With it
being the 100th anniversary of Universal Studios and it being the
Halloween season I feel the need to continue my series of Blogs on my favorite
Halloween movies with none other than the classic Universal Monsters.
Now first
off I have a personal reason for picking these movies is the fact that I like
to watch them in order but they are some of my favorites as well.
I remember
the years in my youth the ad campaign that Universal had for their monsters.
Some would say that they lost their scare appeal and were now the stuff of
jokes with The Munsters and the Ghoulie Ghoulies.
I will never
forget the old Pepsi/Doritos Monster Match commercials featuring the Universal
Monsters in moments like the Frankenstein Monster pulling a Pepsi truck to a
monster party and is then chewed out by Dracula for not having any dip. Another
commercial featured Frankenstein’s monster leaving his nagging bride after
winning prizes in the giveaway.
Now what I
try to do every year is I try to watch as many of the series as I can. I am
fortunate that when Van Helsing was released in in 2004 Universal released The
Legacy Collections featuring all of the Universal Frankenstein, Dracula, and
the Wolfman movies. I personally have the collector’s edition that has all
three of sets as well as busts of the monsters. Apparently these releases were
successful because a year later Creature from the Black Lagoon, The Mummy and
the Invisible man sets were released.
The best
part of the legacy collections is the fact that you have all of the films and
you can watch them in order. And I am here to give you the order of the films.
For the record
The Mummy, Invisible Man and the Creature form the Black Lagoon aren’t included
in this because they aren’t in the sequels However I highly recommend them.
They are outstanding films.
The First
Film that you need to watch is Dracula.
Released in
1931 Dracula was produced by the son of Universal Founder Carl Laemmle Jr who
was running the studio at the time and directed by Tod Browning.
Starring Bela
Lugosi who contrary popular myth only played Dracula in both the film adaption and the stage
play that the film is based as well as Abbot and Costello meet Frankenstein.
Lugosi is often cited as the definitive Dracula over other actors who have
played the role.
Dwight Frye
is one of the most reoccurring actors in the Universal Monster films. Playing a
range of characters from the Hunchbacked assistant Fritz in Frankenstein and
the role of bug eating Renfield in Dracula.
The plot of
Dracula follows the age-old tale of Bram Stokers novel though loosely adapted
for this film. I will give you the cliff noted version.
Count
Dracula and Renfield come to England from Transylvania where the Count begins
courting Mina Seward who he intends to make into his Vampire Bride. While this
is happening Dr Van Helsing arrives and quickly deduces what Dracula is and
steps are taken to prevent this from happening.
In the end
Mina is saves and Dracula after breaking Renfield’s neck is staked by Van
Helsing and all is back to normal.
There is
another version of Dracula produced at same time referred to as Dracula the
Spanish version.
The Tod
Browning Dracula was shot during the day and the studio shot the Spanish
version in the evenings. Directed by George Melford it is often regarded the
better version of the two from a Technical perspective with superior camera
work and the use of close ups and cutaways. Carlos Villarias played the role of
Conde Dracula
Dracula also
starred Edward Van Sloan as Professor Van Helsing. Almost becoming the
unofficial spokesman for the Studio in the fact that he would occasionally
address the audiences before or after the film, Van Sloan would play a similar
role as Dr. Muller in The Mummy and as Colin Clive’s mentor Dr. Waldman in
Frankenstein before reprising his role as Van Helsing in Dracula’s Daughter.
In Dracula’s
Daughter, released in 1936 Van Helsing is arrested for the murder of Count
Dracula and Renfield. During all of the confusion Gloria Holden as Countess
Marya Zaleska the sired offspring of Dracula arrives and burns the body of the
count hoping that it will end the Vampire curse. Sadly for her it doesn’t break
the curse and she continues to go out looking for young women to pose for her
and she then attacks and drinks their blood however she hypnotizes them into
not remembering that they were attacked by a Vampire. She then searches for a
male companion to make immortal and almost succeeds when she is killed by her
male servant who also wanted to become a vampire.
The Audience
is introduced to her brother in Son of Dracula (1943) Lon Chaney Jr plays the
role of Count Alucard a vampire that romances an heiress in New Orleans and
after seducing and marrying her he is revealed to be the real Count Dracula
before his coffin is destroyed and he dies in the sun.
Now I know
what you are thinking. If he is Dracula then who is Bela Lugosi? It makes it
easier if you don’t think about it.
Also
released in 1931 was Frankenstein.
Produced
also by Carl Laemmle, Jr. Frankenstein was directed by James Whale and stars
Boris Karloff in the role of the monster and Collin Clive In the title role of
Dr Henry Frankenstein.
Lugosi was
offered the role of the monster and turned it down because he was upset that
his voice would not be heard. Karloff was having lunch in the Universal
Commissary when Whale encountered him and offered him the role of the monster.
Karloff was dressed in his best suit when he was having lunch and at always
wondered if he should be offended about the offer.
The story of
Frankenstein is also loosely based on the book by Mary Shelly. The Doctor in
the novel is named Victor and in the movie he is named Henry.
The story is
far different than in the novel.
After
realizing that lightning can reanimate dead tissue Dr Frankenstein constructs a
body out of parts that he took from freshly buried graves and Hanging
criminals.
He sends his
hunched back assistant Fritz to steal a brain form the University however after
destroying the normal brain he steals an abnormal brain of a common criminal.
Not knowing this Frankenstein harnesses the lightening and utters the Famous
line “Its Alive its
Alive Its Alive! In the name of God, Now I know what it feels like to be God!”
All goes
well at first however Fritz likes to torment the monster with a torch and then
one day The Monster kills Fritz and Frankenstein decides that the monster must
be destroyed. However the monster escapes and after accidently killing a young
girl the villagers begin searching for him with torches.
The monster
eventually faces off against its creator and ends up at a windmill. After
Frankenstein is thrown over the side the villagers burn down the windmill with
the monster inside.
I feel the
need to point out that in these early movies the monster is not a villain he is
just misunderstood.
The only
people that he kills he does accidently with the exception of the people that
attack him first.
Jack Pierce
was the make-up artist for almost all of the Universal Monster films.
It is often
debated who designed the monster’s look as both James Whale and Jack Pierce
have claimed responsibility.
Picking up
where Frankenstein leaves off The Bride of Frankenstein was released in 1935.
It is
revealed that both Frankenstein and the monster have survived and after DR
Frankenstein marries his bride Elizabeth he meets Doctor Pretorius who wants to
make a mate for the monster to create a new master species. The monster after
running around the countryside encounters an old man who teaches him to speak
where he utters now famous lines like “Love Dead, Hate Living”. The monster
also begins to realize that he loves cigars and wine.
After
Pretorius kidnaps Elisabeth Dr Frankenstein agrees to create the Bride of the
Monster.
Again things
don’t go as planned because the Bride after seeing the monster screams in
terror and hisses at him and the monster in an act of rage he pulls a Lever
that blows up the castle sparing the Doctor and Elisabeth.
The Bride
was played by Elsa Lanchester and was the only appearance by the character in
any of the Universal movies.
Many will
ask why the character is often referenced when the Daughter of Dracula isn’t.
The reason that I believe is that the Bride of Frankenstein is regarded often
as better than the original and this is often debated. Personally I like
watching both of them back to back where as not too many movie viewers regard
Dracula’s Daughter with as much joy.
The Bride of
Frankenstein was also the final film in the Universal Monster timeline that
features Collin Clive as sadly the actor passed away in 1937.
Another fact
that is interesting fact is that in the first film Karloff didn’t even get
billing until the closing credits of Frankenstein and in Bride of Frankenstein
his name is above the title saying simply KARLOFF in.
Karloff
makes his final appearance as the monster in 1939 with Son of Frankenstein. Although
he appeared on a television show and at a charity softball game as the monster
he never played him in another Universal Movie.
Son of
Frankenstein stars Basil Rathbone as Baron Wolf von Frankenstein the son of
Henry Frankenstein who has inherited the Frankenstein estate and moves there
with his wife and young son.
Also
starring in Son of Frankenstein is Bela Lugosi in the role that is often
confused with the character of Fritz in the first movie. That character is Ygor.
In this
movie Ygor is a former criminal that after he was hung for his crimes he survived
the ordeal and has a broken neck and convinces Wolf to revive the monster
because he wants to convince the monster to take revenge on the towns people
that convicted him.
Making his
first appearance in the Universal Monster series is actor Lionel Atwill who
goes on to make four other appearances in the series. In this movie he plays Inspector
Krogh the head of the police department that is investigating the murders as
well as the suspicious activity that is happening at the Frankenstein Castle.
Krogh’s arm was ripped out of his arm by the Monster in one of the earlier
films. The character is spoofed by Kenneth Mars in Mel Brooks's Young
Frankenstein (1974).
Eventually
the Monster goes on a rampage after witnessing the death of Ygor and faces off
against both Wolf and Krogh and is sent falling into a Sulpher pit and Wolf
gives the key to the castle to the village before he departs by train never to
return.
In 1941 The
Wolfman was made by Universal starring Lon Chaney, Jr in the role of Larry
Talbot who returns to his home to reconcile with his estranged father (Claude
Raines) after the death of his brother.
After
arriving in town Larry begins courting Gwen Conliffe played by the lovely Evelyn
Ankers who also makes many appearances in the universal monster movies. After
purchasing a silver headed walking stick Larry, Gwen and her friend Jenny go to
get their fortunes read by a Gypsies including one that is a werewolf (also
played by Bela Lugosi) who kills Jenny and attacks Larry who kills him with his
walking stick.
Grief
stricken with the fact that he killed a man Talbot eventually becomes the
Wolfman and begins attacking the villagers. Aided by Maria Ouspenskaya as
Maleva the Gypsy mother of the original werewolf Talbot struggles to contain
the beast inside of him.
Personally
one of my favorite characters in the series Talbot has a tortured feel that
adds depth to the character in all of his appearances.
I also love
the science vs. superstition undertones in the film.
When the
movie was remade in 2010 I feel that the movie was lacking these traits.
Eventually
Larry is beaten to death by his father before he can kill Gwen in werewolf
form.
Béla Lugosi
as returns as Ygor who as it turns out didn’t die in the end of Son of
Frankenstein.
The village
of Frankenstein blaming all of their problems on the castle and the curse of
Frankenstein decides to tear down the castle in an angry mob. Ygor retreats to
an underground where he finds that the sulpher has preserved the monster. Ygor
decides to take the monster to the village of Vasaria where the monster makes
friends with a young girl and the villagers think that he is attacking the girl
and attack the monster who is arrested and after being rejected by Ludwig Frankenstein
the monster escapes with Ygor and kills Dr. Kettering after they attack
Frankenstein’s lab
Dr
Frankenstein decides to destroy the monster until he is visited by the ghost of
his father who implores him not to destroy his work. Frankenstein then seeks to change the brain of the monster with
the brain of Dr. Kettering.
Atwill in
this movie portrays Dr. Theodore Bohmer a surgeon that was once Frankenstein’s
teacher and is now his jealous assistant.
Well Ygor
then convinces Dr. Bohmer to switch the brains and instead of DR. Kettering’s
brain the brain of Ygor is placed in the body of the monster.
This is the
first time in the series where the monster officially becomes a villain because
of the Evil Ygor’s brain and you even hear the monster speak in Lugosi’s voice,
Which is what Lugosi wanted in the first place.
What Ygor
and Dr. Bohmer didn’t take into consideration is that the blood types aren’t
the same and the monster is blinded and in his rampage he destroys the castle
Taking himself, Bohmer and Dr. Frankenstein with him.
In 1943 we
had Frankenstein meets the Wolf Man which was the first monster match.
Lon Chaney,
Jr reprises his role as Larry Talbot, Maria Ouspenskaya returns as Maleva, Ilona
Massey takes over the role of Elsa Frankenstein, Lionel Atwill this time out
plays the Mayor, Dwight Frye returns to the series as the villager Rudi, and
Finally Bela Lugosi portrays the Frankenstein Monster.
When Grave
Robbers raid the tomb of Larry Talbot they open his coffin and the moonlight
turns the body into the Wolf Man.
Talbot then
flees to a faraway city where he is taken into a hospital and meets Dr. Mannering.
After fleeing the Hospital Talbot seeks out Maleva who accompanies him to
Vasaria to locate Dr. Frankenstein and the secrets of Life and Death so that he
may finally die forever and the beast inside of him will again harm no one.
After
fleeing the townspeople as the Wolf Man Talbot ends up in a cave under Castle
Frankenstein’s ruins and locates the Frankenstein Monster trapped in Ice.
After
thawing the monster with the hope that he will know where Frankenstein’s notes
are hidden he meets Elsa also hoping that she has the notes. Again Talbot
encounters Dr. Mannering who has followed the headlines of wolf attacks and has
located him in Vasaria. Dr Mannering and Elsa then see the monster and Elsa
reveals where Frankenstein’s Journal is so that Mannering can conduct the
procedure to drain the life from both The Monster and the Wolf Man.
However as
is the problem with all of the scientists in this series, scientific curiosity
overpowers better judgment and Dr. Mannering wants to see The Frankenstein
Monster at Full strength and as a result The Monster runs amok in the Laboratory and attacks Elsa
trying to kidnap her. At this point the moon becomes full and Talbot becomes
the Wolf Man again and fights the Monster.
While The
two are fighting Mannering and Elsa manage to escape the castle and the Tavern
owner blows up the local dam and the ensuing flood destroys the castle and both
of the monsters.
Now in the
way of continuity this movie has some of the worst and best in the series. The
village of Vasaria becomes the official home of the Frankenstein monster and
the events of Ghost of Frankenstein are far from forgotten however some of the minor
facts are ignored. First off brain of
Ygor is now in the monster which works because the monster is now played by
Lugosi. The fact that the monster is blind is also ignored and the fact that he
can now speak is likewise not acknowledged. All of this however was in the
original film however all of the explanatory dialogue was cut out of the film.
There for
you will notice that the monster waves his hands around which is often
associated with the monster which this was the first time that he does it
because he is blind and the movie doesn’t say it and apparently when the
procedure is done to the monster his sight is restored this was also cut out of
the film.
The other
issue is that while the movie was filmed Lugosi did have Dialogue as the
monster but apparently the studio didn’t like the fact that The Frankenstein
Monster was talking like Dracula and all of the lines were cut from the final
film.
Despite
these issues Frankenstein meets The Wolf Man is one of my favorite entries in
the series. One of the best scenes with Chaney is the festival of the New Wine
where the villagers are singing “Faro-la Faro-Li” leading to Talbot’s eventual
emotional breakdown. The scene is one of the best scenes to show the character
and his true feelings about the Wolf Man.
The film is
built up to the fact that it features all of the monsters in one movie though
none of them have any scenes together.
The plot of
House of Frankenstein follows the mad scientist Dr. Gustav Niemann (Karloff)
who after escaping a prison with his hunchback assistant Daniel encounters a
traveling horror show that holds the remains of Count Dracula who after having
the stake removed from his heart returns to life. Niemann and Daniel kill the
owner of the Horror show and it’s driver and they then use Dracula to take
revenge on the man that caused his imprisonment. Dracula is then persued by the
family of the man that he killed and Niemann then destroys Dracula’s Coffin and
Dracula perishes in the sunlight. Niemann and Daniel then travel to Vasaria
where they find The Wolf Man and the Frankenstein Monster still alive in what’s
left of the Castle.
Eventually
The Wolf Man is killed with a silver bullet form a Gypsy dancer that he
mortally wounds and the Hunchback that loved the woman blames her death on
Niemann who he then attacks. The Monster intervenes by throwing Daniel out the
window and as the villagers pursue the monster grabs the scientist and attempts
to flee only to fall in quick sand and sink with the doctor.
The Monsters
all return in House of Dracula (1945) with the monsters all reprising their
roles. This time out Dr. Franz Edelmann in Vasaria specializes in cureing
monsters of their curses. Dracula comes to him to cure his vampirism. Eventually
Larry Talbot arrives at the castle seeking a cure for his lycanthropy. After an
incident where Talbot becomes the Wolf Man and falls into a cave Talbot and
Edelmann locate the Frankenstein Monster and the skeleton of Dr. Niemann.
The Monster
remains comatose through most of the movie remains in the labrotory while
Edelmann, Talbot and his assistants face Dracula defeating and killing him with
ease.
Edelmann in
a reverse transfusion with Dracula is infected with his blood and begins to
become a Mr Hyde like character and after cureing Talbot of the Wolf Man curse
revives the monster who again rampages through the lab. After Edelmann kills his
hunchedback female assistant Talbot kills him. The Monster then sets the castle
on fire and the building collapses on him.
The final
film in the Universal Monster series isn’t considered canon by most fans as it
is more of a spook than a sequel.
That film is
Abbot and Costello meet Frankenstein (1948).
Once again Bela
Lugosi dons the cape and plays Dracula one final time as does Glen Strange as
The Monster and Lon Chaney, Jr as the Wolf Man
Comedy duo
Bud Abbot and Lou Costello play the roles of Chick Young and Wilbur Grey, a
pair of shipping clerks that deliver a couple of crates to McDougall’s House of
Horrors. It turns out that the crates contain both the Frankenstein Monster and
Dracula’s coffin.
Dracula has
a plot to replace the brain of the Frankenstein monster with the brain of Wilbur
using Wilbur’s girlfriend to lure him to the castle on Halloween night.
Larry Talbot
follows Dracula to America to stop him from reviving the monster joining Wilbur
and Chick along the way.
Featuring
much slapstick humor and precise comic timing Abbot and Costello Meet
Frankenstein remains the standard for Horror Comedies even to this day.
In the end
The Wolf Man snatches Dracula in his bat form falling to their implied deaths
while The Frankenstein Monster burns on a dock while Abbot and Costello swim away
from the Invisible Man who is on their boat smoking a cigarette voiced by
Vincent Price.
It’s box
office success let to the Comedy duo facing other Iconic Universal Monsters
including the Mummy and Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
Despite the
ending of the film in Abbot and Costello meet the Invisible Man is not a
sequel.
These
monsters all were seen again in 2004 in Van Helsing directed by the Stephen
Sommers who was the head of the Mummy remake Franchise.
The
Frankenstein Monster, Count Dracula and The Wolf Man along with their monster brethren
The Mummy, The Creature from the Black Lagoon, Mr Hyde, and The Phantom of the
Opera have all proven to be as Immortal as their screen counterparts, Thanks in
no small part to movies like these.
In the past
20 years we have seen we have seen remakes, rereleases, and tributes.
Influencing
generations of filmmakers The monsters continue to fright.
Universal
Studios even has it’s converts it’s Theme Park to the Halloween Horror Nights
and the Monsters are featured prominently.
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