"Wide World Mystery"
Frankenstein: Part 1 (1973)

Director:

Glenn Jordan

Writers:

Dan Curtis (writer)
Sam Hall (part 1)

TV Series:

"Wide World Mystery" (1973)

Original Air Date:

16 January 1973 (Season 1, Episode 2)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Mystery | Sci-Fi

Plot:

A scientist obsessed with creating life steals body parts to put together his "creation." |

Plot Keywords:

Corpse | Graveyard | Experiment Gone Wrong | Science Runs Amok | Macabre

Cast

Robert Foxworth	...	Dr. Victor Frankenstein
Susan Strasberg	...	Elizabeth Lavenza
Bo Svenson	...	Monster
Heidi Vaughn	...	Agatha DeLacey
Philip Bourneuf	...	Alphonse Frankenstein
Robert Gentry	...	Henri Clerval
Jon Lormer	...	Charles DeLacey
William Hansen	...	Professor Waldman
John Karlen	...	Otto Roget
George Morgan	...	Hugo
Brian Avery	...	Felix Delacey
Willie Aames	...	William Frankenstein
Rosella Olsen	...	Bride of the Monster
Edgar Daniels	...	Innkeeper
Edgar Justice	...	Mayor

Runtime:

180 min (including commercials)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M

Company:

Dan Curtis Productions

Movie Connections:

Version of "Mystery and Imagination: Frankenstein (#4.2)" (1968)

The only faithful version of Shelly's classic

The production values are not great and Foxworth is a barely capable actor but Svenson is remarkable. Despite claims to the contrary neither the 70s TV extravaganza with Michael Sarrazin nor Kenneth Branagh's adaptation even come close to the Frankenstein novel. This modest little adaptation is completely faithful to it's source material. It's a pity that's it is not available on tape or DVD. I saw this on late night television in the early seventies and since I was familiar with the novel I enjoyed seeing it and was surprised by how effective Svenson was as the monster. Dan Curtis (Dark Shadows) who produced and adapted this also did a wonderful version of Dr Jeckyl and Mr Hyde with Jack Palance. I'd like to see that again as well.