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Date Posted: 12:40:06 12/30/07 Sun
Author: Rick
Subject: Poll: Rating the Frankenstein Sequels...


A: The Bride of Frankenstein ( 1935 )

B: Son of Frankenstein ( 1939 )

C: The Ghost of Frankenstein ( 1942 )

D: Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man ( 1943 )

E: House of Frankenstein ( 1944 )



Rick

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Replies:

[> Re: Poll: Rating the Frankenstein Sequels... -- Alan, 20:29:16 01/01/08 Tue [1]

Hi Rick, Happy New Year to you and everyone on the forum!

Universal's Frankenstein series was always my favorite, and will always hold a special place in my heart for their great performances, stunning visuals, and haunting music scores. Here's my breakdown:

1) "Bride of Frankenstein" Arguably the best sequel ever, because James Whale doesn't simply rehash his previous film, but takes a totally different approach, giving us a broad black comedy with religious overtones. Karloff's portrait of the Monster is almost Oscar-caliber, and Ernest Theisinger's Dr. Pretorious is one of Universal Horror's most memorable supporting characters.

2) "Son of Frankenstein" The story needed more work, and Karloff's Monster is often either slumbering or subdued until the finale, but this is the second-best sequel due to the strong performances by Basil Rathbone, Lionel Atwill, and best of all, Bela Lugosi as ol' Ygor.

3) "House of Frankenstein" A film that has taken a lot of bashing for being a B-product that simply throws most of the Universal monsters together, but I love this movie. Karloff, Lon Chaney Jr. and J. Carrol Naish are vivid. John Carradine is a menacing and authoritative Dracula. The supporting cast is solid. The soggy quicksand ending is abrupt and hokey, but it grips me!

4) "Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man" I place this film above "Ghost of Frankenstein" mainly for it's cast, good production values and because the Wolf Man elements of it are so pleasing; Chaney struts his stuff exceptionally here, and it is a logical progression from "The Wolf Man". But it's hard to understand the casting of Lugosi as the Monster, and even harder to forgive Universal's post-production butchering of this film, which left poor Bela twisting in the wind.

5) "Ghost of Frankenstein" This is the weakest link in the chain for me because of it's storyline and Lon Chaney's imposing but mute and stonefaced Monster. Lugosi is fine in his return as Ygor, and Atwill does well as the ambitious rival to Sir Cedric Hardwicke, but if only Atwill had been given the opportunity to play Inspector Krough again, and develop that character further! If only they had dropped the silly last minute "haunting" of Henry Frankenstein upon his second son! If only they had not opted for the Ygor-Monster brain transplant that confused the Monster's character, and necessitated a blind Monster in the next film...if only!

Perhaps I'm whipping on "Ghost..." a bit much, but there was potential there that, to me, wasn't realized. But overall, the Universal Frankenstein films were a benchmark franchise in 1930s-40s Hollywood.


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[> Re: Poll: Rating the Frankenstein Sequels... -- Tim, 21:35:36 01/11/08 Fri [1]

(1) Bride of Frankenstein. A picture often cited as being better than the original 1931 Frankenstein. I disagree with that, but do agree it is one of the best sequels ever. An amazing cast of characters! The sequence featuring the blind hermit (O.P. Heggie) still retains its pathos, despite being famously parodied in Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein.

(2) Son of Frankenstein. Lacking the James Whale magic touch, the cast helps keep this one near the top. Lionel Atwill is an amazing scene-stealer with that arm of his! One of Bela Lugosi's finest performances and, sadly, Boris Karloff's swan song playing the Monster.

(3) House of Frankenstein. Boris Karloff is back, not as the Monster but as a mad scientist named Dr Niemann! Great work by J. Carrol Naish, Lionel Atwill and George Zucco, among others. John Carradine and Lon Chaney shine, respectively, as Dracula and The Wolf Man. Glenn Strange's first turn as the Monster.

(4) Frankenstein meets the Wolf Man. A okay film, but a great title, lurid and sensational! There's actually more Wolf Man than Frankenstein in this Frankenstein sequel. I remember watching it as a kid and impatiently waiting for the promised battle between the two monsters. An embarrassing chapter in Bela Lugosi's career, through no fault of his own.

(5) Ghost of Frankenstein. Lon Chaney as the Monster, with Bela Lugosi back as Ygor. Definitely one of the lesser efforts in the series, it seems more like a B movie in comparison to the first three Frankenstein films. Still a lot of fun to watch on a rainy afternoon.

Tim


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