsters in a cute satire of the genre.

A new day is dawning at American International, the new studio heads want no more monster pictures that were the bread and butter of its existence and paid a nice living for makeup artist Robert H. Harris. They want lighter fare for the public and give poor Harris the old heave ho.

But Harris isn't taking it lying down. A new makeup base applied to the skull allows Harris to control those he applies it on and he takes his two teen stars from Teenage Frankenstein and Werewolf and starts sending them on a murder spree and bringing back trophies.

Gary Clarke and Gary Conway were Harris's two subjects and they and Harris went along with the fun. A whole lot of familiar character actors get involved.

It's American Internation so don't expect any high production values. But it actually isn't too bad.

How To Make A Monster is made up in fact with tongue firmly in cheek.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 July 1958 (USA)

Also Known As:

How to Make a Monster

Filming Locations:

ZIV Studios - 7950 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Sunset Productions (III)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

73 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Ryder Sound Services)

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1