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 of Vasaria
Bela Lugosi	...	Frankenstein Monster
Maria Ouspenskaya	...	Maleva
Dennis Hoey	...	Inspector Owen
Don Barclay	...	Franzec - Townsman
Rex Evans	...	Vazec - Innkeeper
Dwight Frye	...	Rudi - Townsman
Harry Stubbs	...	Constable Guno
Lon Chaney Jr.	...	Lawrence Stewart Talbot / The Wolf Man (as Lon Chaney)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
David Clyde	...	Llanwelly Police Sergeant (uncredited)
Jeff Corey	...	Crypt Keeper (uncredited)
Sonia Darrin	...	Villager at Festival (uncredited)
Cyril Delevanti	...	Freddy Jolly--Graverobber (uncredited)
Lance Fuller	...	Vasarian Villager (uncredited)
Charles Irwin	...	Cardiff Police Constable (uncredited)
Adia Kuznetzoff	...	Festival Singer (uncredited)
Doris Lloyd	...	Dr. Mannering's Nurse (uncredited)
Torben Meyer	...	Gypsy (uncredited)
Beatrice Roberts	...	Varja - Barmaid (uncredited)
Tom Stevenson	...	Graverobber (uncredited)
Martha Vickers	...	Margareta (uncredited)

Directed by
Roy William Neill

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Curt Siodmak		writer

Produced by
George Waggner	....	producer

Original Music by
Hans J. Salter		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
George Robinson		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Edward Curtiss

Art Direction by
John B. Goodman		(as John Goodman)

Set Decoration by
Russell A. Gausman		(as R.A. Gausman)

Costume Design by
Vera West		(gowns)

Makeup Department
Jack P. Pierce	....	makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Melville Shyer	....	assistant director

Art Department
Martin Obzina	....	associate art director
Edward R. Robinson	....	associate set decorator (as E.R. Robinson)

Sound Department
Bernard B. Brown	....	sound director
William R. Fox	....	sound technician (as William Fox)

Special Effects by
John P. Fulton	....	special photographic effects

Stunts
Eddie Parker	....	stunt double: Lon Chaney Jr. (uncredited)
Gil Perkins	....	stunt double: Bela Lugosi (uncredited)

Music Department
Hans J. Salter	....	musical director (as H.J. Salter)
Charles Previn	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)
Frank Skinner	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Universal Pictures

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1943) (USA) (theatrical)
• Realart Pictures (1949) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Screen Gems (1957) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (1992) (USA) (VHS)
• Universal Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Home Video (2004) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Universal Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)

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:

Stuntman Gil Perkins doubled for Bela Lugosi in the action scenes, as well as the scene of the Monster being released from the ice. In the climactic fight scene, Eddie Parker doubled Lon Chaney Jr. as the Wolfman, while Gil Perkins took over as the Monster. Based on interviews given years later, Perkins may have also doubled Chaney's Wolf Man in the chase scene through the woods into the castle ruins. Some film scholars insist Eddie Parker appears as the Monster in a handful of shots in the climax.

Goofs:

Plot holes: After Lawerence Talbot and Maleva are told to leave Vasaria, Maleva is arrested when the townspeople are hunting for the wolf that killed the innkeeper's daughter. A few scenes later, Talbot is back in town at a public celebration socializing with the mayor and others. The townspeople do not seem to take much notice that the strange man from earlier is back and make no attempt to arrest him. Also, somewhere between his encounter with the monster and this point, Talbot acquires a suit. It is never explained where or how he got this suit.

Quotes:

Maleva: He is not insane. He simply wants to die.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Serenity (2005)

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!