Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943)

Director:

Roy William Neill

Writer:

Curt Siodmak (writer)

Release Date:

5 March 1943 (USA)

Genre:

Sci-Fi | Horror

Tagline:

A Death Fight . . . Between Two Beasts !

Plot:

Larry Talbot chips Frankenstein's monster out of a block of ice. When Talbot changes to the Wolf Man, the two creatures do battle.

Plot Keywords:

Monster | Inspector | Werewolf | Doctor | Gypsy

Cast

Ilona Massey	...	Baroness Elsa Frankenstein
Patric Knowles	...	Dr. Frank Mannering
Lionel Atwill	...	Mayor
Bela Lugosi	...	Monster
Maria Ouspenskaya	...	Maleva
Dennis Hoey	...	Inspector Owen
Don Barclay	...	Franzec
Rex Evans	...	Vazec
Dwight Frye	...	Rudi
Harry Stubbs	...	Guno
Lon Chaney Jr.	...	Lawrence Stewart Talbot / The Wolf Man (as Lon Chaney)

Also Known As:

Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman (USA) (video box title)

Runtime:

74 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Finland:K-11 (2004) | Spain:13 | Canada:G (Quebec) | Australia:M | UK:PG | USA:Approved (PCA #9024) | Sweden:15 | Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

The film was shot during WWII, amid a notorious anti-German public campaign by the United States government. Screen writer Curt Siodmak, a German Jew himself who had fled his country after hearing anti-Semitic speeches there in 1937, deliberately changed the location of Frankenstein's castle from Germany to the fictional "Vasaria." "Vasaria" translates loosely to "water place" in German, obviously correlating the dam, waterfall and hydroelectric turbine that are integral to the film.

Goofs:

Factual errors: As Talbot lies in the hospital bed, the moon rises to transform him. Yet the moonlight is shown creeping across the floor towards his bed which is what we would see if the moon were setting. A rising moon would cast its first beams on the wall.

Quotes:

Dr. Frank Mannering: I can't do it! I can't destroy Frankenstein's creation. I've got to see it at its full power.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Son of Svengoolie: Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943) (#1.14)" (1979)

Soundtrack:

Faro-La, Faro-Li

Universal Fun!

Though not nearly up to the standards and fun level of "Ghost Of Frankenstein", this neat little Universal gem has it's heart in the right place! Wonderful opening sequence in the graveyard, plenty of atmosphere, typically gorgeous Universal studio sets and it's famous monsters! What more can you ask for? Chaney is superb as the tormented Larry Talbot but Bela leaves quite a bit to be desired as the monster. Universal would have been better off using Glen Strange one film earlier instead of waiting for 1944's "House Of Frankenstein". All in all, a fun film that staggers a bit after a rip-roaring start!