May 10- Karloff Meets His Maker’s Offspring-Tonight!!!
Another final run of a Frankenstein favorite occurs tonight-
as the Svengoolie show gives you one last look at “Son of Frankenstein!” This 1939 Universal classic marked the final time- on film- that Boris Karloff portrayed the Frankenstein Monster. We meet Wolf, the son of the original Dr. Frankenstein (what’s the Wolf Man’s son’s name- Frank?)-
played by Basil Rathbone- who travels to his father’s hometown- which, for this film only, is named “Frankenstein!”
(In various films, it’s been Goldstadt, Vasaria, Visaria…heck, maybe even Berwyn! They could attract lightning with the Spindle- whoops, too late.) Arriving with his wife and son
(“Grandson of Frankenstein”- whose movie we never got around to)-he receives a pretty cold welcome from the townspeople, who, in spite of the town’s name, have no desire for any member of the Frankenstein family to return to the area, after all the turmoil that’s occurred in the past. Before long, Wolf finds someone lurking in the area of his father’s old laboratory- the previously-hanged criminal Ygor, who survived what should have been his final punishment, and, by law, now roams free. Ygor is played by Bela Lugosi, and this is, without a doubt, one of his greatest roles, Dracula notwithstanding. Before long, he reveals that he has Wolf’s dad’s Monster hidden away-and that the Monster is ill, and needs help. This convinces Wolf to continue his father’s work, and- well, you know what that leads to!
This film includes the familiar character of Inspector Krogh- the one-armed police official so brilliantly parodied in Mel Brooks’ “Young Frankenstein”, and played here by Lionel Atwill. Dwight Frye, who played assistants in creating monsters in both “Frankenstein” and “Bride of Frankenstein”,
had a role in this film as well, but- when they switched from doing the film in Technicolor, as originally planned, to black and white- somehow, his part was eliminated! We’ll have plenty of other information for you on the show tonight, including what famous animated character one of the cast members voiced.
Once again- last chance, kids, to see this film on Sven- it’s going back to the Universal archives, or whatever cable outlet they’ll turn it back to, where it’ll most likely sit on the shelf and get shown once a year, if they’re lucky. Don’t miss it here on free TV tonight- also on Me-TV at 1 am. For other outlets, please check your local listings. We wouldn’t want to see the “son” set one last time without you!
as the Svengoolie show gives you one last look at “Son of Frankenstein!” This 1939 Universal classic marked the final time- on film- that Boris Karloff portrayed the Frankenstein Monster. We meet Wolf, the son of the original Dr. Frankenstein (what’s the Wolf Man’s son’s name- Frank?)-
played by Basil Rathbone- who travels to his father’s hometown- which, for this film only, is named “Frankenstein!”
(In various films, it’s been Goldstadt, Vasaria, Visaria…heck, maybe even Berwyn! They could attract lightning with the Spindle- whoops, too late.) Arriving with his wife and son
(“Grandson of Frankenstein”- whose movie we never got around to)-he receives a pretty cold welcome from the townspeople, who, in spite of the town’s name, have no desire for any member of the Frankenstein family to return to the area, after all the turmoil that’s occurred in the past. Before long, Wolf finds someone lurking in the area of his father’s old laboratory- the previously-hanged criminal Ygor, who survived what should have been his final punishment, and, by law, now roams free. Ygor is played by Bela Lugosi, and this is, without a doubt, one of his greatest roles, Dracula notwithstanding. Before long, he reveals that he has Wolf’s dad’s Monster hidden away-and that the Monster is ill, and needs help. This convinces Wolf to continue his father’s work, and- well, you know what that leads to!
This film includes the familiar character of Inspector Krogh- the one-armed police official so brilliantly parodied in Mel Brooks’ “Young Frankenstein”, and played here by Lionel Atwill. Dwight Frye, who played assistants in creating monsters in both “Frankenstein” and “Bride of Frankenstein”,
had a role in this film as well, but- when they switched from doing the film in Technicolor, as originally planned, to black and white- somehow, his part was eliminated! We’ll have plenty of other information for you on the show tonight, including what famous animated character one of the cast members voiced.
Once again- last chance, kids, to see this film on Sven- it’s going back to the Universal archives, or whatever cable outlet they’ll turn it back to, where it’ll most likely sit on the shelf and get shown once a year, if they’re lucky. Don’t miss it here on free TV tonight- also on Me-TV at 1 am. For other outlets, please check your local listings. We wouldn’t want to see the “son” set one last time without you!
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