| HOUSE OF FRANKENSTEIN In 1943 Universal teamed up Frankenstein and the Wolfman and made a fortune. So the theory was if the public loved 2 monsters, let's toss five at them!!Strangely enough this works. The mad doctor Niemann(Boris Karloff) and his hunchback assistant (Naish)are locked in prison. Seems the old doc was doing some rather frowned upon experiments. A convenient lightning bolt destroys the prison walls and the doctor and his hunchback escape. They are picked up by Lampini's (Zucco)travelling sideshow.The hunchback kills the owner and the doctor takes his place. They head to the town that vilified the mad doctor years before. Without giving too much away the doctor stumbles upon Dracula(John Carradine),Wolfman (Lon Chaney) & the Frankenstein Monster (Glenn Strange).They all figure into his plot of revenge against the men who sent him to prison. This movie has a wonderful sense of lunacy to it.Boris gives a fine performance as Niemann.Carradine gives his first portrayal of Dracula. (Always found him to be extremely hammy in many roles).Chaney of course gives a tortured air to Larry Talbot, the Wolfman. Many critics felt that too many monsters spoiled the brew.But Dracula & the Monster are really nothing more than extended cameos.If you sit back and just enjoy the ride the movie accomplishes what it set out to do and that is just entertain. HOUSE OF DRACULA This is another Universal fun filled fright fest.Many people want to compare it to House Of Frankenstein.Even though it has similar cast and the same director it can stand on its own.(It does appear that Erle C Kenton directed most of the Universal horror films of the 40's). The plot recap:Baron Latos/Dracula appears at the home of Dr Eidlemann seeking a "cure" for his vampirism.Larry Talbot (who somehow survived House OF Frankenstein) also shows up at the good doctor's door seeking a cure for his affliction.After a failed suicide attempt Talbot and the doctor find the Frankenstein monster. To complicate matters just before he bites the dust, Dracula infects the good doctor with his blood.The doctor becomes a bloodthirsty maniac at certain times.Darned inconvenient if ya ask me! The race is on as Dr Eidlemann feverishly works to cure both Larry Talbot of his lycanthropy and his hunchback assistant(Jane Adams) before he gives in to his evil bloodlust.Can he do it? Carradine actually gives a very good performance as Dracula. He isn't chewing up the scenery as he will in later roles. It is hard to repress giggles when he appears in a top hat though.The cape/cloak is traditional but the hat has to go. Where does the hat go when he changes into a bat...? Onslow Stevens gives an excellent portrayal of the doctor. He's torn between his basic kindness and the increasing blood lust he is now prone to. This is a very underrated performance.Chaney brings even more life to the Wolf Man in his 4th appearance in that role. The monster isn't given much to do this time.Just lay on the table until the end(some stock footage from the Ghost Of Frankenstein is used).At least in House Of Frankenstein he was up and around a bit. Yes this does stick to the basic Universal pattern complete with the angry village mob running amok with torches.But it isn't a bad way to spend an hour and ten minutes. Of the two I enjoy House Of Dracula more.House Of Frankenstein was the first Universal horror film I ever saw.But the sequel moves at a much faster pace and we're given quite a few more sympathetic characters than in the other House. |
| House Of Frankenstein/House Of Dracula/Dracula's Daughter |
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| DRACULA' S DAUGHTER To be honest I normally shy away from reviewing the classics. Rather stick to the lesser known shadowy obscure films to warn you about and/or poke fun at.But every so often there is a film that has a bad rap that is undeserved or the film is misunderstood and ol skip has to scream at the injustice.Dracula's Daughter is such a film. There is no need to go into the plot in detail.Dracula's daughter(Gloria Holden) appears in London shortly after Dracula is killed by Van Helsing . She steals and burns Dracula's corpse.Thus she feels she is free of the taint of vampirism with the death of her father.But she isn't and tries to enlist the aid of a psychiatrist (Otto Kruger) to help cure her. Of course we all know it isn't as simple as that.She is a vampire and she must feed.She winds up kidnapping Garth's secretary/love interest and spiriting her away back to the castle in Transylvania.Garth has to follow where he is offered a deal.His life in exchange for his lady's life.He joins the undead or she truly dies.You'll have to see for yourself the stunning conclusion. A lot has been written about a lesbian subtext when the Countess "seduces" and drains a young woman.Well a few nights earlier she did the same to a young man.Sometimes a meal is just a meal although both sides of the issue have merit. The film is atmospheric, foggy and great fun.Gloria Holden is superb as the Countess and Irving Pichel is slimily evil as her human familiar Sandor.In fact he is truly sadistic and a willing servant whereas the Countess is a victim of forces she can't control.The drawback to the film is the extremely obnoxious leading man who is totally unsympathetic and unprofessional(but yet true to life).In fact the performance has grown on me after repeated viewings. This isn't hampered by the drawing room bound settings that slowed Dracula to a halt.Definitely a classic to enjoy! |
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