The problem that I personally had with "The Ghost of Frankenstein" was that I felt the movie's creators did not realize they were involved in the production of a kitsch-fest. In other words, they treated a lighthearted, not-to-be-taken-seriously project as if it were brooding and provocative like the first two movies, most notably James Whale's masterwork "Bride of Frankenstein." As a result, "The Ghost of Frankenstein" was a little slow-going for me. However, the following picture in the franchise (or at least on my DVD collection) "House of Frankenstein" was a step down in quality, but up in entertainment. Because this movie recognizes that it is low-key and packed full of kitsch, and makes the best of it. That's the secret to its charm and I would be a hypocrite if I told you I did not enjoy watching it.
The movie clocks at a brisk seventy-one minutes and every frame of it stirs up nostalgia and a sense of fun. The movie is called "House of Frankenstein" really because it combines several iconic characters. Boris Karloff stars not as the green-skinned monster, but a mad scientist (not Dr. Frankenstein) seeking out revenge on those who threw him behind bars. To exact his revenge, he calls upon the Frankenstein monster (played by Glenn Strange), Count Dracula (John Carradine), the Wolf Man (Lon Chaney Jr.), and a hunchback (J. Carrol Naish). Along the way, they pick up a cabaret dancer (Anne Gwynne) who catches the eye of the hunchback, but loves the Wolf-Man whenever he's not howling at the moon.
Sure, it's silly and the movie has no real purpose for any of the creatures. Heck, Count Dracula's scenes could have been entirely excised from the picture and nobody would have known the difference. The Frankenstein monster exists for no other reason than to be there for the climax. The only "creature" that has any real sense of belonging is the Wolf-Man. It's a real treat that Lon Chaney Jr. reprised his immortalizing role here. But everybody else seems just obligatory to be in the picture. This movie is a dartboard for critics, but this one had a great time and has no regrets in saying so.
Every now and then this picky, pro-and-con-measuring reviewer is in the mood for a big, fast-moving hunk of cheese wrapped in a big ball and "House of Frankenstein" delivers. It knows precisely what it is doing, it has an eye-candy cast, lots of hammy dialogue that is delivered with deliberate pretentiousness, and it never dulls out. Sure, it's dimwitted, but it's a lot of fun.
The movie clocks at a brisk seventy-one minutes and every frame of it stirs up nostalgia and a sense of fun. The movie is called "House of Frankenstein" really because it combines several iconic characters. Boris Karloff stars not as the green-skinned monster, but a mad scientist (not Dr. Frankenstein) seeking out revenge on those who threw him behind bars. To exact his revenge, he calls upon the Frankenstein monster (played by Glenn Strange), Count Dracula (John Carradine), the Wolf Man (Lon Chaney Jr.), and a hunchback (J. Carrol Naish). Along the way, they pick up a cabaret dancer (Anne Gwynne) who catches the eye of the hunchback, but loves the Wolf-Man whenever he's not howling at the moon.
Sure, it's silly and the movie has no real purpose for any of the creatures. Heck, Count Dracula's scenes could have been entirely excised from the picture and nobody would have known the difference. The Frankenstein monster exists for no other reason than to be there for the climax. The only "creature" that has any real sense of belonging is the Wolf-Man. It's a real treat that Lon Chaney Jr. reprised his immortalizing role here. But everybody else seems just obligatory to be in the picture. This movie is a dartboard for critics, but this one had a great time and has no regrets in saying so.
Every now and then this picky, pro-and-con-measuring reviewer is in the mood for a big, fast-moving hunk of cheese wrapped in a big ball and "House of Frankenstein" delivers. It knows precisely what it is doing, it has an eye-candy cast, lots of hammy dialogue that is delivered with deliberate pretentiousness, and it never dulls out. Sure, it's dimwitted, but it's a lot of fun.