Och, what can I say? I just couldn't resist it! Another Mego 8 inch action figure of the Frankenstein Monster, this time in his winter woollies outfit from Son Of Frankenstein. A nice likeness of Boris Karloff for such a small figure, but I doubt there'll be a Bride Of Frankenstein one, as that would require some revision to the head (or a completely new one), as the Monster was burnt in the middle movie and had his face scarred and fringe singed.
While you're all here (consumed by jealousy of my 8 incher - hee-hee), which of the trio of Frankenstein movies starring Boris was your favourite - and why?
14 comments:
The first one but I've read Mary Shelley's novel too and the film is nothing like the book.
Well, it's something like the book, CJ, but it's actually based on an adaptation by John L. Balderston of a 1927 play by Peggy Webling. There's probably more of the book in the second film, but again, it's not entirely faithful.
Bride of Frankenstein is a masterpiece of cinema. I love to watch it and no matter how many times I see it, I find something new or am reminded of an aspect of the movie which impresses mightily. The original Frankenstein is a flawed gem, with magnificent scenes but sadly it falls apart in its ending which seems confused. Son of Frankenstein is a hoot, if only to catch the many scenes Mel Brooks lifted to make Young Frankenstein. It's funny watching the usually unflappable Basil Rathbone come unglued as he's pressured about what he knows of the Creature.
Frankenstein is a bit 'stagey', RJ, especially when the Monster makes his first 'live' appearance - through a doorway which he enters backwards. If made nowadays, his face would be in shadow, and as he comes into the room, there would be a series of quick-cut close-ups zooming in on his fizzog. All-in-all, a great wee trilogy that stands the test of time (in the main).
Incidentally, there seems to me something wrong with your comments facility - none of the four or five comments I've made recently have yet shown up.
Kid, I've had the same problem on Rip's blog - a recent comment of mine never appeared.
Hmm. I've approved all your e-mails and responded to each one I've seen. Are you getting a mail rejected message? That happens to me on some blogs.
Just went an double checked my e-mail and found a bunch of your responses as well as other folks tucked away in my spam file. It must've been a recent update. Thanks for the heads up.
No problem, RJ. At least it's sorted now. And CJ's comment on your blog beat me to the punch with what I wanted to say. (Two great minds?)
The first movie, possibly because it was the striking arrival of the creature. The sequels were more of the same and the creature wasn't interesting again until he met Abbot and Costello.
It really is the make up worn by Karloff that makes it work successfully as later versions of the creature just don't have the same impact.
Glenn Strange would've been glad of that role, T47. He had more to do as the Monster than in House Of Frankenstein and House Of Dracula combined. The first movie was a straight horror (for the time), the second had more humour (and a musical soundtrack), and the third sadly didn't use the Monster as much as it might have until it was almost over.
Abbott and costello meet frankenstein! Now you're talking. One of my favourites along with Old mother riley meets the vampire. Out of the boris karloff movies definitely the first one for me.
Just a shame they didn't remember that Dracula casts no reflection in a mirror, AL, because it's prominently visible in A&C Meet Frankenstein. Haven't seen Old Mother Riley Meets The Vampire since around 1973 or so - I'll have to track it down. Arthur Lucan, wasn't it?
Yes Arthur Lucan bela lugosi Hattie Jacques amongst others No kitty mcshane though. Old mother riley is a bit of an acquired taste I suppose but I've watched all the films in the last 6 months or so and think they're a great laugh.
Old Mother Riley was still on the go up into the '80s, though the role was taken over by Lucan's understudy and stand-in, Roy Rolland, when Lucan died in 1954. He appeared regularly on Junior Showtime in the '70s, and I never knew the difference between the two 'Mothers' until I looked it up on Wikipedia a few moments ago.
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