Halloween Month continues here at Balladeer’s Blog and so does the 200th anniversary year of Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein. FOR THREE MORE REVIEWS OF DAN CURTIS HORROR PRODUCTIONS CLICK HERE
FRANKENSTEIN (1973) – Dan Curtis was well-known for his Dark Shadows television series, the original Night Stalker telefilm and its sequel The Night Strangler. Throw in The Norliss Tapes, Trilogy of Terror and about a dozen more made-for-tv exercises in the macabre.
In Frankenstein Robert Foxworth stars as Dr Frankenstein and Bo Svenson portrays his famous monster in what was originally a two-part presentation on The Wide World of Mystery. (“He’s an artificially created monster who solves murders!”)
Susan Strasberg played the good doctor’s love Elizabeth, Willie Aames was William Frankenstein and John Karlen from Dark Shadows appeared as Otto.
Leif Garrett, soon to appear as one of the murderous children in Devil Times Five, was briefly glimpsed as a little boy running from the Frankenstein Monster. Heidi Vaughn and Brian Avery were along for the ride as the DeLaceys.
There’s a lot to like but also a lot to dislike about this version of Frankenstein. My favorite aspect is the way this is one of the earliest productions to free the monster from the image of a simple-minded marauder. The story follows Frankenstein’s creation from his brutish early days to his more intelligent phase.
The storyline was being so nicely streamlined that I was hoping for the big climax to take place at Dr Frankenstein’s wedding but unfortunately things get dragged out a little further. Purists will no doubt fuss over the changes but c’mon – it was a made for tv film in the 1970s. Just be happy the monster got to be more fully-developed this time around.
FOR ISABELLA OF EGYPT, FEATURING A GOLEM, A MANDRAGORE, A LIVING DEAD MAN, A GYPSY WITCH AND A JEWISH SORCEROR CLICK HERE
FOR MORE HALLOWEEN ITEMS CLICK HERE: https://glitternight.com/category/halloween-season/
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I am in love with this story but most versions don’t let the monster get intelligent like in this version.
I agree with you.
Your idea to end it at the wedding would have made for tighter pacing.
Thanks. On such a moderate budget they should have done that.
Leif Garrett? Really?
Yes really.
Good review. I like most of Curtis’ tv movies.
Thank you. So do I.
Loved this one ever since I first saw it in syndication many years ago. Victor is not callous but loses track of the monster (and his assistant) by accident. And by the time you reach the ending, it’s become so TRAGIC, so heart-rending, if you don’t wind up crying your guts out you haven’t got a soul. (As a result, I can only handle this film in small doses.)
I understand! Thank you for the heartfelt and very thoughtful comment!