House of Frankenstein (1944) Reviews

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The Universal Frankenstein saga continues with Boris Karloff returning to the series that he helped start. This time, however, Boris stays out of the monster suit and plays the mad doctor. The movie effectively blends a Dracula segment with a Frankenstein story and keeps the Wolfman and the hunchback around for good measure. John Carradine is smooth as silk as Dracula. His performance isn't as mysterious as Bela Lugosi's or as menacing as Christopher Lee's, but he does well in a costarring role. Glenn Strange plays the Frankenstein monster for the first time. Lon Chaney, Jr is back again as Larry "The Wolfman" Talbot. Being frozen in ice for a year (since "Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman") hasn't chilled his discontent. He still anguishes over his beastly supernatural tendencies, but he manages to display some very human yearnings for the gypsy-dancing girl, Ilonka (Elena Verdugo). The "man-into-werewolf" transformation under the mesmerizing influence of the full moon is still the stuff of childhood nightmares. J. Carroll Naish as the resident hunchback adds pathos to a minor role. Boris Karloff is dignified and quietly insane as Dr. Niemann. His unholy zeal to find Dr. Frankenstein's records and continue his diabolical work in brain transplants is the catalyst that advances the story. The dark humor and the intelligent nuances of the early James Whale entries in this series are replaced in this film by a fast-paced, horror-comics level story. Only the Universal "monster factory" could pull these wildly diverse elements together and bring everything to the inevitable conclusion in one hour and eleven minutes. In the realm of classic horror films, this is a second string entry. Regardless, it's an entertaining flick for those who need the occasional "monster movie" jolt. Suspend disbelief and enjoy the ride. ;-)

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After teaming up Frankenstein's Monster and the Wolfman in 1942 had improved box-office successes for Universal's horror series, this film went one better and introduced John Carradine's Dracula into the mix. Quite why Bela Lugosi, the greatest of all vampires, was replaced by the over-melodramatic Carradine isn't clear, but this film, for all it's titanic glory, lacks something. It has a lot to recommend it though veterans Lionel Attwill, Lon Chaney Jr, J Carroll Naish even Boris Karloff returned to the series, playing the unpleasant Dr Neimann. But best of all is Glenn Strange as the eponymous Monster. Strange played the role in three major films (including 'Abbott and Costello Meet...') but has never got the recognition he deserved. Admittedly, his Monster is given little to do, but he is singularly terrifying and sympathetic in every scene he's in. Of the four actors to play the Monster in this series, he is second only to Karloff. Naish is effective as the sorrowful hunchback hopelessly besotted to a singularly stupid and cruel gypsy girl, and Chaney is his usual bovine self, tortured with having to share his life with his hairy alter-ego. Interestingly, he is killed at the end of this film, but is it really the end for him? Don't be too sure.

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This 1944 follow-up to "Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man" lacks the moody atmosphere of its predecessor. "House of Frankenstein" wastes the Universal gallery of monsters in a terribly contrived story. Though Boris Karloff returns to the fold as Dr. Niemann, the actor wishes he were in another film preferably a Val Lewton production. Director Erle C. Kenton would do a better job with the immediate sequel, "House of Dracula" (1945).

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1944's "House of Frankenstein" was one of a string of short horror films seeking to capitalize on the existing stable of classic Universal Pictures monsters. In this entry, Boris Karloff gets to play a demented mad scientist named Niemann, who escapes from prison and goes in search of the missing research of his idol, Dr. Frankenstein. Along the way, he finds Dracula (played by John Carradine), confined to a coffin by a wooden stake, and liberates him to take revenge on Niemann's enemies.

Niemann, Dracula, and Niemann's hunchbacked assistant arrive at the ruined Castle Frankenstein, where they find not only the late doctor's research notes, but also the Frankenstein and Wolfman monsters, frozen in an icy cavern under the castle. Niemann revives the two monsters and sets about his evil experiments. The suspicious inhabitants of the local village storm the castle, setting up a thrill-packed if campy conclusion.

The pacing of the movie is hectic and the story rather disjointed; the viewer may well suspect that the intent was to pack as many monsters into the film as possible. Fortunately, the movie succeeds in being good creepy fun almost in spite of itself, thanks to Karloff's gleeful turn as mad scientist and Lon Chaney Jr's reprise of his role as agonized man/werewolf.

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the first of the "several rolled into one" scenerio, here we have what i consider to be the best one that universal made. i agree that the film is slightly cheap-looking, but that is what makes these old horror films such a delight.

great to see boris karloff again, and even better that he is the lead. he plays the role of the mad scientist with devilish glee. he gives the best performance by far. j. carrol naish ably supports him, as they both travel the country searching for frankenstein's old castle and the remains of his infamous creature.karloff and naish are the dominant characters. at least the film has the good sense to be set in different places where the various monsters are based.

it is true that this comes across as two films put together; the first half dedicated to dracula, then the rest centres around the wolfman and frankenstein's creature.

on the negative side, lon chaney jnr. should have come into the film much earlier. plus his werewolf scenes are too limited. glenn strange merely has a walk-on part, and has practically nothing to do except cause anarchy. john carradine as dracula is rather wooden. yes, he looks the part, but is ultimately unimpressive. the under-rated lionel atwill should have had more screentime.

still, there is plenty going on to keep horror fans happy.