House of Frankenstein (1944)

Director:

Erle C. Kenton

Writers:

Curt Siodmak (story)
Edward T. Lowe Jr. (writer)

Release Date:

1 December 1944 (USA)

Genre:

Fantasy | Horror | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

FRANKENSTEIN'S MONSTER! WOLF MAN! DRACULA! HUNCHBACK! MAD DOCTOR!

Plot:

An evil scientist and a hunchback escape from prison and encounter Dracula, the Wolf Man and Frankenstein's Monster.

Plot Keywords:

Dracula | Monster | Hunchback | Gypsy | Frankenstein's Monster

Cast

Boris Karloff	...	Doctor Gustav Niemann
Lon Chaney Jr.	...	Lawrence Talbot (as Lon Chaney)
John Carradine	...	Dracula / Baron Latos
Anne Gwynne	...	Rita Hussman
Peter Coe	...	Karl Hussman
Lionel Atwill	...	Inspector Arnz
George Zucco	...	Professor Bruno Lampini
Elena Verdugo	...	Ilonka
Sig Ruman	...	Burgomeister Hussman
William Edmunds	...	Fejos
Charles F. Miller	...	Tobermann (as Charles Miller)
Philip Van Zandt	...	Muller
Julius Tannen	...	Hertz
Hans Herbert	...	Meier
Dick Dickinson	...	Born

Also Known As:

Chamber of Horrors (USA) (working title)
Doom of Dracula (USA) (working title)
The Devil's Brood (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

71 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Finland:(Banned) (1947) | Finland:K-11 (2004) | Spain:13 | Canada:G (Quebec) | Australia:PG | Sweden:15 | USA:Unrated | Germany:12

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

Bela Lugosi was slated for the role of Dracula, but the film was dependent upon the presence of Karloff being released from tour of "Arsenic and Old Lace." Shooting was delayed, and John Carrdine was cast instead of Lugosi, who had a prior engagement: ironically, playing Karloff's "Jonathan Brewster" role in another touring company of "Arsenic and Old Lace."

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Talbot's face twitches after he has supposedly been shot dead.

Quotes:

Daniel: Master.
Dr. Gustav Niemann: Yes?
Daniel: Now that I have helped you with Strauss and Ullman, will you give Talbot's body to me?
Dr. Gustav Niemann: What?
Daniel: He's big. He's strong.
Dr. Gustav Niemann: Talbot's body is the perfect place for the monster's brain that I will add to and subtract from in my experiments.
Daniel: Master, you made me a promise.
Dr. Gustav Niemann: No! You think I'd wreck the work of a lifetime because you're in love with a, a Gypsy girl?
Daniel: I've killed four men for you!
Dr. Gustav Niemann: Do as I say or I'll never help you.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Val Lewton: The Man in the Shadows (2007) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Gypsy Tantrums

The Gang Is All Here

House of Frankenstein was the first of the monster free for alls with all three Universal monster legends, the Frankenstein monster, the wolfman, and Dracula. It is not the most coherent story around, but you won't care because the film has a brisk pace, imaginative scenes, creative sets, and some first-rate acting. Boris Karloff plays a doctor in the Dr. Frankenstein tradition trying to resurrect the Monster and appease the wolfman by finding him a path to death. He is the epitome of evil and has no moral compass whatsoever. Karloff does a fine job in his role, and Lon Chaney, as ever saddened at his lunar plight, does a wonderful job again as Larry Talbot(his third time in the role). Glenn Strange plays the monster..and plays him well although really has little to do in the film till the last five minutes. Dracula is played by John Carradine. The shining stars of the cast, however, are J. Carroll Naish playing a poor murdering hunchback with low self-esteem, and the bubbly and beautiful Elena Verdugo as a gypsy girl. Naish gives a very poignant portrayal. Look for cameos by Lionel Atwill and George Zucco(wish his part had been larger). House of Frankenstein is a great film in the Universal tradition of its monsters and mayhem. One of its other outstanding virtues is its famous score.